What are WordPress Security Keys (SALT Keys) and how to change them?

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What Are WordPress Security Keys (SALT Keys) and How to Change Them
When it comes to website security , your login page is one of your first lines of defense. Most people (and bots) who try to get into your site will do so through this page.

The strength of your password is the number one factor that determines the type of defense your login page poses. Stronger passwords are harder for attackers to crack. Additionally, you can further protect your password from hackers by using WordPress Security Keys or Secret SALT Keys.

In this article, we’ll look at what secret SALT Keys are and why you tunisia phone number data use them on your WordPress site . We’ll also show you how to generate new SALT security keys, either manually or using a plugin.

Let's get started!

Table of Contents view
What are SALT security keys in WordPress?
SALT keys are a cryptographic tool used to secure your website’s login page by “hashing” your password. This scrambles your password into a series of meaningless characters, making it even harder for attackers to crack.

WordPress comes with SALT keys by default and they are located in your site ’s wp-config.php file . These security keys are random strings of data that protect the four security keys used by WordPress.

Why use SALT keys in WordPress?
When you log in to WordPress , you have the option to stay logged in for a long time. For this purpose, WordPress stores your login data in cookies instead of a PHP session. Malicious people can hijack your cookies in various ways, making your website vulnerable.

To make it harder for attackers to use cookie data, you can take advantage of SALT keys. WordPress SALT keys encrypt your password in a way that makes it harder to crack.

How can I change my SALT keys?
SALT keys make passwords harder to crack but they are not foolproof. This is why you should change your SALT keys periodically, making hackers’ lives even harder. To change your website’s SALT keys, you can use a plugin or a manual method.

How to generate new SALT keys: 2 methods
To change SALT keys, you must first generate new security keys. The easiest way is to use a plugin, but you can also generate them manually. We will look at both techniques below.

Method 1: Using a plugin
Step 1: Download the plugin
Salt Shaker is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to automatically generate and change WordPress salt keys:

SALS shaker plugin to generate new security keys on WordPress
You can download and activate the plugin via the WordPress Plugin Directory or on the Plugins page in your dashboard.

Step 2: Enable automatic changes
After activating the plugin, go to Tools > Salt Shaker , where you will find all the settings:

Configuring the WordPress SALT keys shaker plugin
You will need to select the box to automate SALT key generation and changes.

Step 3: Select the change frequency
After enabling automatic SALT key changes, you will need to choose the frequency. Using the drop-down menu, select how often you want to update your SALT keys:

Configuring the WordPress SALT keys shaker plugin
The frequency you choose will depend on the needs of your website. The more sensitive data you handle, the more often you will want your salt keys to be changed. However, daily changes are generally considered excessive for most websites.

Step 4: Save changes
After choosing the frequency, click the Change Now button . This will save your settings and start the automated process.

To change the SALT keys only once, you must first clear the checkbox. You can then press the Change Now button .