How To Configure Secure Updates and Installations in WordPress on Ubuntu 24.04

Keeping your WordPress website secure is essential for protecting your data, visitors, and reputation. One of the best ways to enhance security is by ensuring that your updates and installations are performed securely. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to configure secure updates and installations for WordPress running on Ubuntu 24.04, helping you maintain a safe and reliable website.

Why Secure Updates Matter

WordPress frequently releases updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and patch security vulnerabilities. However, if updates are not properly secured, they can be exploited by malicious actors. Ensuring that updates are authenticated and transmitted securely reduces risks and keeps your site resilient.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have:

• Ubuntu 24.04 server with root or sudo privileges
• WordPress installed and running
• A web server (Apache or Nginx)
• PHP and MySQL/MariaDB configured
• Basic understanding of Linux command line

Step 1: Keep Your System Up-to-Date

Start by updating your Ubuntu system to ensure all packages, including security patches, are current:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Secure the Web Server and WordPress Files

Ensure your web server is configured securely:

• Use strong permissions for WordPress files:

  sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/wordpress
  sudo find /var/www/html/wordpress -type d -exec chmod 750 {} \;
  sudo find /var/www/html/wordpress -type f -exec chmod 640 {} \;

• Disable directory listing and enable HTTPS in your server configuration.

Step 3: Enable HTTPS with SSL/TLS

Use Let’s Encrypt to obtain free SSL certificates:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx  # For Nginx
# or
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache # For Apache

sudo certbot --apache -d yourdomain.com
# or
sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com

Follow the prompts to install and configure SSL. HTTPS encrypts data transmitted between your server and users, including updates and installations.

Step 4: Configure WordPress for Secure Updates

WordPress automatically checks for updates, but you can enhance security:

• Set correct permissions: As shown earlier, ensure only necessary users have access.
• Use a dedicated user for WordPress: Avoid running WordPress as root.

Step 5: Use a Managed or Secure Update Mechanism

• Enable automatic updates for minor releases:

Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:

define('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', 'minor');

• For major updates, manually update to verify security:

cd /var/www/html/wordpress
wp core update --allow-root

(Requires WP-CLI installed)

Step 6: Secure the WordPress Admin Area

• Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):

Install plugins like Google Authenticator to add 2FA for admin logins.

• Limit login attempts:

Use security plugins such as Wordfence or Login LockDown.

• Change default admin username: Avoid using ‘admin’.

Step 7: Regular Backups and Monitoring

• Implement regular backups of your files and database.
• Use monitoring tools to detect suspicious activity.

Conclusion

Securing updates and installations in WordPress on Ubuntu 24.04 is crucial for maintaining a safe website. By keeping your system updated, enabling HTTPS, configuring file permissions, and using security best practices, you reduce the risk of vulnerabilities and ensure your site remains trustworthy.

At Greenhost.cloud, we are committed to helping you build and maintain secure, reliable websites. For more tips and managed hosting solutions, visit our website or contact our support team.

Stay secure, stay confident!

Published by Greenhost.cloud