Did you know that around 30,000 websites get hacked every day? A WordPress site is attacked every 22 minutes. One of the most important things to survive these attacks is understanding WordPress Security Keys.
WordPress security keys are like secret codes that keep your website safe. They protect your login info and other important data so no one can steal or break your site. Even if you don’t know how to code, they act like strong locks on your website’s doors.
In this article, I’ll explain:
- What WordPress Security Keys and SALTs are
- The Purpose of WordPress Security Keys
- The Different Types of Security Keys and SALTs
- How WordPress Security Keys and SALTs Work
- Why You Should Use WordPress Security Keys
- When to Change Your WordPress Security Keys
- Methods to Change WordPress Security Keys
1. What Are WordPress Security Keys and SALTs?
Think of WordPress security keys as an extra layer of protection for your login — they make it much harder for anyone to break in. They protect your login info by encryption, which makes it harder to decode.
SALTs are like extra layers of protection added on top of your secret codes (security keys). They mix things up, making it nearly impossible even if someone tries to guess your password. Think of them as a little twist that strengthens your website’s locks.
When you log in to your WordPress site, your login information is saved in browser cookies. This way, you don’t have to keep logging in every time you load a new page — it remembers you. This kind of system is used, and this login-related system is connected with the WordPress config file (wp-config.php).
WordPress scrambles this data using random letters, numbers, and symbols, making it hard to crack. For example:
`ma87L(rpro#*6Lkt:vp3:p7a,#yJ|pW~9m\72ItGRe})mZ}wFXbdc|2ud>M=.Pg``
You can already tell how complex it is by looking at it. Encryption looks like this and is extremely hard to crack—almost impossible.
Here’s what the security keys and SALTs look like inside the wp-config.php file:
There are a total of four security keys:
- AUTH_KEY
- SECURE_AUTH_KEY
- LOGGED_IN_KEY
- NONCE_KEY
And four SALTs:
- AUTH_SALT
- SECURE_AUTH_SALT
- LOGGED_IN_SALT
- NONCE_SALT
These keys help secure cookies and user sessions on your WordPress site.
You can generate fresh, strong values for these anytime using this official WordPress security key generator.
2. The Purpose and Importance of WordPress Security Keys
These security keys in WordPress aren’t just some random lines of code — they play a big role in keeping your site safe. They protect important data, especially when logged in to the dashboard.
When you log into your WordPress site, your login information gets saved in browser cookies. These keys ensure that the data inside those cookies stays encrypted, so even if someone can access your browser, they can’t read or change that data.
So why do we even need these keys?
- They protect your login session and save data in cookies.
- They help block anyone from hijacking your login without knowing your password.
- They keep everything secure while using the site, especially in sensitive areas like wp-admin.
What happens if the keys are weak or exposed?
- A hacker might steal your session and log in as you do without your password.
- This can be done by hijacking the cookies that store your login state.
- Honestly, it’s scary to think someone could be inside your WordPress admin panel without you even knowing it.
3. Understanding the Different Types of Security Keys and SALTs
Inside wp-config.php are 8 keys: 4 security keys and 4 SALT keys. Each one has a different role in protecting your WordPress login session data. These aren’t just random code on your WordPress FTP. Behind the scenes, they are one of the most crucial parts of a WordPress site.
Security Keys:
AUTH_KEY
This key helps WordPress check if the request comes from a real user. It verifies that you’re the actual person who logged in. I remember when this key helped me track down a strange login issue on a client site—it wasn’t obvious at first, but changing this key forced all users to re-authenticate. That’s how powerful it is.
SECURE_AUTH_KEY
This key is used when logging into your WordPress admin area using HTTPS. It keeps your session secure, especially on the admin side. Without it, someone could grab your session info on an unsecured connection, so this one plays a big role in protecting the dashboard.
LOGGED_IN_KEY
This one is for general logins. Let’s say you’re logged in, but not in the admin area — this key helps WordPress remember that. It doesn’t give admin access but keeps the user logged in properly.
NONCE_KEY
WordPress uses “nonces” to protect forms and URLs from misuse. This key generates and verifies those nonces. I’ve seen this help block spam and fake requests, especially on contact forms and plugin settings pages.
SALTs:
AUTH_SALT
This works with the AUTH_KEY to improve the encryption of your authentication data. It’s like adding another twist to the lock.
SECURE_AUTH_SALT
This adds randomness to your secure admin logins. If someone ever tries to guess or reuse your cookie session, this SALT helps make it nearly impossible.
LOGGED_IN_SALT
This one is tied to the LOGGED_IN_KEY. It helps protect regular users who are logged in but not necessarily accessing the backend.
NONCE_SALT
This works alongside the NONCE_KEY. It protects the nonce WordPress uses to verify actions so attackers can’t fake requests or reuse expired tokens.
4. How WordPress Security Keys and SALTs Work
When you log in to your website, your username and password are saved in your browser’s cookies. They aren’t saved as plain text but in a very complex encryption that is impossible to crack. The WordPress security key contributes to this encryption.
This key runs whenever a user logs in. WordPress runs this encryption process with functions like wp_hash() and wp_salt(). These data are from WordPress wp-config.php. This encryption process creates a unique file that your website can understand.
So even if someone gets access to your browser cookie through a browser extension or something similar, they still cannot log in unless they have access to the same security keys and SALTs your site is using. Without them, the cookie data becomes useless. That’s how powerful it is.
One time, a client came to me with a hacked website. I installed the backup to fix it, generated a new security key from the WordPress security key generator, and pasted it in the WordPress config.php file. Everyone, even me, was locked out of the WordPress admin. That’s when I realized how powerful WordPress security keys are. Then everything went fine, and there were no more problems.
