The digital landscape offers limitless opportunities to showcase your website to a global audience. However, there’s also a high risk of security breaches, hackers' interventions, or malicious activities, making your website inescapable from security loopholes.
If you are a Joomla user, you are secured to a high extent as Joomla is regarded as one of the highly secured CMS platforms; however it still is the second infected website platform, accounting for 1.7% of all kinds of infections.
Joomla is highly popular, therefore, its popularity attracts hackers and malicious actors, making your website vulnerable to security threats like SQL injections, malware, unwanted website access, data exploitation, or breaches, virus attacks, and many more.
Hence, with cyberattacks on the rise in Australia, protecting your Joomla website from potential threats is essential. Whether you run a business, an eCommerce store, or a government website, security should be a top priority.
Hence, in this article, we’ll study about Joomla security and potential threats that can make your site vulnerable to security risks. Not just this, here, we also have come up with some striking and practical security tips to help you safeguard your website and prevent cyber threats. Let’s begin!
Is Joomla! secure?
Joomla is a trusted CMS, powering more than 2.5% of websites worldwide.
[Also read: 10 well-known websites that use Joomla!]
However, it also often becomes a prey of hackers and cyber criminals. So, should we assume Joomla is not a secure platform?
Joomla is a secure content management system. However, like any other platform, its security depends on proper maintenance and best practices.
Joomla’s development team actively releases security patches and updates to address vulnerabilities, making it a reliable choice for website owners. However, websites can become vulnerable if outdated versions, poorly coded extensions, or weak security settings are used.
Brief history of Joomla security
Joomla has faced several security breaches and CMS-related infections, highlighting the importance of regular updates and robust security practices for its users.
One of the most critical incidents occurred in 2015, when a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability (CVE-2015-8562) allowed attackers to gain complete control over Joomla websites, affecting millions of users.
Other notable breaches include SQL injection vulnerabilities in 2013 and 2019, which exposed sensitive user data and allowed unauthorised database manipulation.
Joomla 3.x versions also suffered from session hijacking issues in 2018, while cross-site scripting (XSS) flaws and privilege escalation vulnerabilities were patched in 2020.
Over time, Joomla has significantly improved its security framework, especially with the release of Joomla 4 in 2021, which introduced modernised authentication systems and better API security.
[Also read: Joomla 5: A sneak peek into what's coming next]
These incidents emphasise the importance of keeping Joomla updated, using trusted extensions, and implementing strong security measures to protect websites from potential cyber threats.
Joomla security best practices: 7 tips to secure your website
Joomla website security is definitely the most critical task you must perform for your site and visitors’ safety; however, we must also remember that there is nothing absolutely safe on the internet. The probability of risks is always there that can make your site vulnerable.
But the good part is, there are several expert safety tips, by following which you can significantly raise the security patches of your Joomla, ensuring a safe browsing experience for your users. Let us now provide you the 7 actionable tips to stay vigilant and keep your Joomla safe:
Keep Joomla Core and Extensions Updated
First is, ensuring that your Joomla core and extensions are fully updated because the Joomla community has already stopped providing security backing to the older versions.
Joomla frequently releases updates that fix security vulnerabilities, enhance performance, and introduce new features. Similarly, third-party extensions—such as plugins, modules, and templates—must be regularly updated to prevent security loopholes that hackers can exploit.
Failing to update Joomla or its extensions can leave your website vulnerable to SQL injections, remote code execution, and authentication bypass attacks.
To stay protected, website owners should enable update notifications, regularly check for available updates in the Joomla admin panel, and remove outdated or unused extensions.
Outdated Joomla versions and extensions are common targets for hackers. o Regularly check for updates in the Joomla admin panel. |
Use Strong Login Credentials and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Next is, using a strong password for your website and adding an additional layer in the form of two-factor authentication. Let us see how you can utilise these two security measure:
- Strong Passwords: Utilize unique, complex passwords for all user accounts, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid easily guessable information like birthdays or common words.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implement 2FA for all administrator accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide a second form of verification, such as a code sent to their mobile device, in addition to their password.
Secure Your Joomla Admin Panel
Securing your site’s admin panel is crucial to prevent any unauthorised access and protect it from cyber threats. The Joomla administrator login page is a common target for brute force attacks, so taking proactive security measures is essential.
