WooCommerce Security: Best Practices & Tools to Protect Your Store

Anna Karydi

Cyberattacks are on the rise, and online stores are prime targets. The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 hit an all-time high of 4.88 million, marking a 10% increase over the previous year. For WooCommerce store owners, that’s a wake-up call! Losing your customer data isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a financial and legal disaster.

In other words, you must pay close attention to your WooCommerce security. Hackers often exploit weak passwords, outdated plugins, and unsecured payment gateways to steal sensitive data. If you don’t know how to secure your WooCommerce site, you’re risking customer trust, revenue loss, and potential fines.

In this post, we’ll explain how to secure your store and share a list of the best security plugins for WooCommerce. Let’s dive in.

Common WooCommerce Security Threats

Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to break into your store. Here’s what you need to watch out for:

Brute-Force Attacks: Nearly half (51%) of all cyber threats for cloud services came from brute-force attacks in the first quarter of 2022. Hackers use automated bots to guess your login credentials. If your passwords are weak, they’ll crack them in minutes. Use strong passwords and enable WooCommerce security features like two-factor authentication (2FA).
SQL Injection & Malware: Attackers inject malicious code into your site’s database, stealing sensitive data or corrupting files. Keep your store safe by updating plugins and themes and using WooCommerce security plugins that scan for vulnerabilities.
DDoS Attacks: 2024 saw 21.3 million DDoS attacks – a 53% increase from 2023. This cyber threat involves flooding your WooCommerce store with fake traffic, slowing it down, or crashing it completely. A web application firewall (WAF) helps filter out bad traffic and keeps your store running smoothly.
Payment Fraud & Fake Transactions: Fraudsters use stolen credit cards or create fake orders to exploit weak checkout security. To avoid these frauds, you should secure your store with PCI-compliant payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal and enable fraud detection tools.

Pro Tip: Use WooCommerce security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to help block most of these threats automatically.

How to Secure Your WooCommerce Site

Keeping your WooCommerce security tight is non-negotiable. A few smart steps can protect your store from hackers, data breaches, and payment frauds. Here’s how:

Find a Secure Hosting Provider
Your hosting provider is, essentially, the foundation of your site’s security. So, your host should have measures in place to protect your files and database from hackers and malware.Ideally, you should find a host that understands WordPress and WooCommerce security well and clearly states what they do to prioritize your store’s safety.A good host should offer the following:
- SSL certificates
- Regular backups
- Attack monitoring
- A robust server firewall
- 24/7 support
- Up-to-date server software
Luckily, WP Autopilot offers all of that through managed dedicated VPS cloud hosting by an award-winning team. You can also try web hosting services on AWS.
Enforce Strong Password Policies
Implement robust, unique passwords for all associated accounts. Use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.Tools like WordPress’s secure password generator and password managers like 1Password can help manage these credentials. You can also use a plugin like Password Policy Manager to set password rules.Another factor you can watch out for is limiting login attempts. Brute force attacks are a common threat to WordPress sites. Using security plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded restricts the number of failed login attempts and protects your store from such attacks.
Add Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Use two-factor authentication to keep your orders and customers safe from hackers.Adding 2FA to your login process adds an extra layer of security, verifying the user’s identity through a second device, usually a smartphone. You can implement two-factor authentication for free with Jetpack and make it a requirement for all users on your website. Another good option is Wordfence, which offers both free and premium 2FA options.
Scan Your Store Regularly for Malware
Malware is software developed with malicious intent, and it’s one of the most common forms of hacking. In 2023, 6.06 billion malware attacks were detected worldwide. This cyber attack can accomplish a variety of tasks, including redirecting site visitors to suspicious websites and skimming customers’ credit card information.Automated tools like Jetpack Scan help you continuously monitor your site for malware. It sends you an instant alert if malware is found on your site so you can fix threats with one click.
Be Prepared to Combat Spam
Boost your WooCommerce security by expertly managing spam in comments and form submissions.Navigate to your WordPress dashboard and select Settings → Discussion. This is your command center for elevating user engagement while maintaining quality control. Here’s what you can do:
- Require authors to log in before they can submit a comment.
- Enable email notifications for each new comment, keeping you in the loop.
- Assure the integrity of your site by setting every comment to require your manual approval.
- Smartly automate spam control by marking comments as spam based on specific triggers, such as the number of links or the use of certain keywords.
Akismet’s spam filter is 99.9% accurate and doesn’t use annoying and challenging solutions like CAPTCHAs.
Keep Your Software Up-to-Date
Did you know? Out-of-date plugins cause 52% of all WordPress vulnerabilities. Updates are not just bells and whistles – they’re your website’s shield against cyber threats.As a seasoned WooCommerce agency, we recommend regularly carving out time in your schedule to review, back up, and apply these vital updates. Your website will thank you for it.
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A web application firewall (WAF) acts as your website’s round-the-clock sentinel, diligently standing guard at its virtual doorway.This vigilant protector scrutinizes every visitor with an eagle eye, making swift, rule-based decisions on who gets the green light to enter. It’s one of the best ways to improve WooCommerce security against DDoS, brute force & SQL injection attacks.Jetpack Firewall is an excellent choice. It’s not just equipped with a robust database of known threats; it’s also an adaptive warrior, evolving in real time to the unique rhythms of your site.
Secure Your FTP Settings
Another critical WooCommerce security check is your FTP settings. FTP (file transfer protocol) is used to transfer files between two devices.Through your hosting provider, you can create FTP accounts, which allow you to connect from your computer to your website server. You can use these to make changes to your website files or share access to your site with a contractor or team member without giving them your hosting login information.But if a malicious actor accesses those accounts, they would be able to make any number of changes to your site. Limiting the permissions on these accounts can reduce or even eliminate the potential for damage.Ensure that only your FTP account can access the following folders:
- The root directory
- wp-admin
- wp-includes
- wp-content
For more details on locking down your FTP, check out this section of the WordPress Codex.
Get an SSL Certification
Improve the trust and security of your e-commerce platform with a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate. This essential tool safeguards your customers’ sensitive data, like credit card details and contact information, by encrypting it during transmission.Beyond fortifying your WooCommerce security, an SSL certificate is also a key player in boosting your SEO rankings. Obtaining an SSL certificate is straightforward. Many hosting providers generously include them in their service packages.However, if your current plan doesn’t offer one, don’t worry. You can effortlessly secure your site with a complimentary SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt, a widely respected open-certificate authority.
Back Up Your Data Regularly
Your WooCommerce security is incomplete without a solid backup plan. Regular backups ensure that you’re prepared for anything — from cyberattacks to server crashes. If something goes wrong, you can quickly restore your store to its previous, secure state without losing valuable data or losing customer trust.Many WooCommerce security plugins offer backup features, allowing you to store copies of your site both locally and in the cloud. This ensures that you can recover your store efficiently, if needed, without any downtime.Remember to test your backups regularly to ensure they’re working properly. The last thing you want is to discover a backup issue after a security breach. You can rope in a professional WooCommerce maintenance service to take care of your security, core updates, and data backup. Hiring a team of professionals gives you peace of mind.