In simple terms, keys and SALTs always work in the background. They help keep your session secure, your data encrypted, and your site protected from cookie hijacking or session-based attacks. Even though they might look like just some random code in the config file, they play an active and important role in keeping your website safe at all times.
5. Why You Should Use WordPress Security Keys
WordPress provides us with a beautiful feature for free, and it is already integrated, so there is no reason not to use it.
Surprisingly, even though I was unaware of its existence just a few days ago, it plays a crucial role in keeping your site safe.
Using security keys offers numerous benefits and is integrated by default. However, manually updating them increases their effectiveness, making your site even more secure.
Benefits of using security keys
- Encrypted Sessions
When someone logs in to the WordPress admin, the session data is saved and encrypted using those keys. This means it isn’t sitting on your browser like plain text; it is a complex encryption. - Secure Cookies
These keys prevent tampering with the data saved on cookies, so even if someone tries to steal or fake a login session, it won’t work until they have your exact keys. - Protects Against Cookie Hijacking
If your site doesn’t use proper keys, such as weak ones, hackers can attempt to hijack login sessions and access your admin panel without needing your password. Therefore, the official WordPress key generator is best for creating complex keys. - Instant Session Expiry When Changed
If you ever suspect someone has access to your website admin or WordPress security key, they will log everyone out. It’s like cutting the electricity line.
A Simple Analogy:
Think of your website as your house, where your username and password are like the door key. The security keys and the SALT hide that key; even if someone manages to make a copy, it won’t work.
6. When to Change Your WordPress Security Keys
Even though the generated keys are automatic, there are certain instances when changing these security keys is advisable, particularly for your safety. These keys determine who remains logged in, so altering them will result in an immediate logout of all users. When I notice my website has been compromised, I prefer to install a backup if possible. I update all admin passwords, remove unnecessary admin users, and then change the security keys, and most of the time, this secures the website.
- After a security breach
If your site has been hacked or you suspect something might be amiss, changing those security keys is a good idea to force all users to log out instantly. - After working with a developer
If you are working with a web developer or a content writer, it is advisable to change your security keys. If you have changed them, they will no longer have access to your website, even if they have cookies and those security keys. - After changing hosting
If you have migrated your website to a new hosting provider, it is best practice to refresh your security keys. You never know what server-level data might have been cached or logged. - Changing them after a few months (My personal trick)
It is advised that these security keys be updated every few months. I follow this practice and recommend it to my clients as well. Typically, I receive a notification at the end of each month, and I change the keys after receiving the notification.
7. Methods to Change WordPress Security Keys
There are two main ways to change WordPress security keys: one is through a plugin, and the other is manual, which I personally prefer, because I don’t want to use thousands of plugins.
Method 1: Changing the WordPress security key manually
Step 1: Accessing FTP
Go to your cPanel or similar. In my case, I use Hostinger, which they call hPanel.
Find your website and click on Dashboard or similar.
After that, click on FTP or File Manager — in my case, it’s File Manager.
Alternatively, you can find a tutorial by searching Google for “How to access FTP on [Hosting name, e.g., Hostinger].”
Step 2: Pasting Those Keys
Go to the WordPress security key generator and copy those keys.
Inside your FTP, go to: public_html > wp-config.php
Now, scroll past line 50. You’ll see some code like this:
define( 'AUTH_KEY', '...' );
define( 'SECURE_AUTH_KEY', '...' );
define( 'LOGGED_IN_KEY', '...' );
define( 'NONCE_KEY', '...' );
define( 'AUTH_SALT', '...' );
define( 'SECURE_AUTH_SALT', '...' );
define( 'LOGGED_IN_SALT', '...' );
define( 'NONCE_SALT', '...' );
Now, delete the ones there. Paste the code you copied from the official WordPress website. Just save the config file, and you’re done.
Method 2: Using a plugin
Do you want to update your security keys without diving into the backend of your WordPress files? No problem, there’s a plugin for that, and it’s super easy to use! Let’s walk through it.
Step 1: Install and Activate the Salt Shaker Plugin
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard: Go to your site’s admin area.
- Go to Plugins > Add New: In the search bar, type Salt Shaker.
- Install the Plugin: Click the “Install Now” button next to the Salt Shaker plugin.
- Activate the Plugin: Once it’s installed, click “Activate.”
Step 2: Change Your Security Keys
- Go to Tools > Salt Shaker: You’ll see your dashboard’s Salt Shaker settings.
- Click on “Change Now”: This will generate new keys and salts, instantly securing your site. Remember that everyone (including you!) will be logged out, so be ready to log back in.
- Optional—Schedule Regular Changes: To automate this process, you can set up Salt Shaker to change your keys regularly (daily, weekly, etc.).
Important Things to Note:
- Changing the keys will log everyone out of your site, so ensure you have your login details ready.
- I always recommend backing up your site before making any major changes to be on the safe side.
Using a Salt Shaker provides the same security benefits as manually changing the keys, but without the hassle. It’s an easy way to keep your site secure and your keys fresh!
Conclusion
To wrap it up, WordPress Security Keys and SALTs are like secret codes that lock up your login data and keep your website safe behind the scenes. Throughout this article, you learned what they are, how they work, and why they matter.
We talked about the different types of keys inside your wp-config.php file, how they help encrypt your cookie data, and why — even if someone grabs your login cookies — they still can’t access your site without these keys.
You also learned when it’s important to change your security keys—like after a security breach or malware attack—and how to do so manually (my preferred method) or with a plugin.
The best part? WordPress already has this feature, so you must understand and use it properly. With these small steps, you can seriously boost your site’s protection and sleep better knowing your WordPress login is guarded like a vault.
