You do not need to be a security expert to check if your site is vulnerable.
You just need 10 minutes and this checklist.
This is not a comprehensive security audit. This is a quick check for the most common issues—the ones that hackers exploit most often.
Do this audit right now. It takes 10 minutes. It could save you $25,000.
According to security research from Search Engine Journal, 96-97% of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins, and over 90% of hacked sites were running outdated software. Our security audit service can provide a comprehensive audit if you find multiple issues.
Table of Contents
- Check 1: Is Your Site Updated? (2 minutes)
- Check 2: Is Your Admin Password Strong? (1 minute)
- Check 3: Do You Have Two-Factor Authentication? (2 minutes)
- Check 4: Are Your Backups Working? (2 minutes)
- Check 5: Do You Have a Security Plugin? (1 minute)
- Check 6: Is Your Username "Admin"? (30 seconds)
- Check 7: Are You Using HTTPS? (30 seconds)
- Check 8: Do You Have Unused Plugins/Extensions? (1 minute)
- The Scoring
- Frequently Asked Questions
Check 1: Is Your Site Updated? (2 minutes)
What to check:
- Log into your WordPress or Joomla admin
- Check for update notifications
- Look at your plugins/extensions list
- Check your theme/template
What you are looking for:
- ✅ Core updates available? RED FLAG
- ✅ Plugin/extension updates available? RED FLAG
- ✅ Theme/template updates available? RED FLAG
- ✅ Any plugins/extensions marked as "abandoned"? RED FLAG
Why it matters: 96-97% of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins. If you have outdated plugins, you are vulnerable.
Action: Update everything. If you cannot update (compatibility issues), replace the plugin/extension with an actively maintained alternative.
Check 2: Is Your Admin Password Strong? (1 minute)
What to check:
- Log into your admin account
- Go to your user profile
- Check your password strength
What you are looking for:
- ✅ Password is "admin", "password", or "123456"? RED FLAG
- ✅ Password is less than 12 characters? RED FLAG
- ✅ Password is a dictionary word? RED FLAG
- ✅ Password does not include numbers and symbols? RED FLAG
Why it matters: Brute-force attacks try thousands of password combinations. Weak passwords are guessed in minutes.
Action: Change your password to a strong one (16+ characters, mix of letters, numbers, symbols). Use a password manager.
Check 3: Do You Have Two-Factor Authentication? (2 minutes)
What to check:
- Look for two-factor authentication (2FA) in your admin
- Check if it is enabled on your account
- Check if it is enabled on other admin accounts
What you are looking for:
- ✅ No 2FA available? RED FLAG
- ✅ 2FA available but not enabled? RED FLAG
- ✅ Some admin accounts have 2FA, others do not? RED FLAG
Why it matters: Even if someone guesses your password, 2FA prevents them from logging in. It is the #1 security improvement you can make.
Action: Install a 2FA plugin/extension (Wordfence, Google Authenticator, etc.) and enable it on all admin accounts.
Check 4: Are Your Backups Working? (2 minutes)
What to check:
- Look for backup plugins/extensions
- Check when the last backup was created
- Check where backups are stored
- Check if you can access backups
What you are looking for:
- ✅ No backup system? RED FLAG
- ✅ Last backup is more than 7 days old? RED FLAG
- ✅ Backups stored on the same server? RED FLAG
- ✅ Never tested a restore? RED FLAG
Why it matters: If you get hacked, backups are your only way to recover. If backups do not work, you are starting from scratch.
Action: Set up automated daily backups stored off-site (cloud storage, separate server). Test a restore to make sure backups work.
Check 5: Do You Have a Security Plugin? (1 minute)
What to check:
- Look at your plugins/extensions list
- Search for security-related plugins
- Check if any are installed and active
What you are looking for:
- ✅ No security plugin? RED FLAG
- ✅ Security plugin installed but not configured? RED FLAG
- ✅ Security plugin not updated? RED FLAG
Why it matters: Security plugins provide firewall protection, malware scanning, and brute-force protection. Without one, you are exposed.
Action: Install and configure a security plugin (Wordfence for WordPress, Akeeba Admin Tools for Joomla). Enable firewall and malware scanning.
Check 6: Is Your Username "Admin"? (30 seconds)
What to check:
- Look at your admin username
- Check other admin usernames
What you are looking for:
- ✅ Username is "admin"? RED FLAG
- ✅ Username is your business name? RED FLAG
- ✅ Username is easy to guess? RED FLAG
Why it matters: Hackers try "admin" first. If your username is "admin", they only need to guess your password. If your username is unique, they need to guess both.
