Most websites start life with a default admin login URL. On platforms like WordPress, that usually means predictable paths such as /admin, /wp-admin or /wp-login.php.
They work, but they also make your site easier to find and target.
Bots do not guess, they try known paths
The majority of hacking attempts we see are not manual or targeted attacks. They are automated bots attempting preconfigured login paths and common usernames.
These bots are not clever. They simply scan the internet looking for familiar routes and try leaked credentials at scale. If your login URL is standard, it will be found.
When you cannot hide login access completely
There are situations where a login route must exist publicly. Ecommerce websites are a good example, as customers need a visible way to log in to their accounts.
Even in these cases, login paths do not have to follow obvious or default patterns. Making them slightly less standard significantly reduces automated attention while still remaining accessible for genuine users.
What we actually see in the real world
We recently reviewed 30 WordPress websites that we either host or actively manage.
- 3 sites logged active brute force attempts
- All 3 of those sites were still using default admin URLs
Looking deeper:
- 4 websites did not have custom login paths
- 3 of those 4 showed blocked login attempts
- 2 have since moved to hidden or custom admin URLs
- 2 chose to rely on the wider security protocols we already have in place
Every website in our stack has security measures designed to block suspicious activity, including repeated incorrect login attempts. These protections work, but we still prefer to reduce exposure in the first place.
The safest login page is the one bots never find.
Security layers work best together
Changing your admin URL is not a replacement for proper security. It is an additional layer that removes a huge amount of automated noise.
Other essential steps include:
- Enabling two-factor authentication so correct credentials alone are not enough
- Avoiding obvious usernames such as admin or administrator
- Limiting the number of administrator accounts
- Keeping plugins, themes and core software fully updated
With two-factor authentication in place, even if a bad actor somehow obtained valid login details, access would still be blocked.
Small changes, meaningful impact
Many sites we manage receive thousands of automated login attempts each month. Once the default admin path is removed, that activity usually drops to near zero.
It is a simple adjustment, but one that meaningfully improves security, performance and peace of mind.
If you are unsure whether changing your admin URL is appropriate for your setup, or want to make sure it is done safely without breaking integrations, it is worth getting it reviewed properly rather than guessing.