Stealth Mode: The Definitive Guide to Hiding Your WordPress Website’s Version Number
In the world of website security, seemingly small details can make a big difference. One such detail is your WordPress version number. While it might seem innocuous, publicly displaying your WordPress version is akin to leaving your house key under the doormat for anyone to find. It provides valuable information to malicious actors, making your site a more appealing target for automated attacks and exploits. Knowing the WordPress version allows hackers to pinpoint known vulnerabilities associated with that specific build. This is why concealing this crucial piece of information is a vital step in hardening your WordPress security posture.
This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of hiding your WordPress version number. We’ll explore multiple methods, ranging from simple code snippets to more advanced techniques, ensuring you have the knowledge and tools to effectively protect your site. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a complete beginner, you’ll find actionable steps to implement these changes.
Why Hiding Your WordPress Version Number is Crucial
Before diving into the technical details, let’s understand the inherent risks of leaving your WordPress version number exposed:
- Exploit Targeting: Hackers constantly scan the web, looking for sites running specific WordPress versions known to have security flaws. By revealing your version number, you essentially hand them a roadmap to potential vulnerabilities.
- Automated Attacks: Malicious bots are programmed to exploit common WordPress weaknesses. When they encounter a site displaying its version, they can quickly target it with specific attack vectors designed for that particular version.
- Reduced Risk Exposure: While hiding the version number won’t make your site impenetrable, it does significantly increase the effort required for attackers to find exploits. The more hurdles you put in their way, the less appealing your site becomes as a target.
- Enhanced Security Posture: A crucial part of a robust security approach is adopting a security-by-obscurity mindset. This involves hiding as much identifying information as possible, making it harder for attackers to gain an advantage.
Methods for Hiding Your WordPress Version Number
Now that we’ve covered the importance of hiding your version number, let’s look at the different ways to do it:
Method 1: Using the functions.php File (Recommended for Custom Themes)
The most effective and common method involves adding code snippets to your theme’s `functions.php` file. This file acts as a central hub for custom functions and is the ideal place to implement these changes. Please note: if you’re using a commercially purchased theme, you should be using a child theme instead so these changes do not get overwritten during theme updates.
Step 1: Access your theme’s functions.php file.
You can access this file in a few ways:
- Through the WordPress Dashboard: Navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor. Select the theme you are using, then locate the `functions.php` file on the right-hand side. If you are using a commercially bought theme you should be using a child theme. If there is not a `functions.php` file inside your child theme, create one.
- Via FTP/SFTP: Using an FTP client (like FileZilla), connect to your server. Navigate to your WordPress installation directory, then go to `wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/` (or `wp-content/themes/your-child-theme-name/`) and find the `functions.php` file. If you are using a child theme, you will add it to the child themes `functions.php`
Step 2: Add the following code snippets to your functions.php file:
Add this code at the end of the file, just before the closing `?>` tag if it’s present, or simply at the end if there is no closing tag.
// Remove WordPress version from head
function remove_wp_version() {
return '';
}
add_filter('the_generator', 'remove_wp_version');
// Remove WordPress version from RSS feeds
function remove_wp_version_rss() {
return '';
}
add_filter('rss_enclosure', 'remove_wp_version_rss');
add_filter('rss2_head', 'remove_wp_version_rss');
add_filter('rss_head', 'remove_wp_version_rss');
add_filter('atom_head', 'remove_wp_version_rss');
add_filter('commentsrss2_head', 'remove_wp_version_rss');
add_filter('commentsrss_head', 'remove_wp_version_rss');
// Remove WordPress version from scripts and styles
function remove_wp_version_from_scripts($src) {
if (strpos($src, 'ver=' . get_bloginfo('version'))) {
$src = remove_query_arg('ver', $src);
}
return $src;
}
add_filter('style_loader_src', 'remove_wp_version_from_scripts', 9999);
add_filter('script_loader_src', 'remove_wp_version_from_scripts', 9999);
// Remove WordPress version from admin bar
function remove_wp_version_admin_bar() {
global $wp_admin_bar;
$wp_admin_bar->remove_menu('wp-logo');
}
add_action( 'wp_before_admin_bar_render', 'remove_wp_version_admin_bar' );
//Remove WordPress version from the login page
function remove_wp_version_login(){
return '';
}
add_filter( 'login_headertext', 'remove_wp_version_login' );
Step 3: Save your changes.
