What, Why, and Hows of WordPress Security Keys

As a WordPress professional with over 15 years of experience, I can‘t stress enough how important it is to understand and properly utilize WordPress security keys.

These cryptographic keys are vital for keeping WordPress sites secure, yet they are an often overlooked aspect of WordPress security.

In this comprehensive 3000+ word guide, I‘ll cover everything you as a fellow WordPress user need to know about WordPress security keys.

We‘ll dig into:

• What exactly WordPress security keys are
• Why security keys are critical for a secure site
• How to generate truly random keys
• When to rotate and regenerate your keys
• Tips from my 15 years of experience for managing keys properly
• and much more!

My goal is to help you fully understand WordPress security keys and use them effectively to lock down your site. Let‘s get started!

What Are WordPress Security Keys?

WordPress security keys are unique, randomly generated strings of characters that are used to encrypt and decrypt sensitive information on your site.

You can think of them like the keys to a locker that store sensitive data securely.

There are a total of 8 security keys in WordPress:

• 4 keys: AUTH_KEY, SECURE_AUTH_KEY, LOGGED_IN_KEY, NONCE_KEY
• 4 salts: AUTH_SALT, SECURE_AUTH_SALT, LOGGED_IN_SALT, NONCE_SALT

These keys and salts are defined in your wp-config.php file and used by WordPress to encrypt important user data like passwords, cookies, and nonces.

Here‘s what each WordPress security key does:

• AUTH_KEY – Encrypts and secures authentication cookies
• SECURE_AUTH_KEY – Encrypts and secures "secure" auth cookies with HTTPS
• LOGGED_IN_KEY – Encrypts cookies that indicate if a user is logged in
• NONCE_KEY – Encrypts WordPress nonces (number used once)
• AUTH_SALT – Adds extra encryption to the AUTH_KEY
• SECURE_AUTH_SALT – Adds extra encryption to the SECURE_AUTH_KEY
• LOGGED_IN_SALT – Adds extra encryption to the LOGGED_IN_KEY
• NONCE_SALT – Adds extra encryption to the NONCE_KEY

In short, these keys and salts encrypt sensitive user data to prevent unauthorized access. They add core protection for your WordPress site.

Here‘s a quick example of how the keys work:

When a user logs into your site, their login credentials are encrypted and stored in cookies using the AUTH_KEY and SECURE_AUTH_KEY.

The LOGGED_IN_KEY encrypts cookies that indicate whether the user is actively logged in or not.

These encrypted cookies allow the user to navigate your site while staying logged in. The keys keep the login data secure.

Security keys also encrypt all WordPress nonces. Nonces are random numbers used by WordPress to verify the validity of requests and preventcsrf attacks.

The additional salts provide extra protection by further randomizing the encrypted data.

Ultimately, the security keys act like digital "locks" to secure sensitive user information. They are vital for the security of your WordPress site.

Now that you know what WordPress security keys are, let‘s look at why they are so important for your site‘s security…

Why Are WordPress Security Keys Important?

There are two core reasons why utilizing strong WordPress security keys is critical:

1. Security keys prevent cracked user passwords

One of the biggest web security risks is cracked user passwords. According to Verizon‘s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report, 80% of hacking related breaches involve brute forced or weak passwords.

Without proper encryption from security keys, an attacker could potentially brute force the password hashes and gain access to your users‘ accounts.

But with security keys encrypting the passwords and login cookies, it becomes nearly impossible to crack them through brute force alone. Even strong passwords are further secured.

Randomized encryption powered by security keys is essential for preventing cracked user credentials.

2. Security keys prevent cookie manipulation

WordPress uses cookies to handle user sessions, preferences, and temporary data. Encrypting these cookies is critical.

If the cookies are not encrypted properly with security keys, hackers can potentially manipulate cookies to access unauthorized data or hijack user sessions.

With the security keys encrypting everything, any changes to cookies will fail the encryption validation. Tampered cookies are rejected.

This adds an extra layer of protection on top of TLS and HTTPS for securing sensitive user cookies.

Based on my experience, proper utilization of security keys makes it exponentially harder for hackers to break into WordPress sites via cookie manipulation or brute forced credentials.

They add crucial encryption that secures your site and users.

