6 Best WordPress Security Plugins
Security is the key aspect to consider for every WordPress site, whether in development or maintenance. With every passing day, the risk of malicious attacks is increasing, and that’s why you need to have the best security plugin for WordPress. But here is the catch. You need sound knowledge about the different WordPress security plugins available on the market. This blog post has handpicked the six best WordPress security plugins for individuals or any WordPress development company. We have considered different aspects, including the key features. So, without further ado, let’s dive in:
Why You Need The Best WordPress Security Plugins
Every week, there are more than 18.5 million websites with malware infections. Every day, there are 44 attacks on the typical website, including both WordPress and non-WordPress sites.
These staggering numbers show why you need the best security plugin for WordPress. A small breach in the security of a website can wreak havoc on your business. How? Here is why:
- Hackers can steal your business data and the data concerning your clients and users.
- Malicious code can be spread from a security-compromised website to unwary visitors and other websites.
- You may experience website access issues, data lockouts, loss, or hostage situations involving your data.
- Your reputation as a brand and your SEO results may be impaired in the case of a destroyed or defiled website.
Key Tips to Secure a WordPress Site
Keep Email Transmission Ports Secured
Quite common! One of the main goals of cyber attackers is to get into your email system so they can use it instead of your site’s content.
Therefore, you must save email transmissions. To get this thing done, go to the email settings and observe what email ports you are currently using. Email transmissions are mostly unsecured, especially if you rely on SMTP Port 25, IMAP Port 143, or POP3 Port 110. It’s better to rely on SMTP Port 465, POP3 Port 995, and IMAP Port 993 because they employ encryption techniques.
Use the Scanner for Website Vulnerability
Using a website vulnerability scanner is another good way to find technical flaws, as well as flaws that could lead to XSS attacks or SQL injection.
Ensure the website vulnerability scanner you use operates continually and receives automatic updates with the most recent vulnerabilities. Take the time to read reviews and find out how recently they were updated. Robust support is essential.
Monitor Malafide File Uploads
Preventing website visitors from uploading files directly to the site is the perfect recipe for thwarting this form of attack. Use upload-capable forms instead, which enable the file to be uploaded to a separate folder from the files that make up the main website. You can identify suitable files in the external folder through a script. If they match the required file type, they can be read in the browser.
Use secure transfer protocols like SFTP or SSH to permit the uploading of files. It’s also a good idea to run your database on a particular server to protect your web application.
Qualities of the best security plugin for WordPress
Provides Robust Customer Support
All the best WordPress security plugins always offer a robust support system. Taking help from responsive and capable support experts is more manageable than sorting things out yourself. Quite often, you will get high-quality customer support at some cost. However, spending on a security plugin offers peace of mind.
Offers One Dashboard To Manage Multiple Sites
Maintaining several WordPress sites is quite a hectic task. WP sites frequently demand maintenance that consumes a lot of time. When you run a lot of websites, you’re more likely to use different combinations of themes and plugins, which could make maintenance work harder.
By picking one among several noteworthy WordPress security plugins that offer a dashboard, you can use it to support and manage several WP websites, which can save you a tonne of time.
Top WordPress Security Plugins
1- Sucuri
When you talk about the industry leader, you will find Sucuri as the table leader for WordPress security plugins. Sucuri offers the basic Sucuri security plugin tool that aids you in tightening the digital security wall on your website. It continuously scans your site for commonly occurring virus threats.
If you need accurate and top-notch security, you need to opt for their paid plan. A secure paid plan offers the best firewall protection for the WordPress site. The firewall protects you from malicious virus attacks and attempts to get into WordPress by using brute force.
Key Features:
- Scanning and deletion of malware.
- Site fortification.
- API key connection.
- WAF (Web Application Firewall) Premium.
- Password protection, login security, and user tracking.
- Site monitoring or tracking (changes in various files, failed login trials, etc.)
- Blocking of virus-infused traffic.
- file blocklist and integrity monitoring.
- Fast and straightforward setup.
2- Wordfence
Wordfence is a security plugin that every WordPress user would love. Wordfence is among the best WordPress security plugins that offer a free edition. The free-to-use edition includes a robust exploit detector, malware scanner, and threat assessment tools.
A complete scan can be launched at any moment. However, the plugin will automatically scan your website for common risks. If any indications of a security breach are found, you will be informed and offered info on how to fix them.
You can access advanced functions in Wordfence but for that you need to have a full-service Web Server Enterprise just like LiteSpeed. To enable the advanced feature of Wordfence protection, you need to install OpenLiteSpeed through CloudPages.
Wordfence includes sophisticated and synchronized scanning with the premium version. Moreover, since this plugin is among the most popular WordPress security plugins, you can anticipate a boatload of online support whenever you require it.
Key Features:
- Check your website for malware.
