Security plugins for WordPress: the best site defenders
More than one thousand two hundred cases of recognized vulnerabilities, including 60 labeled as “of highest risk,” in the first three months of 2024 alone: these two quick numbers would be enough to understand how sensitive the issue of security of a WordPress site is, endangered by constant cyber attacks and manipulation from outside. Opening the doors to malicious attackers are often third-party plugins and, paradoxical as it may be, sometimes the key to protecting the site are the plugins themselves. This is precisely why we talk about security plugins for WordPress, trying to identify what they do, which are the best and, in general, what are the techniques to strengthen the security and health of our site.
WordPress security plugins: what they are and what they do
Security plugins for WordPress are tools designed specifically to strengthen the defenses of a website: they work in the background, performing essential tasks for the protection of the site, and their common goal is to preventively block cyber attacks or, in the case of an attack that has occurred, to intervene ex-post to quickly resolve the problem.
The best WordPress security plugins perform a number of useful technical tasks to protect the site, such as configuring firewalls to block unauthorized access, periodically scanning files for malicious code, or implementing measures to thwart forced access attempts.
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More generally, these add-ons provide active monitoring, to keep an eye on the site in real time, set up a firewall and a blocklist of “dangerous” addresses, scan files, protect against brute force attacks, and send detailed and timely report notifications informing administrators of any possible danger, from the presence of malware to hacking attempts, allowing them to act promptly when faced with a detected threat, thus minimizing the potential damage from security breaches.
These plugins are not limited to a preventive function, then, but also offer post-incident solutions, such as recovery actions following an attack, thus proving to be even more valuable and indispensable tools for the security of a WordPress site.
Adding these plugins to one’s WordPress site not only enhances existing security but also introduces new features such as multi-factor authentication, which adds an additional layer of security to the login process. The regular updates provided by the plugins are vital to address new vulnerabilities as they are discovered, keeping your site up to date with the latest security threats.
WordPress and security: issues and risks
A question may arise at this point: if security plugins are so useful, is WordPress fundamentally not safe?
Actually, the WordPress core provides some security measures by default, and WordPress developers work hard to maintain the security of their platform through patches and updates that are released regularly. However, WordPress is built on an open source framework, and its popularity (and extreme spread) makes it a prime target for hackers, who are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities to exploit, such as outdated plugins or weaknesses in core system files. In particular, malicious attackers can analyze how the system is built and are often adept at developing new ways to take control of sites hosted on the platform, exploiting every possible vulnerability. For example, they may use sophisticated techniques such as inserting backdoors, which allow them to access and control the site covertly, or brute force attacks, which aim to guess our passwords through repeated attempts. Other methods include so-called “Pharma Hacks,” which inject spam or advertising content into the site, Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, which overload the server making the site inaccessible, and cross-site scripting (XSS), which can compromise the security of user data.
In general, it is estimated that millions of websites are infected with malware every week, and a single site is attacked an average of 94 times a day, both on WP and outside the CMS.
When administering a WordPress site, therefore, we need to be aware of the various security risks that could threaten our online presence: if these threats are not addressed in a timely manner, we could in fact face serious consequences, such as the infiltration of malware that aims to steal information from visitors, the redirection of our site to malicious pages, the introduction of unwanted content, or manual actions by Google that can negatively affect our ranking in SERPs. In the worst case, we may even find ourselves unable to access our website.
Thus, WordPress security is not just a matter of protecting the sensitive data it may contain, but a crucial element that affects the reputation and accessibility of our site, because otherwise we risk exposing ourselves to downtime, data loss, reputation damage, and, in extreme cases, legal penalties for violating privacy regulations.
How to strengthen the security of a WordPress site, the main steps
In short, WordPress security is an unresolved issue that even SEO and digital marketers cannot overlook. It is important to take proactive measures to identify and mitigate risks, thus ensuring the continuity and reliability of our digital space, and knowing the risks associated with using this platform allows us to better understand how to protect our website.
The first step in strengthening the security of a WordPress site is to have a solid foundation, which is to choose a reliable hosting that can make a big difference by offering built-in security features such as free SSL certificates, web application firewall (WAF), SFTP access, and protection against DDoS attacks and malware.
Even more important is securing access to the site by blocking login credentials: changing the standard WordPress login URL from “/wp-admin” to a custom address can significantly reduce the risk of brute force attacks. By default, the WordPress login page can be easily accessed by adding /wp-admin or /wp-login.php to the URL of any site: this is a detail well known to hackers, who can use it to attempt brute-force attacks to access the administration panel.