5 Best WooCommerce Security Plugins to Get You Started

Securing your store becomes stress-free, especially with the right plugins. Loved by developers across the content, here are the five best security plugins for WooCommerce.

Wordfence Security: It’s probably the best security plugin for WooCommerce. It includes a firewall, malware scanner, and real-time monitoring to catch threats before they cause damage. Plus, it has a user-friendly dashboard for easy management of your site’s security.
Solid WP (Formerly iThemes Security): Great for login protection. Solid WP focuses on strengthening your site’s login process with features like two-factor authentication and limiting login attempts. It also scans for vulnerabilities and offers automated fixes, making it a must-have for anyone looking to tighten security.
Sucuri Security: It’s one of the best WooCommerce security plugins for firewalls & malware scanning. Sucuri provides an advanced website firewall and malware detection system. It actively monitors and protects your site from threats like DDoS attacks and SQL injections. It also offers cleanup services if your site ever gets hacked.
All-in-One WP Security & Firewall: Free & beginner-friendly. This plugin provides a significant boost to your WooCommerce security. It includes firewall protection, login lockdown, and file scanning. The intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to get started without technical expertise.
MalCare: This plugin is designed for malware cleanup. MalCare specializes in finding and removing malware from your store without slowing down your site. It also offers real-time protection and daily security scans to ensure your store is always safe from new threats.

So, which is the best security plugin for WooCommerce? For all-in-one security, we recommend Wordfence or Sucuri.

Final Thoughts on WooCommerce Security

Making WooCommerce security a priority is a must. It’s not just about technical robustness; it’s about building a reliable brand. Fortunately, CoSpark knows what’s required to keep your WooCommerce Store safe. Moreover, we can help you with regular maintenance and upgrades to help keep your store growing over time.

WooCommerce Security FAQs

Can A WooCommerce Website Be Hacked?

Yes, like any website, WooCommerce sites can be compromised. However, implementing robust security measures significantly reduces this risk.

Which SSL Certificate Is Best for WooCommerce Websites?

A domain-validated (DV) certificate is a great starting point, but as your business grows, consider upgrading to organization-validated (OV) or extended-validated (EV) certificates for enhanced security.

What Should I Do If My WooCommerce Site Is Hacked?

First, assess the situation and identify the breach. Use a security plugin to scan and repair your site. Restore from a backup if necessary, reset all passwords, and implement additional security measures to prevent future incidents.