- By limiting login attempts, your website will be protected from brute-force attacks.
- Real-time firewall defense.
- can prevent particular nations.
- Checks for malicious code.
- Provides robust password enforcement and 2-factor authentication.
How to Install Wordfence
After login go to the Plugins, go to Add new plugin from the left menu, and search Wordfence. You will get the following results:
To get the advanced version of Wordfence, click the “Upgrade to Premium” button.
How to Enable OpenLiteSpeed to Get Advanced Wordfence Features
Advanced options for WordFence Protection require some key configurations regarding OpenLiteSpeed. Without applying those configurations, you can only activate a basic Wordfence version. So, access Litespeed to enable advanced security.
In the OpenLiteSpeed dashboard, head on to VHost > Site > General.
If you scroll down, you will see php.ini overwrite. You can edit your document. Add the following code in the edit mode:
In CloudPages, you will have the following path to access the advanced Wordfence version:
php_value auto_prepend_file /home/<replace with path you choose while website creation>/public_html/wordfence-waf.php
You have completed all the necessary steps for configurations. Now, go back to Wordfence to see Basic Protection converted into Extended Protection or advanced protection.
3- iThemes Security
The BackupBuddy plugin developers are the brains behind the creation of iThemes Security, one of the best WordPress security plugins. Among other products, iThemes Security offers a simple yet power-packed and clean user interface.
It also has a limit on the number of times someone can try to log in, protection against brute force, strong password enforcement, 404 detection, and checks for file integrity.
A firewall for websites is not part of iThemes Security. Also, it uses Sucuri’s site to check malware scanning rather than having its own.
Key Features:
- Google reCAPTCHAs are
- Using brute force
- Scanning of files
- Hidden web for admin and login pages
- Restricted log-in attempts
- You can control user roles and permissions for files.
- iThemes Security enables you to schedule your backups.
- Email notifications
- 2FA
- 404 Error Description
4- Patchstack
With its reliable firewall feature, Patchstack is perceived as the best security plugin for WordPress. Patchstack gives you a free license plan for up to 99 websites, and you don’t even need a credit card. As one of the best WordPress security plugins, Patchstack gives you unique benefits like detecting components and vulnerabilities, making security suggestions, and notifying you in real-time when a threat is found.
You need to purchase their Professional or Business plan if you want preventive or further security hardening features. If you only need to strengthen security for a single site, the professional plan, which costs $6.74 per month per site, is sufficient. Their annual may be ideal for you.
Key Features:
- Virtual auto patching
- Auto updates regarding at-risk plugins
- Availability for brute-force against malware attacks
- You can opt for customized firewall rules.
- Reporting with Analytics
- You can detect the expiry of the SSL
- New add-ons
- The Website is hardening
5- All In One WP Security & Firewall
This one is also the best security plugin for WordPress when we think of a firewall as the key security feature. The best part about this plugin is that it’s 100% free. But you shouldn’t be deterred by the fact that this plugin is free. It works better than its other premium counterparts and offers a high level of protection.
Strong WordPress security monitoring, auditing, and firewall plugins are what you get from All in One WordPress Security. Implementing fundamental WordPress security best practices on your website is simple.
As one of the key WordPress security plugins, it has a basic firewall that can detect common malicious patterns and block them instantly. However, efficiency may be an issue for you, and you will often need to blacklist suspicious IPs manually.
Key Features:
- It saves your website from malware and virus attacks.
- and prevents login attempts (brute force) to offer login safety.
- It searches for hazardous patterns in directories and files.
- You also get the blacklist feature.
- You can create backup files for the.HTACCESS and.WP-config formats.
6- MalCare
If you have to choose the best WordPress security plugin, MalCare is the best choice. This malware-obsessed WordPress security plugin detects the malware’s location and enables you to erase it within the touching distance of a click. It is simple and doesn’t require your server to scan for malware. The periodic scans have absolutely no impact on the speed or responsiveness of your own server, which is a crucial distinction.
When we talk about security features, MalCare is not as efficient as Sucuri. However, it does a satisfactory job. This is among those WordPress security plugins that track thousands of sites and automatically block shady IP addresses. You also get away from brute force attempts while disabling file executing and editing in the upload folder. It also has CAPTCHA authentication to stop spam or login attempts and backs up website content for 90 days.
Key Features:
- There is an emergency cleanup.
- Backups for WordPress
- Malware Scanner and Removal.
- Bot security.
- Log of Activities
- Scanner for Vulnerabilities
Wrap Up
It is critical to take website security seriously. Security-related features and your degree of financial constraints will determine the best security plugin for WordPress for you. Freemium or all-in-one solutions can be the best fit if you need a freemium or all-in-one solution. Make sure you prefer those WordPress security plugins that give firewalls and virus scanners coupled with sophisticated functionalities if you subscribe to their premium license.