Adding two-factor authentication (2FA), whitelisting IP addresses, and limiting login attempts are additional measures to help fend off unauthorized access, attempting to restrict entry to only trusted users.
Continuing with basic instructions, choosing complex passwords is another key piece in security: simple or predictable passwords can easily fall prey to automated attacks, such as those conducted by botnets, which are often responsible for large-scale DDoS attacks.
To ensure that our WordPress site is secure and functioning properly, it is then crucial to make sure that we always keep PHP, the scripting language that underpins the platform, up to date. PHP updates not only close the door to potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers, but also help optimize site performance.
Speaking of updates, it is advisable to always keep WordPress core, plugins and themes up to date. Outdated software can be a security hole and lead to technical problems such as the “white screen of death” or other errors. Updates can be handled manually or set to run automatically, but it is always a good idea to make a full backup of the site before proceeding with any updates.
Finally, installing an SSL certificate is vital to the security of our site and the protection of visitor data: SSL turns the HTTP protocol into HTTPS, encrypting transmitted data and providing an additional layer of security. Without an SSL certificate, both the site and its visitors remain exposed to risks, especially during sensitive transactions such as online purchases-and let’s not forget that the presence of the HTTPS protocol is one of the criteria included by Google in the Page Experience complex.
Why use a WordPress plugin for security
To our rescue – especially if we do not have strong technical skills – then come WordPress security plugins, which are precisely designed to be accessible to all those who wish to implement more robust security measures. With guided configurations and user-friendly interfaces, these plugins in fact enable complex features with just a few clicks, making site management a less intimidating and more manageable process.
These add-ons act as a shield against common attacks, such as brute force attacks or SQL injections, and constantly monitor the site for suspicious behavior or compromised files. With features such as a firewall, malware scanning, and two-factor authentication, a security plugin can significantly reduce the risk of site compromise; in addition, most security plugins offer regular updates to address new vulnerabilities as they emerge, ensuring that our site remains protected even in the face of the latest threats.
Using a security plugin therefore allows us to focus on developing our site and our business, knowing that security is proactively managed. The choice of the most suitable solution may depend on various factors, such as site complexity, traffic level, available server resources, and specific security needs, and there are certainly several aspects to consider in order to figure out which is the best plugin for our case.
In particular, the complexity of the site is one of the first factors to be analyzed: a site with multiple functionalities, such as e-commerce, forums or restricted user areas, will need a more advanced security plugin that can handle specific vulnerabilities and protect sensitive data.
Similarly, the level of traffic needs to be studied: a site with a high volume of visitors requires a plugin that not only maintains security, but does so without compromising performance. Plugins that perform intensive scans or implement complex security measures may require more server resources, so it is critical to ensure that the hosting can support this additional load without slowdowns or service interruptions.
Available server resources are also crucial: a plugin that requires a lot of processing power may not be the right choice for shared hosting or for servers with limited resources. In these cases, it may be necessary to look for security plugins that offer a good balance between protection and lightness.
Finally, the specific security needs of our site cannot be overlooked, because what works for one site may not be adequate for another: for example, some domains may require particularly strong protection against DDoS attacks, while others may need better defense against sensitive data theft.
To make an informed choice, it is essential to carefully evaluate the options, read user reviews, and, if possible, test plugins in a staging environment before deploying them on the live site, also to ensure that the plugin chosen integrates smoothly with the rest of our WordPress ecosystem, without conflict or incompatibility.
To NOT use WordPress plugins
There is one key aspect that we must always keep in mind, however: no plugin can offer a 100% security guarantee.
The security of a website is the result of an overall strategy that includes the use of reliable plugins, but also the adoption of good practices such as keeping the WordPress core, themes and plugins up-to-date, using strong passwords, and continuous training on security threats.
Indeed, according to some experts NOT using plugins is a good way to strengthen the “health” of our site: as we were saying when talking about the best WordPress plugins, there are tens of thousands of extensions available on the official WordPress website or on the web and there is practically a plugin for almost everything. It is therefore easy to get carried away and download plugins as soon as we need them, overdoing the installations of too many add-ons.
