According to stats compiled by Web Tribunal, there is an online hacker attack every 39 seconds, and 300,000 new malware are created each day.
Fortunately, there are wordpress plugins available that can help strengthen your website’s security.
1). Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security is a top WordPress security plugin with over 4 million active installations and a 4.5 out of 5-star average rating.
This freemium tool scans your site for any malware and detects suspicious activities like code injections.
The custom Wordfence dashboard makes it easy to manage everything, including the Wordfence plugin dashboard.
If you opt for the paid version, you can enjoy advanced features such as coordinated scanning.
Additionally, since Wordfence Security is widely used, you can expect to find abundant online support if needed.
The key features of Wordfence Security include
- an endpoint firewall
- scans for file changes
- IP address blocking
- threat assessment features
- 2FA
- monitoring for visits and hack attempts
- breached password alerts
- custom email notifications
- login attempt limits to prevent brute-force attacks, and
- country blocking and redirects (premium only).
If you’re looking for a premium tool with flexible pricing, Wordfence is for you.
The cost varies depending on the number of licenses you require, making it an excellent option if you plan to use it on multiple websites or for your clients’ sites.
The premium version becomes less expensive if you intend to use this plugin for more sites.
However, the free version also offers many useful features and can be an excellent solution.
The price ranges from free to premium plans starting at $119 per year.
2). Sucuri Security
Sucuri Security stands as a well-known plugin, akin to Wordfence, that can offer you an extensive list of security-related tasks for your WordPress website.
Its functionality ranges from malware scanning to checking for integrity of the Sucuri WP plugin.
It’s important to note that this plugin operates at a Domain Name Server (DNS) level, which makes it more effective than plugins like Wordfence, which employ a built-in WordPress firewall; therefore, if site performance is a crucial factor to you, it’s worth considering Sucuri.
Sucuri Security offers a plethora of features, including
- malware scanning and removal
- site hardening
- Application Program Interface (API) key connection
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) with a premium license
- login security
- password protection
- user tracking, site tracking
- malicious traffic blocking, file integrity
- blacklist monitoring, and a quick, easy setup.
If you’re seeking a WordPress security plugin that operates almost entirely offsite, Sucuri is ideal for you.
The free version of the plugin provides a potent scanner that you can use from your WordPress dashboard.
However, if you don’t mind paying for the paid version, you can obtain a more comprehensive security solution with additional features, such as WAF, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate support, and much more.
Sucuri Security’s pricing starts at $199 per year for premium plans, and the free version is also available.
4). WP Activity Log
WP Activity Log stands out from the other plugins on this list with its unique focus.
Rather than trying to cover every possible feature, this tool is dedicated to one purpose: keeping track of all changes and activities on your site.
By leveraging this freemium plugin, you can enjoy comprehensive monitoring to enhance your site’s security.
The WP Activity Log plugin has a log viewer screen that allows you to monitor every action in real-time. This feature is especially beneficial if you manage a network of sites or have a team of users.
By monitoring their activity easily, you can ensure that your site remains protected from malicious behavior.
Some key features of WP Activity Log include
- real-time user activity logs
- event enabling and disabling
- notifications and reports
- user activity and site change monitoring
- WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, and WPForms extensions, and multisite support.
You can also generate HTML and CSV reports with the plugin’s premium version.
WP Activity Log is ideal if you need a comprehensive activity logging and monitoring tool.
It is handy for those managing multiple users or a multisite network.
However, if you lack a firewall, malware scanner, or other key security features, you may need to supplement with additional tools.
The plugin is available for free, with premium plans starting at $99 per year.
5). iThemes Security
iThemes Security is a security plugin designed for WordPress, developed by the same team behind the widely-used BackupBuddy plugin.
The plugin boasts a user-friendly interface with a range of features.
Its offerings include file integrity checks, security hardening, login attempt restrictions, password strength enforcement, 404 detection, brute force protection, and other security measures.
It is worth noting that iThemes Security does not come with its own website firewall, nor does it have its own malware scanner.
Instead, it employs Sucuri’s Sitecheck malware scanner.
6). All In One WP Security
The All in One WordPress Security plugin is a robust tool that can audit, monitor, and provide firewall protection for your WordPress website.
You can effortlessly implement basic security measures to safeguard your website.
The plugin boasts of features such as login lockdown that thwarts brute force attacks, IP filtering, file integrity monitoring, user account monitoring, and scanning for suspicious database injection patterns.
It also has a standard website-level firewall that can identify and block common patterns.
However, it may not be entirely efficient, and there might be instances when you need to manually blacklist suspect IPs.
7). Defender
Defender is a security solution for WordPress that has already been downloaded over one million times, showing its promising potential.
Once installed and configured, Defender immediately starts working to protect your site with just a few clicks.
Defender offers an impressive range of security features for free, just like Wordfence.
Its free version includes a firewall with IP blocking enabled, malware scans, brute-force login protection, notifications from threats, and two-factor authentication through Google.
If you upgrade to Defender Pro for $49 per month, you can schedule automated scans, get more in-depth reporting of security problems, and enhanced support.
Besides, your membership grants access to all other premium WordPress plugins made by WPMU Dev.
We appreciate Defender Pro’s flexible pricing depending on how many websites you own.
The plugin also comes with an Audit Log that tracks every user’s action, which is a great feature.
And you can automatically reset all your passwords if you suspect a hack or data breach.
8). Jetpack
If you own a WordPress site, you’ve probably heard of Jetpack.
This plugin is highly regarded in the WordPress community as it provides a comprehensive site security, performance, and content management solution.
The free version of Jetpack provides basic protection against spam and malware blocking, brute-force login protection, a simple activity log, site stat reporting, and plugin auto-updates.
However, we suggest upgrading to the Premium plan for features such as daily malware scans and priority support.
Jetpack’s premium plan also stands out from other plugins as it allows you to backup and restore your site in real-time with just one click, eliminating the need for a separate backup plugin.
What we love about Jetpack is its versatility in eliminating the need for other plugins for social media, optimization, and email marketing. Additionally, it offers excellent security for small websites.
9). BulletProof Security
BulletProof Security is an excellent choice if you need a hands-on, advanced security plugin.
This plugin performs through the main .htaccess file and offers features that enhance database security, firewall security, and login hardening.
BulletProof Security also comes with scheduled and manual database backups, HTTP error logging, and security logging.
Additionally, you have the option to activate maintenance mode, allowing you to make changes without risking potential performance issues for your visitors.
The free version of BulletProof Security is highly capable, and the pro version doubles the number of features.
You’ll need to upgrade to the pro version to access the firewall, which is free with some other plugins.
However, the advanced functionality provided by BulletProof Security is unmatched by any other security plugin.
One example of this is the AutoRestore Intrusion Detection and Prevention System. This system monitors all of your website files for any changes, automatically restoring or quarantining files if malicious activity is detected.
While it may take some time for beginners to become familiar with BulletProof Security, the plugin includes a setup wizard and detailed documentation to simplify the process.
What we appreciate:
- The BPS Pro ARQ Intrusion Detection and Prevention System is one of the most advanced security tools available.
- BulletProof Security offers a maintenance mode, a feature not present in many other security plugins.
- The free version comes with numerous features that are sufficient for protecting small to average-sized websites.