Now let‘s look at how to actually generate and use strong WordPress security keys…

How to Generate Strong WordPress Security Keys

When you first install WordPress, it will auto-generate a random set of security keys.

However, the WordPress defaults may not be as random or secure as possible. I recommend manually generating your own strong keys.

Here are three ways to properly generate high-entropy security keys for WordPress:

1. Use an online generator tool

One of the easiest ways is to use a dedicated online generator tool like the WordPress.org secret key generator.

Simply visit the page and click "Generate Keys". It will output a set of randomized keys for you to copy.

I‘d recommend generating at least 2-3 sets of keys, then choose the best set to use.

Make sure to generate an entirely new set of keys – don‘t just re-randomize your existing keys.

2. Use a security plugin with a built-in generator

Many WordPress security plugins like WP Cerber come with security key generation built-in.

For example, the Sucuri Security plugin I mentioned has a one click key generator.

These tools take the complexity out of creating new keys.

3. Generate your own randomized keys

You can also generate your own keys manually using a cryptographically secure function like openssl_random_pseudo_bytes() in PHP.

Just be sure to generate sufficiently long random strings of at least 64 characters for each key and salt.

The longer the better – I‘d recommend 128 characters or more per key for maximum security.

The most important factors are high entropy and unpredictability. Avoid common words or phrases. Stick to fully randomized character strings.

Key generation tips

• Generate keys of at least 128 characters each (the longer the better)
• Use a cryptographically-secure random number generator
• Avoid patterns, words, or non-random sequences
• Generate multiple sets of keys, then choose the best set

The key is using a reliable source of randomness when generating keys. Follow these tips and best practices to ensure you have maximum entropy.

Once you have your strong randomly generated keys, it‘s equally important to know when and how often to rotate them…

When Should You Regenerate WordPress Security Keys?

There are a few key times when you should generate and update to fresh new WordPress security keys:

1. When installing WordPress for the first time

Don‘t use the default auto-generated keys that come with WordPress.

Creating new strong keys before the initial install ensures your site is locked down from day one.

2. If your existing keys get compromised

If there are any signs your site was compromised such as unauthorized admin access or strange database changes, immediately generate and update your security keys.

Rotating keys will log out all users and prevent further access with the compromised credentials or cookies. It‘s a critical first response.

3. When migrating or cloning a site

Take care to regenerate fresh new keys when moving a WordPress site to a new hosting provider, server, or environment.

Old keys associated with previous infrastructure could be compromised. Rotating keys when migrating is a security best practice.

4. Periodically on a schedule

Consider regenerating your WordPress security keys every 1-3 months as part of your security protocol.

Scheduled key rotation ensures your encryption stays strong over time.

According to Sucuri data, over 80% of infected sites are running outdated versions of WordPress. Keeping keys, plugins and WordPress core updated is key for security.

When to regenerate keys recap

To recap, you should generate and update your WordPress security keys:

• On new WordPress installs
• If your site is compromised
• When migrating or cloning sites
• Periodically every few months

Next, let‘s look at how to actually update to your newly generated keys…

How to Update Your WordPress Security Keys

Once you‘ve generated a new set of strong security keys, the process of updating them in WordPress is simple:

1. Access your wp-config.php file via SFTP, FTP, or your hosting control panel file manager.

2. Paste your newly generated security keys and salts over the existing ones in wp-config.php.

3. Save your changes to wp-config.php and reupload it to your server if needed.

4. Log out then back into your WordPress admin dashboard. You and any other users will need to re-login.

That‘s all there is to it! Just be sure you never expose your new keys publicly or check them into version control.

Here‘s an example showing new security keys being updated in wp-config.php:

// Old keys  
define(‘AUTH_KEY‘,         ‘xDq%tb|et||u`lM}15‘=_?92llKI9KAJ^VF#756]ZQb*HAPivY#Mfk;0S61a!p/u‘);
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_KEY‘,  ‘+mGa>QK:e60O~d1GQmxj7Y[|?k[.lJ<}efLSGBIe>$y*GklifiQuuXjvm)sgTj,+‘);

// New keys
define(‘AUTH_KEY‘,         ‘ZM5+a?:{c?D1BqGC)e&2V~|n*<Gz*LH9p?>|S-_H!J-Kj[#%h6uX@y1X|WUSuXAJ‘);  
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_KEY‘,  ‘B@Zr9_M5w>J1@`v6cgK;pPOmwc]bA)sRgi/_YyyN;%[$utSTgTj#ZzCc&op{Vn2+‘);

Be sure to update all 8 security keys and salts when rotating your encryption.

