Protecting a WordPress website from hackers involves implementing a combination of best practices for security. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you safeguard your WordPress site:

1. Keep WordPress Updated: Ensure that your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are always up to date. Developers often release updates to fix security vulnerabilities.
2. Avoid Using Nulled/Cracked Themes and Plugins: Nulled themes and plugins often contain malicious code or hidden malware that can compromise the security of your website.Developers of nulled software may inject code to gain unauthorized access to your site, steal sensitive information, or distribute spam.
3. Use Strong Passwords: Encourage users to create strong passwords that include a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider implementing a password policy or using a plugin to enforce strong passwords.
4. Limit Login Attempts: Install a plugin that limits the number of login attempts. This helps prevent brute force attacks where hackers try to guess passwords repeatedly. You can use plugin like Wordfence to enable Limit Login.
5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implement 2FA to add an extra layer of security to the login process. This typically requires users to enter a one-time code sent to their mobile device in addition to their password. You can use plugin like Wordfence to enable 2FA.
6. Use HTTPS: Encrypt data transmitted between your website and visitors’ browsers using SSL/TLS certificates. This prevents eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.
7. Install Security Plugins: Use security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri Security, or iThemes Security to monitor your site for suspicious activity, block malicious traffic, and strengthen overall security.
8. Secure wp-config.php File: Protect the wp-config.php file, which contains sensitive information such as database credentials. Move it to a higher directory level or use .htaccess rules to restrict access.
9. Regular Backups: Perform regular backups of your WordPress site, including both files and the database. In case of a security breach, you can restore your site to a previous state.
10. Implement Security Headers: Utilize security headers such as Content Security Policy (CSP), X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and X-XSS-Protection to mitigate various types of attacks.
11. Secure File Permissions: Set appropriate file permissions to restrict access to files and directories on your server. Directories should typically have permissions of 755, and files should have permissions of 644.
12. Disable XML-RPC: If you’re not using XML-RPC, disable it as it can be exploited by attackers. You can do this by adding the following code to your .htaccess file:

# Block WordPress xmlrpc.php requests
<Files xmlrpc.php>
order deny,allow
deny from all
</Files>

13. Disable File Editing: Prevent unauthorized users from editing theme and plugin files directly from the WordPress admin panel. You can do this by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);