WordPress Security Plugins
A strong protection plan is necessary for any webpage. More than 40% of global sites are powered by WordPress. So, you need to understand how to handle its security strategy.
Many WordPress security plugins can act as a defense against all kinds of attacks. They can save your pages from malware, hacking, and much more.
We gathered the top 6 alternatives you can try. Get familiar with them below!
Wordfence
The first platform we want to highlight is Wordfence. It is a leading safety mechanism for WordPress sites. These pages are frequent targets for attacks. There are around 34 attempts per day probing for weak passwords and vulnerabilities.
Wordfence safeguards over 5 million websites and blocks about 170 million threats each day.
Many people choose it for its threat intelligence platform and dedicated security team. They constantly investigate unknown dangers and present practical protective tactics.
You can coordinate security for many sites on a dedicated dashboard with its Wordfence Central solution. You can use it without any fees. It allows you to
- Monitor security events on all pages;
- Standardize controls by applying configuration templates;
- Launch scans at the same time;
- Access audit records (premium).
This plugin is a full-spectrum solution. It has a network defense system to control hostile traffic and 2FA.
Also, it has live malware scanning. You can use it to detect threats and clear them out.
In addition to the free version, it has diverse premium packages.
Plus, it presents Wordfence CLI for more specialized users. It has high-performance analysis capacities that allow for
- Fast malware detection;
- Parallel scanning;
- Cron scheduling, etc.
It’s a perfect choice for managing a single site or a full network.
Sucuri
Another option we’d like to suggest is Sucuri. It is a popular platform designed to keep your online reputation clean.
Sucuri offers a zero-cost plugin for WordPress users. It can help you with
- Malware scanning;
- Central validation procedures;
- Notification messages;
- Security hardening options, etc.
This plugin integrates with their WAF for an extra layer of protection. Plus, this solution is compatible with diverse sites, which is valuable for e-commerce monitoring.
To strengthen your safety measures and performance even more, you can switch to their paid plans.
You’ll get access to a CDN and cache infrastructure that will improve the loading speed.
Also, Sucuri guarantees malware removal with unlimited cleanups. Their professional analysts work 24/7 to restore and repair hacked websites.
Plus, they provide a powerful cloud-based WAF. It will help you with
- Bot blocking;
- DDoS attacks prevention;
- Virtual patching;
- Intrusion detection, etc.
Sucuri is pretty easy to set up and you can contact their support crew at any time.
MalCare
Another option that deserves your attention is MalCare. You’ll get first-rate security that works without slowing down your processes. They have more than 300k web pages in their network.
They provide various mechanisms and components for WordPress protection.
For instance, they offer a one-click malware elimination tool. It works super fast and neutralizes threats before you even notice them
Also, you’ll get access to MalCare’s firewall. It blocks malicious traffic without affecting site speed.
The next useful instrument is their Scanner. It inspects different aspects of your page, like
- Files;
- Databases;
- Configurations.
It detects and removes all types of malware before they damage your systems.
Plus, Malcare can offer you a trustworthy backup infrastructure. It keeps encrypted copies of your site in secure cloud storage. You can restore your pages in a single click whenever needed.
Just like the two previous ones it has a no-cost option and several packages.
Plus, you can contact the support team for help at any time.
SolidWP
SolidWP is also an amazing WordPress security plugin you can try out. It has a basic plan that includes the following features:
- Local brute force protection;
- IP & user agent blocking;
- Patchstack risk examination;
- Security gateway management;
- Database extra copies;
- File transformation control.
Also, they offer different paid alternatives.
For example, you may upgrade to Solid Security Pro for more advanced features.
It offers custom user access control and identity verification without traditional passwords. Also, you might use automatic defect testing and updates. Plus, you can apply global risk assessment to block dangerous traffic.
Another choice is Solid Backups to protect your site from unexpected failures. It offers
- Daily backups;
- Activity timeline;
- One-click restore;
- Dashboard for control.
The last paid option is Solid Central. It lets you perform admin tasks across all your websites from one central point.
You can apply updates to plugins and themes on all pages at the same time. You can view the history of improvements and safety incidents. Plus, you’ll get alerts when a site goes down instantly.