In fact, plugins can significantly slow down the site (especially in the case of underperforming or low-powered hosting), increase vulnerability to malware, require constant maintenance and updates, and can become the gateways for violations or cause other issues, which is why it is good to know that there are “alternative” ways. First, it is critical to choose hosting that offers robust built-in security measures, such as proactive malware scanning and protection against DDoS attacks. Keeping your system up-to-date, with the latest version of WordPress, themes and plugins, is an essential step in closing the door to known vulnerabilities.
Using strong, unique passwords for all accounts is a basic security practice that should never be overlooked. In addition, we can configure our hosting environment to limit failed login attempts, thereby reducing the risk of brute force attacks. It is also prudent to perform regular backups of the site and database so that we can quickly restore the site in the event of an attack.
Implementing HTTPS through an SSL certificate is another critical step to protect user data. This not only boosts trust in site visitors, but is also good for search engine rankings. Finally, server-level security measures such as configuring the .htaccess file and installing web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection.
More generally, Cloudflare emerges as a practical and effective solution for improving the security of a WordPress site: acting as an intermediary between visitors and the hosting server, Cloudflare helps filter malicious traffic before it reaches our site. Its ability to protect against DDoS attacks, along with SSL/TLS encryption and customizable security rules, makes it a valuable tool in our security toolbox. In addition, its CDN network not only speeds up page loading, but also helps distribute the traffic load, making it harder for attacks to overload our server.
What are the best WordPress plugins for security
Choosing the right security plugin is a decision that can have a significant impact on the management and performance of our site, and as mentioned there are so many variables to evaluate-both internal, that is, related to our site and our needs, and external.
There are thousands of security plugins in the WordPress repository that stand out for their reliability, functionality and ease of use. Among the most widely used and popular is certainly WordFence, which offers a built-in firewall that prevents attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities and a scanning system for malware and infected files; Sucuri, in addition to monitoring and blocking DDoS attacks, cleans compromised sites and offers a CDN service to distribute traffic and reduce the load on the server, thus helping to keep the site fast and available.
A plugin such as Solid Security (new name forThemes Security), on the other hand, focuses on prevention, modifying login URLs and limiting failed login attempts; WP Activity Log, on the other hand, is an activity log plugin and can provide a clear view of what is happening on the site, helping us to quickly and accurately identify any security issues. Still, a good backup plugin, such as UpdraftPlus, is crucial for preventing data loss, allowing quick restoration of the site in case of problems.
A simple method of increasing the security of a WordPress site is through “security through obscurity” techniques, which make the platform on which the site is built less obvious and recognizable. For example, WPS Hide Login is a WordPress plugin that allows you to change the URL of the WordPress login page to a custom, unique and less predictable path-after changing the /wp-admin setting, the old login URL will no longer be accessible, so automated attacks targeting standard URLs will fail.
WP Hide & Security Enhancer goes further and offers a number of features to completely hide the WordPress nature of the site: this includes the ability to change and hide plugin and theme directory names, remove WordPress-generated meta tags, or rewrite URLs for various WordPress services such as CSS, JS, and XML-RPC files. In essence, it makes it difficult for automated scanners to detect that the site is powered by WordPress, thus reducing the risk of targeted attacks. Similarly, Hide My WP Ghost works at obscuring WordPress: it changes common WordPress URLs and paths to themes and plugins to hide the fact that the site is WordPress-based, plus it protects against a wide range of known attacks, such as SQL Injection, XSS, and brute force, by monitoring login attempts and blocking suspicious IP addresses.
An approach of this does not replace standard security measures, such as regular updates and the use of strong passwords, but it can be part of a broader security strategy to add another layer of defense against automated attacks, without adding complexity or overloading the site with additional functionality.
Another effective solution might be to select an all-in-one plugin that offers a suite of integrated security tools-often developed by companies with a strong reputation in cybersecurity, these elements can provide comprehensive coverage without the need to install multiple extensions. We also reduce the complexity of site management by doing so, since a single update can address multiple security issues at once, and we also decrease the load on the site, since fewer plugins mean less code to run and fewer potential entry points for attacks.
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The 10 best WordPress plugins for site security
In light of the above considerations, we have tried to compile a list of the 10 best security plugins for WordPress, which can help ensure peace of mind and stability of the site while reducing the chances of breaches. These are add-ons that cover a wide range of features and functionality, each with its own specific peculiarities to suit certain needs or preferences: there are some that are particularly strong in detecting and blocking attacks in real time, while others stand out for their ability to strengthen security without overcomplicating the user experience; still, some plugins are ideal for those looking for active monitoring and a robust firewall solution, while others are great for beginners.