Let us take a quick look into the effective steps you can follow:
- Change Default Administrator Username: Avoid using the default "admin" username. Choose a unique and difficult-to-guess username.
- Restrict Access: Limit access to the admin panel to authorised personnel only. Consider using IP address restrictions to further enhance security.
- Regularly Review User Permissions: Regularly review and adjust user permissions to ensure only necessary access is granted.
- Keep the Admin Panel URL Confidential: Do not share the admin panel URL publicly and avoid disclosing it unnecessarily.
Install Joomla Security Extensions
Installing reputable security extensions can significantly enhance your Joomla website's defences. These extensions offer advanced features like intrusion detection, firewalls, malware scanning, and more.
Popular extensions like Admin Tools by Akeeba help strengthen Joomla’s core security by blocking malicious requests and optimising security settings. RSFirewall! offers proactive threat detection and firewall protection, while SecurityCheck Pro scans for vulnerabilities and enforces best security practices.
Note: When choosing security extensions, it's crucial to select from trusted sources and ensure they are regularly updated by the developers. |
Enable SSL and Force HTTPS
Enabling SSL and forcing HTTPS is another form of security layer you can provide to your Joomla website to ensure secured data transmission and protect user information from cyber threats.
- SSL/TLS: SSL/TLS encrypts the communication between your website and visitors' browsers, protecting sensitive data like login credentials, credit card information, and personal details from interception.
- HTTPS: By forcing HTTPS, you ensure that all visitors access your website through the secure HTTPS protocol, even if they initially try to access it through the unsecured HTTP protocol.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
It is another vital security measure to protect your Joomla website from cyber threats such as SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), brute force attacks, and DDoS attacks.
A WAF acts as a protective barrier between your website and incoming traffic, filtering out malicious requests before they reach your server. Popular WAF solutions like Cloudflare WAF, Sucuri Firewall, and ModSecurity provide real-time threat detection and automated blocking of suspicious activity.
By analysing HTTP requests, a WAF helps prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in Joomla’s core files, extensions, or database. Implementing a WAF ensures your Joomla website remains safeguarded against evolving cyber threats, reducing the risk of data breaches and downtime.
Regularly Backup Your Website
A reliable backup strategy prevents catastrophic downtime by allowing you to restore your website to a previous, functional state. Joomla users should use backup extensions like Akeeba Backup, which automates scheduled backups and stores copies in secure offsite locations such as cloud storage or external servers.
It’s crucial to back up core files, databases, and configurations to ensure a complete restoration if needed.
Additional quick guidelines to secure your Joomla website
Apart from the above tips, you can practice the below security guidelines to enhance the security posture of your Joomla website and stay ahead by protecting your data from cyber threats. Let’s check them out below:
- Limit Login Attempts: Configure your Joomla site to limit the number of failed login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks. Consider blocking IP addresses that exceed the allowed number of attempts.
- Secure File Permissions: Ensure all files and folders have the correct file permissions. Incorrect permissions can create security vulnerabilities and allow unauthorised access.
- Use a Strong Security Extension: Install a reputable security extension that offers advanced features like intrusion detection, firewalls, and malware scanning.
- Educate Your Team: Educate your team on website security best practices, including password security, phishing scams, and recognising suspicious activity.
- Regularly Monitor Website Activity: Monitor your website's activity for any unusual or suspicious behaviour, such as sudden spikes in traffic, failed login attempts, or unexpected file changes.
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN can help improve website performance and security by caching static content and distributing traffic across multiple servers.
Harden Server Configuration: Work with your hosting provider to harden your server's configuration by disabling unnecessary services, closing unused ports, and implementing appropriate security measures at the server level.
Joomla has been vulnerable to security breaches on several occasions. A study by CVE details reveals that Joomla’s core itself has been exposed to 440 vulnerabilities.
This number is only showing security breaches for the core; its extensions have another hundreds of vulnerabilities, directing you to harden the security patches of your website as soon as possible.
