To prevent your WordPress theme from being detected by sites like “WhatThemeIs” and others, you can take several steps to obscure or hide details about your theme and plugins.
While it’s difficult to make your site completely undetectable without affecting its functionality, you can make it harder for automated tools to identify your theme and plugins.
The following are some methods you can consider.
Minify and Combine CSS and JavaScript Files
Minifying and combining your theme’s CSS and JavaScript files can obscure the source of the files, making it harder for detection tools to identify the theme based on file names or specific style and script patterns.
Rename Theme Folder
Changing the name of your theme’s folder can help obscure its identity. However, be aware that this might need to be redone after theme updates, and it could potentially cause issues with updates and functionality.
Use a Child Theme
Creating and activating a child theme with a unique name provides an additional layer of obfuscation. The child theme can override the main theme’s files and functions, making it less straightforward to identify the parent theme.
Remove or Modify the Theme’s Metadata
The style.css file in your theme directory contains metadata about the theme, including its name, author, and version. Editing this information can help mask the theme’s identity, but be cautious as it may impact theme updates and support.
Use a Security Plugin
Some WordPress security plugins offer features to hide or restrict access to your site’s directories and files, making it harder for automatic detection tools to scan your site for theme and plugin information.
Disable Directory Browsing
Ensure that directory browsing is disabled on your server to prevent unauthorized users from viewing the contents of your directories, which can include theme and plugin folders.
Obscure WordPress Version
Some tools also report the WordPress version, which can be hidden by removing the version number from the site’s head section and other areas.
Custom Developments
Consider custom developing features that you would otherwise use plugins for. This not only hides their existence but can also optimize your site’s performance.
Use a Security Firewall
A web application firewall (WAF) can help block malicious attempts to detect or exploit your site, including automated scans for themes and plugins.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to note that while these steps can help make it more difficult for automated tools to identify your WordPress theme and plugins, they may not provide complete anonymity.
Moreover, some modifications can affect your site’s functionality, performance, or the ability to receive theme and plugin updates.
Always back up your site before making significant changes and consider the trade-offs between security, privacy, and usability.
Personally, I would recommend that you focus on growing your site rather than spending time trying to hide the identity of your WordPress theme.
