At first glance, hiding your WordPress version may appear to be a smart move for protecting your website. Many site owners believe that hiding their WP version will deter hackers and protect their site from potential threats. However, this assumption isn’t necessarily true. Version hiding only serves as a superficial layer of defence, offering little-to-no security advantage.
The truth is, while it may seem like an easy fix, masking your WordPress version does nothing to tackle the actual vulnerabilities. This is what we might call “security through obscurity“, which is an ineffective strategy that doesn’t address real issues – hackers have far more sophisticated methods to identify potential weaknesses in your site.
In this article, we’ll explore why hiding your WordPress version is misguided, why people still attempt it, and – most importantly – what real security measures look like. Let’s debunk this myth and guide you towards genuine, effective security practices!
Understanding WordPress version exposure: Risks and realities
Hiding your WordPress version is ineffective security theatre. While it might seem like you’re concealing a vulnerability, determined hackers will easily bypass this tactic. Relying on version hiding does nothing to address actual weaknesses in your site’s defences, offering a false sense of security instead of real protection.
The only reason you might feel compelled to hide your WordPress version is if you’re running an outdated, vulnerable installation. But here’s the kicker: if you’re using an old version of WordPress, updating it is the real solution, not hiding the version number.
Think about the CVE-2017-1001000 vulnerability that affected WordPress 4.7.0 and 4.7.1. In this case, the REST API had a flaw that could allow remote attackers to modify pages without proper authentication. This serious vulnerability was patched quickly in version 4.7.2. If you were hiding your version and running one of the vulnerable releases, hackers could still have exploited this flaw – because your outdated version was the problem, not its visibility.
Hackers have advanced methods to detect WordPress versions beyond simply inspecting the HTML source. They can analyse file structures, directory listings, and even fingerprint your themes and plugins to infer which version of WordPress you’re running. Automated tools and botnets can scan websites en masse, seeking out specific WordPress versions with known vulnerabilities to exploit.
More to the point, publicly available vulnerability databases like CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) provide attackers with all the information they need to launch targeted attacks. That’s right – they’re literally being given this information. Exploit developers often use CVE details to create and distribute tools designed to target specific WordPress versions.
In short, hiding your WordPress version is not only ineffective – it’s dangerous. Hackers will find your vulnerabilities regardless, so it’s important to focus on proper, proactive security measures instead.
Quick guide: How to hide your WordPress version number
Although we have advised you against this as it only adds a thin layer of obscurity, you still might want to know how to hide your WordPress version number. We don’t want to sound like a broken record, but it’s important we stress this again: relying solely on version hiding leaves your site vulnerable to more sophisticated attacks.
For a stronger, more efficient approach, you might want to think about installing a security plugin like Shield Security PRO.
For those comfortable with coding, here are a few advanced techniques to manually remove your WordPress version number:
- Remove version from HTML source:
remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator');
- Remove version from RSS feeds:
function remove_version_from_rss() { return ''; }
add_filter('the_generator', 'remove_version_from_rss');
- Remove version from scripts and stylesheets:
function remove_version_from_scripts_and_styles($src) {
if (strpos($src, 'ver=')) {
$src = remove_query_arg('ver', $src);
}
return $src;
}
add_filter('style_loader_src', 'remove_version_from_scripts_and_styles', 9999);
add_filter('script_loader_src', 'remove_version_from_scripts_and_styles', 9999);
Always remember to backup your site before editing any core files. While these changes can hide the version number, they won’t address underlying security issues – so it’s important to pair these techniques with proper security measures.
Beyond hiding WordPress version – why concealment isn’t enough
Relying on WordPress version hiding may give you a false sense of security, but it doesn’t offer real protection. In fact, hiding your version is only ‘useful’ if you’re running an outdated or vulnerable installation. And in that case, your priority should be to update WordPress, not obscure its version.
Even if you do hide your version number, advanced hackers have other ways to detect it. They can use file structure analysis or even fingerprint the plugins and themes you’re using to deduce which version of WordPress is installed. These techniques bypass any superficial efforts to conceal version numbers.
It’s also important to understand that many vulnerabilities aren’t version-specific; plugins, themes, and server configurations can all introduce security risks. For instance, a weak plugin could expose your site to attacks regardless of which WordPress version you’re using, and poor server-level security practices can leave your site wide open to exploitation.
Hiding your WordPress version does nothing to protect against brute force attacks, social engineering, or zero-day exploits, all of which are common ways hackers compromise sites. These attacks focus on gaining unauthorised access or exploiting weaknesses before they’re even documented.
What do you really need? A comprehensive security strategy. Instead of focusing on obscuring version numbers, you need to prioritise real defences – like keeping your core, plugins, and themes up to date, implementing strong login security, and using a reliable security plugin like Shield Security PRO.
Comprehensive WordPress security: Best practices and strategies
Hiding your WordPress version isn’t a reliable security measure on its own – but when paired with other best practices, you can build a much stronger defence. Here are the most important strategies for keeping your WordPress site safe from attacks:
Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated
Regular updates are your first line of defence. Hiding your version number might delay an attack, but it’s far more effective when you’re running the latest, most secure version of WordPress. Keeping everything updated ensures that you’re not vulnerable to known exploits.
Implement strong password policies and two-factor authentication (2FA)
Even if hackers can’t determine your WordPress version, they might still try brute force attacks to guess login credentials. To stop this, enforce strong password policies and enable 2FA. This adds an extra layer of protection, making unauthorised access much more difficult.
Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF acts as a shield between your website and malicious traffic, helping to block attempts to probe for vulnerabilities, including version information. By filtering out suspicious activity, a WAF complements version hiding and makes it harder for attackers to recon.
Regularly audit and remove unused themes and plugins
Outdated or unused themes and plugins are often overlooked, but they can be entry points for attackers. Regularly auditing your site and removing anything unnecessary will reduce potential vulnerabilities, including any clues about your WordPress version.
Employ file integrity monitoring
Even with all these precautions, attackers may still find ways to compromise your site. Shield Security PRO’s file integrity monitoring alerts you to any unauthorised changes to your WordPress core files. This allows you to react quickly if someone tries to exploit a vulnerability.
All of these strategies are included in Shield Security PRO. We are passionate about security, and want to make sure the process to a safer, more secure WordPress website is accessible to all. We have done this by simplifying the process of keeping your WordPress site secure by automating updates, monitoring file integrity, and providing strong login security options like 2FA. It also includes WAF protection to block attacks before they can even begin, offering a complete security solution beyond just hiding your WordPress version (have we mentioned that this isn’t enough yet…)
Elevate your site’s protection with Shield Security PRO
Hiding your WordPress version may seem like a quick and easy security fix. Almost too easy. Unfortunately, hackers have multiple ways to uncover vulnerabilities, and relying solely on version hiding leaves your site exposed to many other threats while providing you with a false sense of security. This is where we can help.
Shield Security PRO is a holistic security solution designed to protect your WordPress site from multiple angles. It goes beyond version concealment and offers advanced features like malware scanning and removal, brute force login protection, comment spam prevention, file integrity monitoring, and 2FA – all working together to keep your site secure.
The best part? Shield Security PRO automates many of these tasks, so you don’t have to manage everything manually. From regular malware scans to real-time monitoring and updates, Shield Security PRO takes care of your site’s protection while allowing you to customise the security settings to fit your needs.
As new threats emerge, the software adapts with regular updates, meaning your site remains protected against evolving vulnerabilities. If you stick with us, you can stop worrying about version hiding and focus on true security!
Ready to take your site’s protection to the next level? Get started with Shield Security PRO today and experience real protection!
