How to Use WP-CLI for WordPress Security

WordPress site security is obviously important, but it doesn’t have to be such a source of worry that takes up your entire day and causes problems. Here it is: WP-CLI, a powerful and reliable command line interface tool that can manage all WordPress-related tasks straight from a user’s computer terminal.

You should be aware that WP-CLI is not a tool for developers; anyone may use it to do security and maintenance tasks once they become accustomed to it. Having said that, the following WP-CLI commands are simple yet effective for protecting a WordPress website.

Using Wp-CLI for WordPress Security, A Simple Guide

1. No Installation Needed

The fact that WP-CLI is pre-installed on a wide range of hosting systems is one of its fantastic features. Those laborious installs and configurations are unnecessary. Just make sure your host does support SSH access, and voila! Most of them will have their instructions on how to use WP-CLI, so it’s always worth checking their knowledge base first.

2. Getting Started with Commands

WP-CLI is structured around commands, nouns, and verbs. For example:

wp plugin update --all --dry-run

In this command:

• wp is the base command.
• plugin is the noun (what you’re interacting with).
• update is the verb (what you want to do).
• –all is a flag that specifies you want to update all plugins.

It’s that simple! You can also get help at any time by typing –help after any command.

3. Secure Your Updates

The first step in ensuring your website’s security is keeping everything up to date – WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

With WP-CLI, you can quickly check for updates using:

wp core check-update --minor

If you’re good to go, WP-CLI will tell you that your site is up to date. If not, it’s easy to update the minor releases:

wp core update --minor

Remember, minor updates typically don’t break your site, but it’s better to always check after updating to ensure everything works as expected.

4. Monitoring File Changes

One of the most critical security measures is keeping an eye on your site files. WP-CLI has a built-in command to check for any file changes, like this:

wp core verify-checksums

This checks your WordPress core files against the official WordPress checksums. If something’s off, you’ll get an alert, so you can take action right away.

5. User Management

Sometimes, attackers may modify your users, either by adding new ones or changing their roles. WP-CLI can help you manage users directly from the command line. For example, to view all admins:

wp user list --role=administrator

If you spot any suspicious accounts, you can remove their admin role:

wp user remove-role <user_name|user_email|ID>

6. Backups Made Easy

It’s always a good idea to have backups, and WP-CLI makes it easy to create backups of your WordPress site. To export your database:

wp db export backup/database.sql

Then, compress your wp-content folder to keep it safe:

zip -rv backup/wp-content.zip ./wp-content

Once you’ve zipped everything up, you can download it directly or store it securely.

7. Maintenance Mode for Updates

If you need to perform updates or maintenance, WP-CLI makes it easy to put your site in maintenance mode to prevent visitors from seeing broken content.

wp maintenance-mode activate

Once your updates are done, simply deactivate it:

wp maintenance-mode deactivate

Conclusion

WP-CLI is a great utility that really simplifies the ways one manages and secures a WordPress site. This would, for the beginner or veteran alike, be a great addition to a user’s toolset.

The more you get used to WP-CLI, the more advanced commands and features you will see helping in WF streamlining. Go on, play deeper, and feel free to ask your questions or share your experience!