How to Block IP Addresses in WordPress (The Ultimate Guide)

Are you looking to enhance your WordPress site’s security by mastering IP address blocking?

By the end of this guide, you will know how to implement robust IP address blocking to elevate the security of your site.

Here’s a sneak peek of what you will uncover:

• The importance of IP blocking
• How to find IP addresses
• How to implement IP blocks

Ready to secure your site? Let’s dive in!

Reasons to Block IP Addresses

Every device that connects to a network utilizing the internet protocol is identified by a distinct numerical code, referred to as an IP address.

It serves as a device’s identifier and allows it to send and receive data over the internet, ensuring that the information reaches the correct destination.

Here are reasons why you might need to block some IP addresses:

Reason	Description	Benefits
Preventing spam and malicious attacks	Blocks proactive measures to safeguard your WordPress site from irrelevant content and harmful code.	Keeps the site clean, improves user experience, and enhances security.
Stopping unauthorized login attempts	Thwarts bots and malicious actors from guessing login credentials to gain unauthorized access to your site.	Maintains the integrity and security of your website; ensures only authorized access.
Reducing server load from known bad sources	Prevents IP addresses associated with DDoS attacks from overwhelming the server with high-volume requests.	Preserves bandwidth, ensures website speed and availability, and can reduce costs.

Here’s an example:

In September 2023, Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance was the target of a phishing ransomware attack (here’s the source).

To counter this threat and prevent further damage, Kuwait swiftly isolated the Ministry and other government systems.

That was a clear example of how blocking or isolating IP addresses from which attacks originate can help protect critical infrastructure and prevent the spread of an attack.