Now let‘s go over some pro tips and best practices for properly managing your WordPress security keys…

Tips for Managing WordPress Security Keys

Here are some expert tips and best practices for managing your WordPress security keys based on my 15+ years as a webmaster:

Use sufficiently long, random keys

As mentioned, your security keys should each be at least 128-256 characters (the longer, the better). Use a cryptographically-secure random number generator to ensure maximum entropy.

Shorter or non-random keys are far easier for an attacker to crack.

Never expose your keys publicly

Treat your WordPress security keys like passwords. Never share them publicly, check them into GitHub, or transmit them in plain text.

If they get exposed, you‘ll need to immediately regenerate your keys.

Consider automating key rotation

Plugins like Sucuri Security and WP Cerber allow you to setup automated key rotation on a schedule.

This takes the manual work out of regenerating keys periodically.

Backup keys securely

Maintain encrypted offline backups of your keys in case you ever need to restore them. Never store unencrypted keys in public clouds or repos. Handle them with care.

Regenerate after migrations

As mentioned, it‘s smart to establish new keys when migrating WordPress to new hosting environments. Eliminate risks associated with old infrastructure.

Standardize key updates

Make updating security keys part of your regular WordPress maintenance routine. Schedule it along with plugin and WordPress core updates.

Watch for signs of intrusion

If there is any suspicious activity on your site, regenerate keys immediately. Don‘t wait. Rotate your encryption right away.

Seek help if removed accidentally

If you accidentally delete your keys without a backup, contact WordPress support for assistance restoring access. Don‘t panic, they can help.

Following these tips and best practices will ensure you have maximum security from your WordPress encryption keys.

Next let‘s go over some common questions around WordPress security keys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions around WordPress security keys:

Do I need to regenerate all keys or just some?

It‘s best to regenerate the entire set of 8 security keys together – all 4 keys and 4 salts. This keeps them properly in sync for maximum security.

What happens if I lose or delete my security keys?

If you lose your current security keys, you won‘t be completely locked out of your site. You can always generate and update to a fresh new set of keys.

However, this will log all users out until they re-login. Make sure you have backups before regenerating.

How do I add keys for a new WordPress site?

For a brand new WordPress install, paste your generated keys into wp-config.php before you run the installer. The installer will detect and use them.

You can also install first, then replace the default keys WordPress generates with your custom ones.

Can I improve site security without new keys?

Yes – security keys are just one part of good WordPress security. You‘ll also want to use strong passwords, limit login attempts, keep plugins updated, disable file editing in WordPress, and more.

But periodically regenerating keys helps harden security considerably.

What‘s the best way to backup WordPress security keys?

I recommend downloading a copy of your keys and storing them encrypted with a tool like VeraCrypt in a safe offline location.

You can decrypt and retrieve them later if needed. Don‘t rely on online storage.

Should I change keys when switching hosts?

Yes, it‘s smart security practice to establish new security keys when migrating your WordPress site to new hosting providers, servers, or environments.

Keys associated with previous infrastructure could be compromised. Rotation gives you a fresh start.

How often should you regenerate WordPress security keys?

A good general guideline is to regenerate your WordPress security keys every 2-3 months. You can also do it more frequently such as monthly if desired.

The keys do not expire, but periodically rotating them improves your security posture over time.

Conclusion

As you can see, properly utilizing WordPress security keys is crucial for keeping your site locked down and preventing unauthorized access.

Now that you know what security keys do, why they matter, and how to manage them, you can leverage them to maximize your site‘s security.

The keys act like digital "locks" that encrypt sensitive user data. Regenerating them periodically keeps your encryption strong.

Be sure to follow the tips outlined in this guide on properly generating random keys, rotating your keys, and never exposing them publicly.

Proper use of security keys, along with other best practices like plugin updates and strong passwords, will help protect your WordPress site from the vast majority of hacks and attacks.

So take time to understand and implement WordPress security keys – it‘s one of the most effective things you can do to keep your site secure for the long run.

Have any other questions as you implement WordPress security keys? I‘m always happy to help fellow WordPress users. Feel free to reach out!