- WordFence Security.It ranks among the top solutions in WordPress security, widely recognized for its powerful firewall and malware scanning capabilities. This freemium tool offers a free version that includes a firewall that automatically blocks attacks and a malware scan that checks for suspicious code, while the premium version adds additional features, such as real-time threat monitoring and the ability to block attacks from specific countries. Wordfence also comes with a built-in WordPress firewall, but it runs on the server just before WordPress is loaded and does not operate at the DNS level, and thus may be less efficient in preventing attacks (and, in addition, updates for free users are not simultaneous with those released for subscribers). Still, it is a useful plugin for addressing the most serious vulnerabilities that can put a site at risk.
- Solid Security. Formerly known as iThemes Security (and even earlier as Better WP Security), it is appreciated for its user-friendly interface and wide range of security options. This plugin helps protect the site through measures such as detection of modified files, protection from brute force attacks, two-factor authentication and the ability to hide the login area. However, it is important to note that SolidWP does not directly integrate a firewall or malware scanner into its package, but relies on external services for these functions and third-party solutions to monitor and protect the site from vulnerabilities and threats. Overall, it is an excellent choice for sites looking for an all-in-one solution to security, one that encapsulates all needs under one “umbrella” while at the same time being easy to manage.
- Sucuri Security. Available in a basic no-cost version and a paid option (which expands security options to include sophisticated defenses against DDoS attacks and advanced firewall solutions), this tool offers a range of features such as file integrity monitoring, malware scanning, and a web application firewall. Its strength lies in its monitoring platform that tracks every change on the site and all CMS-related operations, alerting immediately in case of suspicious activity. Securi is an all-inclusive workstation suitable for those looking for a complete solution to manage, safeguard and control their WordPress site.
- All In One WP Security & Firewall. Also known by its acronym AIOS, this free plugin is praised for its ease of use and visual approach to security, with a scoring system that helps you assess your site’s level of protection. It offers features such as account protection, database security, and file system protection, and also features a basic firewall that identifies and blocks common attack patterns. However, this tool may require manual intervention to add problematic IPs to the blacklist. AIOS is particularly well suited to sites with rich portfolios of original content that need protection against material theft because it protects against techniques such as unauthorized iFrame embedding and scraping, blocking spam in comments and providing control over RSS and Atom feeds; it also offers the ability to disable right-click, a useful feature for preventing unauthorized copying of text and images by bots and users.
- Jetpack Security.Developed by Automattic, the same team behind WordPress.com, Jetpack is an all-in-one security suite plugin that includes anti-spam protection, real-time backup and malware scanning. Its integration with other Automattic services makes it a convenient solution for users looking for an “all-inclusive” solution, and it can do almost everything needed to maintain and manage a site on WordPress, although it doesn’t seem to excel at anything specific. In any case, it is a safe, secure and reliable plugin.
- BulletProof Security. It offers protection against many types of attacks, including CSRF, XSS, RFI, and SQL injection, and is known for its “Maintenance Mode” feature, which allows you to put your site in a secure state while performing updates or maintenance. Due to its advanced nature and technical settings, it may not be the ideal choice for beginners, but on the contrary can be an effective tool for more experienced developers, because it precisely provides advanced features such as exploit protection and blocking file access via FTP.
- SecuPress.It is distinguished by its clean interface and scanning and hardening features, and it also offers a security analysis that helps quickly identify weaknesses in the site and suggests appropriate improvements. The free version also includes security key protection and bot blocking, which are not available in other free tools.
- MalCare Security. This plugin focuses on early detection of malware and one-click removal – but the free version does not have an automated cleaning tool. The powerful scanner runs automatically every day and checks every part of the site, including files and databases. Unlike other security plugins, MalCare does not use the site’s resources to search for malware because the tool is “hosted” on its servers, and therefore does not overload our resources.
- Defender Security. Defender offers a number of free hardening and monitoring tools, including file scanning, IP-blocking firewal, protection from brute force attacks, and the ability to schedule security scans. However, it does not provide tools for detecting and removing malware.
- Shield Security. It is one of the few tools that automatically detects and implements interventions to cure detected problems, performing, for example, repairing hacks or blocking malicious bots. In general, Shield is also valued for its simplicity and less intrusive approach to security, and offers protection from brute force attacks, core file scanning, and easy configuration of security settings.