Common Joomla Vulnerabilities | |
Outdated Joomla Core & Extensions | Unpatched security flaws lead to exploits. |
SQL Injection (SQLi) | Hackers inject malicious SQL queries to manipulate databases. |
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) | Attackers inject harmful scripts to steal data. |
Brute Force Attacks | Automated login attempts to guess admin credentials. |
Authentication Bypass | Exploits allow hackers to gain unauthorized access. |
File Inclusion Vulnerabilities (LFI/RFI) | Attackers execute harmful files remotely. |
Malicious Extensions | Unverified plugins may contain backdoors or malware. |
Weak File Permissions | Improper settings allow unauthorised file access. |
Session Hijacking | Attackers steal active user sessions to impersonate users. |
Insecure Hosting | Poorly secured servers increase vulnerability risks. |
How important is it to secure your Joomla website?
Securing your Joomla website is absolutely crucial to protect your business, user data, and online reputation. A vulnerable Joomla site can be exploited by hackers, leading to data breaches, malware infections, defacement, or complete website takeover.
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Cyberattacks can result in financial losses, loss of customer trust, and even legal consequences, especially with data protection laws like the Australian Privacy Act and GDPR.
Hence, securing your Joomla is absolutely critical for several reasons, like:
Data Protection: Websites often store sensitive information like user data, financial details, and login credentials. A compromised website can lead to data breaches, exposing this information to hackers and potentially causing significant harm to your users and your business.
Reputation Damage: A hacked website can severely damage your brand reputation. If your site is used to distribute malware, spam, or phishing attacks, it can harm your credibility and deter visitors.
Financial Loss: Security breaches can result in financial losses due to data recovery costs, legal fees, and potential fines for non-compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR.
Business Disruption: A hacked website can be taken offline, disrupting your business operations and impacting your revenue streams.
Search Engine Penalties: Search engines may penalise websites that are compromised, negatively impacting your search engine rankings and visibility.
Admin Tools by Akeeba – Firewall protection, security tweaks, and admin panel hardening.
RSFirewall! – Real-time security monitoring, malware scanning, and firewall defence.
SecurityCheck Pro – Vulnerability scanning, exploit detection, and access control.
Akeeba Backup – Automated Joomla backups for quick recovery after security incidents.
Cloudflare WAF – Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic and DDoS attacks.
Sucuri Firewall – Advanced website security, including malware removal and monitoring.
Google Search Console – Detects security issues, malware warnings, and indexing problems.
Joomla's Built-in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – Adds an extra layer of login security.
MyJoomla Security Scanner – Scans Joomla websites for vulnerabilities and configuration issues.
ModSecurity – Server-level firewall for detecting and blocking common web attacks.
Partner with Joomla security experts
When it comes to protecting your Joomla website, following every crucial step becomes essential.
However, if you have limited know-how on the evolving cyber threats and the security protocols that you must or can take to safeguard your site, there’s nothing more important than relying on an expert Joomla security agency.
Joomla professionals have the expertise to implement advanced security measures, monitor for vulnerabilities, and respond to potential attacks before they cause damage.
Whether you need firewall setup, malware removal, regular security audits, or performance optimization, a trusted Joomla security partner can provide proactive protection and ongoing maintenance.
So, here comes Enterprise Monkey, your proficient Joomla experts in Australia!
Elevate your Joomla security with Enterprise Monkey
At Enterprise Monkey, we specialise in secure Joomla website development, security enhancements, and 24/7 monitoring to keep your site safe and high-performing. Don’t leave your website’s security to chance—partner with Joomla security experts today and safeguard your business from cyber risks.
Thus, at Enterprise Monkey, we offer:
Secure Joomla website development tailored to your business needs.
Ongoing security monitoring and maintenance to prevent cyber threats.
Fast website recovery solutions in case of security breaches.
Performance optimisation for better speed and user experience.
Contact us to create a high-end Joomla website under exceptional costing range and secure it with expert security solutions to protect your online business from intimidating cyber-attacks.
Conclusion
Securing your Joomla website is not optional—it’s essential in today’s digital landscape. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and taking proactive steps can prevent costly damages.
By following these Joomla security tips, you can safeguard your website from hackers, malware, and data breaches. And if you need expert Joomla website development and security solutions in Australia, Enterprise Monkey is your trusted partner.
Ready to secure your Joomla website? Contact us today for a free consultation!