After pasting the code, save the `functions.php` file. If using the WordPress dashboard theme editor, click on the “Update File” button. If using FTP/SFTP, upload the modified file back to your server, overwriting the original.
Explanation of the code:
remove_wp_version()and related functions: These functions filter different output areas of the page head including rss feeds, removing the version number from the WordPress generator tag, rss, atom, and feed outputs. This tag usually appears like this: ``remove_wp_version_from_scripts(): This function scans the scripts and stylesheets included in the HTML, removes the version query string from them. Example of a common script tag with a version is `<script src=’https://your-site.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1′>` – this removes the `?ver=3.7.1` from the urlremove_wp_version_admin_bar(): This removes the WordPress logo and the “About WordPress” link from the top admin bar.remove_wp_version_login(): This removes the text stating `Powered by WordPress` from the login screen.
Method 2: Using a Security Plugin (User-Friendly Approach)
If you prefer not to directly edit code, you can achieve similar results using a WordPress security plugin. These plugins often offer a range of features, including version number removal. Here are some popular options:
- Wordfence Security: Wordfence is a comprehensive security plugin that offers a variety of features, including options to hide your WordPress version. Once installed go to the Wordfence admin menu and then navigate to *All Options > Firewall > Options* and toggle the feature *Hide WordPress version* to *Enabled*.
- iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security): iThemes Security is another powerful security plugin that can help you secure your WordPress site. After installing and activating, go to the iThemes Security admin menu and go to the *Settings* page, then under the *WordPress Tweaks* section toggle the option *Remove Generator Tag* to enabled and click the save button.
- Sucuri Security: Sucuri offers both a free plugin and a premium service. The plugin has hardening options to remove your version number from meta tags. Inside the plugin, go to the *Hardening* menu, click *Harden your website*, then select *Remove WordPress Generator Tag* to enabled.
- All In One WP Security & Firewall: This free plugin also has a variety of security options including the ability to hide the generator meta tag. To enable this feature, go to *Settings > WP Version Info* and check the box *Remove WP Generator Meta Tag* and save.
Step 1: Install and activate the plugin.
Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for the plugin you choose, install and activate it.
Step 2: Locate the version number hiding option.
Every plugin has different menus and settings. Please refer to the instructions in the above descriptions for each plugin to find the setting.
Step 3: Enable the option and save your settings.
Once you enable the appropriate option, save the changes. You might need to clear your site cache if you are using a caching plugin to see the results.
Pros of using a security plugin:
- Ease of use: Plugins typically have intuitive interfaces, making it easy for non-developers to implement these security measures.
- Additional security features: Security plugins often offer many other security features like malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security.
- Regular updates: Reputable security plugins are constantly updated to address new vulnerabilities and security threats.
Cons of using a security plugin:
- Potential for conflicts: Some security plugins may conflict with other plugins or themes, so you should test and research before installing.
- Performance impact: Some plugins may add overhead and slow down your site, especially if not configured correctly.
- Reliance on third-party code: You are placing a certain amount of trust in the plugin developer. Always choose well-maintained, reputable options.
Method 3: Modifying the .htaccess File (Not Recommended for Beginners)
This method involves adding code to your `.htaccess` file, which controls how your web server operates. This file is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation and is not recommended for beginners as making mistakes can break your site.
Step 1: Access your .htaccess file.
You’ll need to use an FTP client to access this file. Connect to your server, and you should find the `.htaccess` file in the same directory as your `wp-config.php` file and `wp-admin` folder. Note: if you cannot see this file it might be hidden. Look in your FTP program settings for a feature to show hidden files or search the support documentation for your FTP program on how to display hidden files. If it is still not there, create a new file named `.htaccess`.
Step 2: Add the following code to your .htaccess file.
Add this code to your .htaccess file. If you are creating a new file, insert the code inside it. Make sure to backup this file before making changes!