How to Secure Your Joomla Website from Hackers and Threats in 2025

Importance of Joomla Security in 2025

Joomla continues to be one of the most popular open-source content management systems in use in 2025. It powers thousands of corporate, educational, and eCommerce sites across the globe. Unfortunately, as with any CMS, it remains a popular target for cybercriminals, particularly those harnessing outdated extensions, weak passwords, or poorly-handled servers.

Protecting your Joomla site is about more than installing a few necessary files. It’s about creating a solid foundation not only to protect your data, content, and users, but also to protect your business and reputation. This guide will hold a discussion on best practices and tools to help reduce the risk to your Joomla site in the current threat environment.

Joomla Security Threats

Cybercriminals have automated and amplified attacks. Here are the most common threats to which Joomla site owners are subject:

• SQL Injection (SQLi): Attackers inject malicious SQL queries to access or modify data
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Attackers inject malicious scripts into display forms/URLs
• Remote Code Execution (RCE): Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in poorly-designed extensions and plug-ins
• Brute-force login attempts: Automated programs run thousands of combination pairs against your login form
• Outdated extensions: Unpatched plug-ins or modules with known exploits represent common vulnerabilities

Knowing the threat to your site is the first step toward a secure Joomla installation.

Step 1: Upgrade Your Joomla Core and Extensions

Joomla updates are released regularly by the developers. However, they are not effective if not applied. Make it a point to update your Joomla core when the stable release is available.

• Set automatic updates for new releases in the backend of Joomla
• Use extensions. Use only extensions from developers you know and trust, and only those that have received recent updates and ratings
• Audit your installed components and modules regularly. Remove any that you no longer use
• Check the Joomla Vulnerable Extensions List (VEL) regularly

An outdated installation is by far the most common cause of successful Joomla hacks, being also the most easily remedied.

Step 2: Implement Robust Login Credentials and 2FA

The majority of Joomla compromises start with unauthorized backend access. Using weak or default login information is a significant oversight in security. Fortify your access by:

• Creating a challenging username (do not use “admin”, “root”, or site title)
• Using a password that is 12+ characters and includes special characters, digits, uppercase/lowercase letters
• Activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using Google Authenticator or YubiKey
• Changing the default admin login URL (for instance, use an extension such as AdminExile)

Additionally, limit backend access by IP address if your site has a consistent administrative group.

Step 3: Enforce HTTPS and Install SSL

Operating your Joomla site without HTTPS in 2025 is not only unsafe, but it is also detrimental to SEO and user trust. The majority of web hosts provide free SSL with Let’s Encrypt or AutoSSL.

• Enable SSL in your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)
• Log into Joomla admin > System > Global Configuration > Server
• Set “Force HTTPS” to “Entire Site”
• Route HTTP traffic through .htaccess rules

Encrypting all data transfer visitors reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, and protects user login information.

Step 4: Create Regular Backups

While backups will not stop a hack, they can save your business if anything does go wrong. Configure automatic backups that include both the database and site files.

• Use Akeeba Backup - the best Joomla backup extension available
• Schedule a full backup of the website every day or week, depending on the amount of data generated
• Store backups on an offsite server (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3)
• Periodically test backups to verify that they are able to restore

A secure backup plan allows you to recover from ransomware, defacements, or hosting downtimes in minimal time.

Step 5: Shield Up Against Brute Force and Spam

Joomla does not have brute-force protection built-in, so you need to configure it either manually or with an extension:

• Install Admin Tools by Akeeba to add brute-force prevention, IP blocking and firewall rules
• Use CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA on all login, contact forms and registration forms
• Limit failed log-in attempts with custom lockout rules
• Enable email alerts for unusual login activity

These steps significantly reduce the ability of automated bots and credential stuffing to gain entry into your backend.

In Part 3, we will discuss file/folder permissions, securing your database, firewalls, and the best Joomla security extensions you should install for 2025.

Step 6: Configure Correct File and Folder Permissions

Wrong file permissions are a frequent attack vector. Joomla suggests the following values:

• Files - 644
• Folders - 755
• Do not ever - 777 for any file and/or folder — it gives full access

You can change the permissions using cPanel’s File Manager, or any FTP client such as FileZilla. Also, make sure to disable the directory listing in .htaccess to prevent attackers from walking through your site’s folder tree.

Step 7: Protect the Joomla Database

Besides controlling your file system, you also have to protect your MySQL database.

• Have a unique database name, and never use the default prefixes, such as jos_
• Choose a strong database user password
• Restrict database access to localhost only (never open ports to IPs outside of your server)
• Set the proper access to your database in the configuration.php file for Joomla — make sure it isn’t publicly accessible

Many attackers target your data first (especially the e-mails and user credentials), so database hardening is very effective.

Step 8: Use Joomla Security Extensions in 2025

Joomla has a proactive developer community, and many extensions can help you harden your website even more. The most trusted options for 2025 are:

• Admin Tools Pro (by Akeeba): Firewall, PHP filters, .htaccess generator, login protection
• RSFirewall!: Real-time monitoring, malware detection, and IP blocking
• jSecure: Hiding your admin login URL from bots
• EasyCalcCheck Plus: Anti-spam for forms and registrations

Make sure you update these plugins regularly and never install their cracked / nulled versions — they tend to contain backdoors.

Final Checklist for Securing Your Joomla Website

To recap, here is a short Joomla security checklist for 2025:

• ✔️ Keep the core updated
• ✔️ Keep extensions updated
• ✔️ Have strong passwords and 2FA
• ✔️ Use HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate
• ✔️ Perform automated, offsite backups
• ✔️ Harden your permissions for files and folders
• ✔️ Limit access to your admin area
• ✔️ Use a security extension

Joomla is powerful, but you are in charge of the security. With the right tools and habits, your website will be able to resist even the most aggressive cyber threats in 2025 and beyond.