Action: Create a new admin account with a unique username. Delete the old "admin" account (after transferring content ownership).
Check 7: Are You Using HTTPS? (30 seconds)
What to check:
- Look at your site URL in the browser
- Check if it starts with "https://" or "http://"
- Look for a padlock icon in the browser
What you are looking for:
- ✅ Site uses "http://" instead of "https://"? RED FLAG
- ✅ Browser shows "Not Secure" warning? RED FLAG
- ✅ SSL certificate expired? RED FLAG
Why it matters: HTTPS encrypts data between your site and visitors. Without it, data can be intercepted. Google also penalizes non-HTTPS sites.
Action: Install an SSL certificate (most hosting providers offer free SSL via Let's Encrypt). Force HTTPS redirects.
Check 8: Do You Have Unused Plugins/Extensions? (1 minute)
What to check:
- Look at your plugins/extensions list
- Identify inactive or unused plugins/extensions
- Check when they were last updated
What you are looking for:
- ✅ Inactive plugins/extensions installed? RED FLAG
- ✅ Plugins/extensions not updated in 6+ months? RED FLAG
- ✅ Plugins/extensions marked as "abandoned"? RED FLAG
Why it matters: Unused plugins/extensions are still code on your server. If they have vulnerabilities, hackers can exploit them even if they are inactive.
Action: Delete unused plugins/extensions. Replace abandoned ones with actively maintained alternatives.
The Scoring
Count your red flags:
- 0-2 red flags: You are in decent shape. Fix the issues and maintain regular updates.
- 3-5 red flags: You are vulnerable. Fix these issues immediately.
- 6+ red flags: You are at high risk. Fix these issues today, or consider professional help.
What This Audit Does Not Cover
This is a basic audit. It does not cover:
- Server-level security
- Database security
- File permissions
- Advanced malware detection
- Code-level vulnerabilities
- Network security
For a comprehensive audit, you need professional help. But this 10-minute check will catch 80% of common vulnerabilities.
The Verdict
You do not need to be a security expert to check if your site is vulnerable.
You just need 10 minutes and this checklist.
Do this audit right now. Fix the red flags. Then do it again in 30 days to make sure you stay secure.
If you found 6+ red flags, or if you do not know how to fix them, consider professional help. A $199/month maintenance plan is cheaper than a $25,000 breach. Our security audit service can provide a comprehensive audit if you need professional help.
Do not wait until you are attacked. Check your security today. It takes 10 minutes. It could save you everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is a 10-minute security audit?
A 10-minute audit catches about 80% of common vulnerabilities—the ones hackers exploit most often. However, it doesn't cover server-level security, database security, file permissions, advanced malware detection, code-level vulnerabilities, or network security. For a comprehensive audit, you need professional help. Our security audit service provides a complete security assessment.
What should I do if I find red flags?
If you find 0-2 red flags, fix them and maintain regular updates. If you find 3-5 red flags, fix them immediately—you're vulnerable. If you find 6+ red flags, you're at high risk—fix them today or consider professional help. Our maintenance plans include automated security updates and monitoring to prevent these issues.
How often should I do this audit?
Do this audit monthly, or whenever you make significant changes to your site (new plugins, theme updates, etc.). According to security research, over 90% of hacked sites were running outdated software, so regular audits are essential. Our maintenance plans include monthly security audits.
What's the most important security check?
All checks are important, but the most critical are: keeping everything updated (96-97% of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins), using strong passwords with two-factor authentication (prevents brute-force attacks), and having working backups (your only way to recover from a breach). Our maintenance plans include all of these protections.
Can I do a comprehensive security audit myself?
No, a comprehensive security audit requires professional expertise to check server-level security, database security, file permissions, advanced malware detection, code-level vulnerabilities, and network security. Our security audit service provides a complete security assessment that you can't do yourself.
What's the cost of not doing security audits?
The average cost of a security breach is $25,000-$200,000, including recovery costs, lost revenue, reputation damage, and potential regulatory fines. A $199/month maintenance plan is much cheaper than a single breach. Our maintenance plans include automated security updates and monitoring to prevent breaches.
How can I automate security checks?
You can automate security checks with a maintenance plan that includes automated security updates, malware scanning, vulnerability monitoring, and 24/7 monitoring. Our maintenance plans handle all of this automatically, so you don't have to do manual audits.
