Secure Your WordPress Site by Disabling PHP Execution in Certain Directories

Strengthening Security for Your WordPress Website: Disabling PHP Execution

Safeguarding your WordPress website against potential security threats is paramount. One effective method is to disable PHP execution in certain directories, reducing the risk of malicious activity from hackers and malware. In this article, we will outline the steps to disable PHP execution in WordPress using the .htaccess file.

The Importance of Disabling PHP Execution

Unscrupulous attackers often exploit writable directories in WordPress to upload malware or gain unauthorized access to your site. By disabling PHP execution, you can prevent these malicious files from running and ensure the safety of your website. Follow the steps below to implement this crucial security measure:

Disabling PHP Execution: Utilizing the .htaccess File

Most WordPress websites have an .htaccess file in their root folder, which allows you to customize various settings. By creating additional .htaccess files in specific directories, you can effectively disable PHP execution within those directories. Follow these steps:

1. Create a new file on your local computer using any text editor, such as Notepad for Windows or TextEdit for Mac.
2. Save the file as “.htaccess“.
3. Copy and paste the following code into the file:

<Files *.php>
deny from all
</Files>

1. Save the file and upload it to both the /wp-includes/ and /wp-content/uploads/ directories on your WordPress hosting server. You can use an FTP client or the File Manager app in your hosting account’s cPanel dashboard.

Once you have added the .htaccess file to these directories, any PHP files within them will be prevented from executing.

Additional Security Measures to Consider

While disabling PHP execution is a crucial step in securing your WordPress site, it may not be sufficient if your website has already been compromised. Backdoor access and hidden threats within your files can still pose risks. To ensure your website remains clean and fully protected, we recommend activating Sucuri, the leading WordPress security plugin. Sucuri scans your website for threats, suspicious code, malware, and vulnerabilities while also providing a firewall to ward off hacking attempts.

Further Resources for WordPress Security

If you are eager to further improve the security of your WordPress website, check out these other invaluable resources:

• The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Security
• Protecting Your WordPress Website from Brute Force Attacks
• Best Practices for Creating Strong User Passwords in WordPress
• Securing Your WordPress Login Page with Two-Factor Authentication

We trust that this article has equipped you with a comprehensive understanding of how to disable PHP execution in specific WordPress directories, thus enhancing your website’s security. For more insightful WordPress tips and tutorials, subscribe to our YouTube Channel or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.