What Every Business Owner and DIY Website Manager Needs to Know
If you’ve checked your WordPress security logs lately and seen a flood of failed logins, suspicious URLs, or alerts about bots being blocked, you’re not alone — and no, you’re not being targeted personally.
This is happening because your website is built on WordPress — and WordPress sites are under constant attack, whether you’re a big brand or a small local business.
Why Is This Happening to My Site?
Here’s the truth: WordPress powers over 40% of the internet. That makes it the biggest target for hackers and bots. These attackers don’t care who you are or how big your business is. They run automated scans across millions of sites, looking for weak spots.
They’re not picking your site. They’re picking every site.
Bots look for:
- Weak or reused passwords
- Outdated plugins or themes
- Login pages like /wp-login.php
- Features like XML-RPC (remote access) that can be exploited
- Vulnerable or abandoned plugins
Here are some statistics that paint the picture as to how much this occurs:
- Wordfence reports an average of 56 requests probing for vulnerabilities per day on a typical WordPress site
- For small sites, daily login attempts vary widely from hundreds to thousands, depending on bot activity and website visibility
- A 2024 Invedus report estimates about 120,000 daily attacks on WordPress websites globally
The goal is simple: gain access and do damage — inject spam, redirect your visitors, steal data, or hijack your server.
The Hidden Costs of Unmitigated Attacks
What many small business owners don’t realize is that even failed attacks can cost you money. Here’s how:
Bandwidth Overuse
Bots don’t trickle in — they come in waves. Repeated scans, login attempts, and vulnerability probing can consume gigabytes of bandwidth over time. If your hosting plan has bandwidth limits or data transfer caps, you could:
- Get charged overage fees
- Have your site throttled
- Even experience downtime
Increased Server Load
Nonstop bot traffic ties up your web server’s CPU, RAM, and disk I/O — all of which can:
- Slow down your site for real visitors
- Crash your site under load
- Get your account suspended or throttled on shared hosting
Time and Maintenance
You or your website manager end up spending more time:
- Checking logs
- Blocking IPs manually
- Restoring backups or chasing plugin updates
These attacks don’t just threaten your site’s security — they eat up your resources, waste your time, and can affect your bottom line.
How to Protect Your WordPress Site
Use this checklist to harden your WordPress site and keep your business safe:
Step 1: Lock Down Your Login Page
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)
- Add reCAPTCHA or Cloudflare Turnstile
- Limit login attempts
Step 2: Use a Security Plugin
- Install Wordfence or All-In-One WP Security
- Enable real-time monitoring and alerts
- Run malware scans regularly
Step 3: Use Cloudflare — For Free!
This is where Cloudflare shines:
- Block most malicious traffic before it reaches your server
- Reduce bandwidth usage and server load
- Apply rate limits or “JS Challenge” to /wp-login.php and other vulnerable URLs
- Turn on Bot Fight Mode to filter aggressive bad bots
Step 4: Keep Everything Updated
- Update core, plugins, and themes
- Delete anything unused or inactive
Step 5: Monitor and Respond
- Review logs and alerts
- Block IPs or countries if necessary
- Schedule regular backups
Security is an ongoing process. Rebuilding trust is much more costly in terms of time and effort than maintaining a secure site.
Let’s Lock It Down — and Save You Time & Money
If you’re a business owner or managing your own website, security isn’t just about peace of mind — it’s also about performance, reputation, and cost savings.
I help small businesses:
- Secure and monitor their WordPress sites
- Set up smart Cloudflare protections
- Save bandwidth and reduce attack-related load
- Stay focused on their customers — not their control panel
Ready for a safer, faster, easier website?
Reach out and let’s talk about your site. No tech talk, no pressure — just practical help and expert advice when you need it.