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Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have

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Hugh W. Roberts

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You wouldn’t leave your doors unlocked if you were the last one to leave the house, would you?

Would you give a stranger the password to your online banking account?

Would you share or give a stranger the password to your blog?

Protecting your blog is just as important as protecting your home and online bank accounts, yet many bloggers share personal details about themselves on their blogs and on social media, which can be a treasure trove for scammers. Be careful what information you share.

Before sharing any information, ask yourself, ‘Would I share this information with a complete stranger?’

Light blue image with the words 'Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have' in white text.
Adding this feature will give your blog an extra layer of security.

Although we’re all encouraged to use a strong password to protect our blogs, did you know that many blogging platforms, including WordPress, offer users an extra layer of security when it comes to protecting their blogs?

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code or use another device in addition to your password. For example, you can use an app like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator to generate access codes for your blog.

WordPress offers users two-factor authentication security. Follow the guide below to set it up for your WordPress blog. For this example, I’m using an Apple iMac desktop computer.

How to set up two-step authentication for your WordPress blog.

  • In the top right of your blog, click on your profile picture/avatar.
  • Click on ‘Security‘ in the menu on the page’s left side.
Image highlighting the 'Security' tab on a WordPress blog.
Click on the ‘Security’ tab.
  • Select the ‘Two-step Authentication‘ option.
Image highlight the Two-Step Authentication tab on a WordPress blog.
Select Two-Step Authentication
  • Select which method you would like to receive the two-step passcode generated by WordPress, and click the ‘Get Started‘ button.
Image highlighting the 'Get Started' button when setting up Two-Step Authentication on WordPress.
Click the ‘Get Started’ button.
  • Follow the onscreen instructions depending on your selected method to receive the WordPress two-step authentication passcode.
  • Once enabled, logging into WordPress.com will require you to enter a unique passcode generated by an app on your mobile device or sent via text after adding your username and password.
  • You will receive an email from WordPress confirming that two-step authentication has been enabled.
Image showing an email confirmation from WordPress confirming that two-step authentication has been set up.
You’ll get an email from WordPress confirming that two-step authentication has been set up for your blog.
  • That’s it! Access to your blog is now protected by an extra layer of security.

I’d recommend adding or checking that the recovery email address and recovery SMS number for your WordPress blog/account are also correct when switching on two-step authentication.

Are you making the most of Two-Step Authentication to safeguard your blog? Need guidance on setting it up? Share your best practices for securing your blog in the comments below.

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63 responses to “Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have”

  1. Are You Getting 'Anonymous' Blog Comments? How To Stop Them avatar
    Are You Getting 'Anonymous' Blog Comments? How To Stop Them

    […] Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have […]

    Reply
  2. Inspire Me Monday Linky Party #452 | Mostly Blogging avatar
    Inspire Me Monday Linky Party #452 | Mostly Blogging

    […] Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have […]

    Reply
  3. Janice Wald avatar
    Janice Wald

    Congratulations! You won the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party and will be featured on my site tomorrow.
    Janice

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks for the fantastic news, Janice.

      Reply
  4. EsmeSalon avatar
    EsmeSalon

    Hi Hugh, Great and very useful tip as always.
    Thanks so much for participating and sharing at SSPS 293. See you again next week!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I’m glad this post has been so helpful. Thanks Esme.

      Reply
  5. dgkaye avatar
    dgkaye

    Thanks for another great tip Hugh. I’d like to know if by adding the two-step, does that mean we have to do two logins to open our dashboards? :)

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      It depends, Debby. I went the SMS direction. After logging in, I now get a link sent to my phone (and Apple Watch). All I have to do is click on the link, and my blog then opens on my desktop. So no having to enter any passcodes.

      Reply
      1. dgkaye avatar
        dgkaye

        Thanks Hugh. I’m not a Mac user so it may be a tad different.

        Reply
        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
          Hugh W. Roberts

          Yes, you’re right. Also, if you go or the app option, you’ll be sent a number code (usually 6 figures long) to open up your blog. I used to do that using an authentication app until I discovered I could open my blog (and computer) from my watch.

          Reply
          1. dgkaye avatar
            dgkaye

            Thanks again Hugh. :)

            Reply
  6. Liesbet @ Roaming About avatar
    Liesbet @ Roaming About

    Thanks for the tip, Hugh. I’ll have to figure out how to activate the two-step authentication function on my self-hosted blog, as my avatar on the right top corner in my dashboard doesn’t give me a “security” option.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I hope you find where the security option is, Liesbet. Two-step authentication certainly helps give me a little more piece of mind.

      Reply
  7. Eugi avatar
    Eugi

    Thank you, Hugh, for this excellent advice. We must be vigilant about being safe online and not have the attitude, that it will never happen to us.

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      I completely agree, Eugi. It always annoys me when people say ‘ it’ll never happen to me.’

      Reply
      1. Eugi avatar
        Eugi

        Me too, Hugh, and words they will regret.

        Reply
  8. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    Great advice, Hugh! I see the prompt for it occasionally and really should take this step, given that my blog FB page was hacked in 2022. Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      That’s a good enough reason to set it up, Terri. I think I set two-step authentication for my blog up many years ago when my Facebook account was also hacked. That’s one social media site I do not miss.

      Reply
  9. James L avatar
    James L

    Thanks Hugh for spreading the word about 2 Factor Authentication, I can see a lot of people commenting on the post saying they’re setting up which is good to see, as this extra security key will go a long way to protecting identify.

    I used 2 factor on as many accounts that allow it, and it does work as an extra failsafe if you tend to use the same password on different sites, and one of those places suffer a data breach. People will malicious intentions will then try that password on any other accounts they know you own (which is easier than ever due to sharing on social media.

    It might be annoying having that extra step to authentic – I once accidently left my phone in the car, so couldn’t get on a site I regularly because of 2FA being enabled, but it shows how effective it works if your password falls into the wrong hands!

    Also hope you don’t mind me sharing this link (please edit out if not), but your readers checking through the comments might be interested in the website https://haveibeenpwned.com/ which reveals which sites have had user details leaked, you just put in the web domains where you have accounts, it tells you if a site has been hacked (and when), you can then update your passwords for the site, and all other sites you use which share the same password!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      Thanks for the information, James. I use Chrome and it has a similar feature that tells me which sites have had a data breach. My Apple devices also tell me of any ‘insecure passwords’ including weak passwords.

      I know that changing passwords can be a hassle, but I tend to change mine at least once a year and do not use the same ones. I also use a password manager which helps when I forget passwords (it happens).

      Your story about leaving your phone in the car and not being able to access a site is prove indeed on why everybody should consider two-step authentication. Yes, it can be a pain, but that extra layer of security works.

      Reply
      1. James L avatar
        James L

        In an old IT job we had people complain about the enforcement of two factor authentication, but those who let their company email account fall into the wrong hands, had bruised egos and were more compromising!

        Reply
  10. JT Twissel avatar
    JT Twissel

    For some reason it’s already set up on my blog – I don’t recall doing anything! But it’s nice to know how to reset it should anything happen. Thx!

    Reply
    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar
      Hugh W. Roberts

      You may have set it up many years ago as it’s been available to do for sometime. But good to know it’s all set up and working.

      Reply

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