You do not need to be a security expert to check if your site is vulnerable.
Recent Developments
- The **Capital One 2019 breach** was caused by misconfigured IAM policies in AWS, illustrating how simple misconfigurations can lead to massive data leaks[1].
- In 2024-2025, organizations increasingly face risks from **shadow IT** and ephemeral cloud resources that often go unmonitored, making asset inventory a critical audit step[3].
- The rise of **remote work** has increased the attack surface, highlighting the need for device and access security audits[4].
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Search Engine Journal, 96-97% of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins, and over 90% of hacked sites were running outdated software. A quick vulnerability scan and this 10-minute audit help you spot the biggest security risks fast. Our security audit service can provide a comprehensive security assessment if you find multiple issues.
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 If you have outdated plugins, you are vulnerable.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.
Check 9: Run a Quick Vulnerability Scan (2 minutes)
What to check:
- Use a lightweight website vulnerability scanner (Sucuri SiteCheck or your security plugin’s scanner)
- Scan your main site URL and a staging URL if you have one
- Review the security scan report for malware, misconfigurations, or exposed URLs
What you are looking for:
- ✅ Malware or malicious code detected? RED FLAG
- ✅ Known vulnerabilities in plugins/themes? RED FLAG
- ✅ Open directories or exposed dashboards? RED FLAG
Why it matters: A quick vulnerability scan gives you an instant view of your attack surface and basic security posture. It will not replace a full penetration test or application security review, but it catches obvious security issues fast.
Action: If the scanner flags issues, remediate them immediately—patch outdated components, lock down admin dashboards, and enable the firewall/WAF in your security plugin. For deeper findings, schedule a full security assessment or penetration testing.
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
- Full vulnerability assessment or penetration testing of web applications
For a comprehensive audit, you need professional help. But this 10-minute check plus a quick vulnerability scan will catch the majority of common vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
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. It also does not replace a full vulnerability scanner report or penetration testing. 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, firewall tuning, vulnerability scanning, 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. Pair this checklist with a quick website vulnerability scanner to catch misconfigurations between monthly reviews. Our maintenance plans include monthly security audits and continuous vulnerability monitoring.
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), having working backups (your only way to recover from a breach), and running a basic security scan to spot obvious malware or misconfigurations. Our maintenance plans include all of these protections plus ongoing vulnerability scanning.
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, application security, and network security. Automated tools and free website scanners help, but they do not replace a full security assessment. Our security audit service provides a complete evaluation, including penetration testing where needed.
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, vulnerability monitoring, and remediation 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, firewall management, and 24/7 monitoring. Our maintenance plans handle all of this automatically, so you don't have to do manual audits.
How long does a website security scan take?
Light website vulnerability scans typically take 1-3 minutes for a single URL and check for common issues like malware, outdated components, and misconfigurations. Deep scans or authenticated scans can take longer, especially for larger web applications. Use quick scans as part of this 10-minute audit to spot obvious problems, and schedule deeper scans during low-traffic windows.
Is there a free website vulnerability scanner I can use?
Yes. Free tools like Sucuri SiteCheck or the built-in scanner in many security plugins provide a fast, zero-cost way to check for malware, known vulnerabilities, and exposed URLs. They are great for quick visibility into your security posture, but they do not replace a full vulnerability assessment or penetration testing.
What is a web vulnerability scanner?
A web vulnerability scanner is a security audit tool that crawls your website or web applications to detect common security vulnerabilities (outdated components, insecure headers, misconfigurations, known CVEs) and signs of malicious code. It helps identify issues early so you can remediate them before attackers exploit your site. Pair scanners with regular updates, 2FA, backups, and a firewall for layered protection.
Why We Write About Security Assessments (And Why It Matters for Your Website)
You might be wondering: "Why is a website maintenance company writing about security assessments? This is directly about WordPress, but why do you cover every security practice?"
Because every security practice matters. Here's why:
When we give you a heads-up about critical security issues like security assessments, we're not just being helpful—we're protecting your privacy and saving all of us time. Here's the reality:
- Your security practices passwords are valuable to hackers. If your security posture gets compromised through a security assessment gap, attackers don't just steal your personal data—they steal your website passwords, your hosting credentials, your FTP access, and your database passwords. Suddenly, your website is compromised not because of a WordPress core vulnerability, but because your security posture was exploited.
- An educated client is easier to serve. When you understand security threats, we speak the same language. You know why we recommend certain security measures. You understand why we push for updates. You see the bigger picture—that website security isn't just about plugins and themes, it's about the entire digital ecosystem you operate in.
- Prevention saves everyone time. If you get hacked because of a security assessment gap, we have to clean up the mess. That takes time—your time dealing with the breach, our time cleaning and securing your site. By giving you a heads-up about critical issues like this, we're preventing problems before they happen. It's proactive maintenance, not reactive cleanup.
- Your security is our peace of mind. We sleep better knowing our clients are protected. When you're secure, your website is secure. When your website is secure, we don't have to spend hours cleaning up malware, restoring backups, or dealing with blacklist removals. Everyone wins.
This is why we write about security assessments and other security issues that affect your website. They're not unrelated—they're part of the same security ecosystem. Your security practices is a gateway to your website. Your email is a gateway to your hosting account. Your operating system is the foundation everything runs on.
We're not just maintaining your website. We're maintaining your entire digital presence. And that starts with keeping you informed about threats that could compromise everything.
So when you see us writing about security audits or assessment practices, remember: we're protecting your website by protecting you. Because in the end, your security is our security. Your peace of mind is our peace of mind. And an educated client who understands the threats? That's a client we can serve better, faster, and more effectively.