Jetpack
Jetpack Security is another user-friendly solution for WordPress protection. You can access it for a price of €8.95 per month. It includes
- VaultPress Backup;
- Jetpack Scan;
- Akismet Anti-Spam.
The backup system guarantees that each change on your site is conserved. It allows you to restore everything instantly if a problem happens. The activity tracker helps pinpoint exactly what happened before an issue appeared.
Jetpack Scan keeps your site safe 24/7 with a WAF that blocks harmful traffic. Also, it provides an automatic scanner that detects questionable modifications and outdated plugins. Plus, you’ll get email alerts so you can act instantly.
Akismet automatically removes spam comments and artificial form inputs. Plus, there’s no need for CAPTCHA. That way, you can easily handle the submission process.
Some other components Jetpack can offer you are
- Brute force attack mitigation;
- Outage monitoring;
- Activity record;
- Secure authentication.
It gives you a clear picture of your site’s health and can quickly handle any exposures.
AIOS
The last WordPress security plugin we want to recommend is AIOS. You can set it up once and let it handle the tasks.
You can choose between two alternatives – Basic and Premium.
Here are the main features you’ll get with the Basic one.
You can use its Login Security functionality. So, you can control your login process with
- Password enforcement;
- 2FA;
- Login page barrier.
AIOS also blocks suspicious IP addresses. It stops brute force attacks and unapproved access.
You’ll get a powerful firewall. It restricts access to critical files like wp-config.php. Additional protections include disabling PHP file editing and blacklisting dangerous users.
Plus, this version introduces a Content Protection function. It has innate spam and iFrame blocking. Also, it employs anti-copying measures to lower the risk of unauthorized content scraping.
The Premium plan provides even more advanced features.
It has a strong Malware Scanner that detects
- Malware;
- Downtime issues;
- Suspicious activity.
You’ll gain full control over 2FA settings. For instance, you might enforce it for specific user roles or require activation when the account reaches a certain age.
Another useful feature is Smart 404 Blocking. It automatically blocks bots and hackers by observing repeated 404 mistakes.
Plus, it has a Country-Based Access Control. You can deter or enable traffic by country with 99.5% accuracy. It lets you apply restrictions site-wide or on specific pages.
How to Pick the Best WordPress Security Plugin?
So, you are already aware of the top plugin alternatives. Now, you’re probably wondering how to find the best one for your needs. Here are a few aspects to weigh before you make your pick.
Identify Your Security Needs
First, you need to assess what you expect to receive from your future plugin. Consider the biggest safety problems you have. Assess the audience and goal of your page. Knowing your preferences will help limit your list of options.
Evaluate the Security Features
Next, evaluate the functionalities each one delivers. Some of the core features you need are
- Firewall protection;
- Malware scanning;
- Login safety;
- Threat identification;
- Backup possibilities.
Check for Periodic Updates
A quality plugin should be upgraded often to protect against the current risks. So, inspect when the last update happened and if it works well with the latest WordPress version.
Plus, read the plugin’s changelog to see if the updates manage critical exposures and enhance functionality.
Read Reviews and Ratings
User reviews can help you understand how effective and user-friendly a plugin is. Look for those with higher ratings and positive comments.
Try to focus on recent reviews to guarantee the plugin is still performing well. Plus, you may study forums and social media discussions for people’s opinions.
Consider System Strain
Some security plugins can slow down your site because of heavy resource usage. They might consume too much server power and affect your site speed.
We advise focusing on lightweight plugins that provide vital protection without impacting operations. Also, test its impact using speed testing tools before installation.
Compare Free vs. Paid Options
All the options we offered have free and premium versions. So, examine the potential benefits they’ll give you.
The ones you don’t have to pay for are mostly appropriate for fundamental defense.
Yet, if you deal with confidential data or get revenue, consider a subscription-based program for more complex features.
Conclusion
WordPress supports a huge share of sites and its security is more important than ever. So, you have to find the best method for its protection.
A strong WordPress security plugin might be the best solution. It offers threat detection, backups, and security measures. Make sure to evaluate its capabilities and user reviews before making a decision.
Hope that you found something useful! Try out some of the plugins we suggested for better WordPress protection.
