Best Security Plugins for WordPress: Key Features (2024)
Want to protect your site?
By the end of this guide, you will have an idea of the best security plugins you can use for your website for protection.
Here’s what we will talk about:
- Why there’s a need for such plugins
- The best security plugins
- Insights on the key features and pricing
Ready? Let’s get started!
Why the need for a security plugin?
As you know, WordPress, with its popularity, is a magnet for cybercriminals who prey on unwary site owners.
Don’t get me wrong:
The platform itself is secure, but the vast ecosystem of themes and plugins, combined with often lax user security practices, makes it vulnerable.
A single vulnerability can always be exploited to inject malware, launch brute-force attacks, or even take down an entire website.
It’s not just about data protection anymore — it's about ensuring the continuity of your online business and safeguarding your users' trust through a trustworthy security plugin.
Best WordPress Security Plugins
Like the most essential parts of a website, there are a lot of choices in regard to the plugins that could protect your website.
Here are some of the best security plugins out there:
1. Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security offers a custom-built endpoint firewall and malware scanner designed specifically to safeguard WordPress websites from threats.
Wordfence stays updated with the newest firewall rules, malware signatures, and harmful IP addresses through its threat defense feed.
It's known for its multifaceted approach to security, covering everything from firewall protection to login security, real-time threat assessment, and more.
đź’» Key features
- Endpoint firewall: It includes a web application firewall (WAF) that identifies and blocks malicious traffic.
- Malware scanner: The plugin scans your WordPress site for malware, code injections, and backdoors.
- Real-time threat defense feed: This feed keeps Wordfence updated with the most recent firewall rules, malware signatures, and harmful IP addresses.
- Login security: Features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and login attempt limits enhance your site's login security.
- Live traffic view: Monitor your website's traffic in real-time, including bots and human visitors, to better understand potential security threats and their origins.
- Blocking features: Wordfence allows you to block attackers in real-time, rate limit, or block malicious networks and bots.
- Security alerts and monitoring: Receive immediate alerts via email for any security issues detected on your site.
đź’° Pricing
- Premium: $119/year
- Care: $490/year
- Response: $950/year
WordFence Security offers not only a tiered pricing plan with varying features but also a free version for its top-notch services.
It's also important to consider the foundation that ensures these features run smoothly—your web hosting service
While security plugins protect your WordPress site from the front, a reliable hosting service like Hostinger safeguards it from the backend.
Discover the Hostinger advantage for your WordPress site:
- Enjoy a 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Affordable pricing at just $2.49/month (use the code darrel10 to get a discount)
- Global performance and reach with Hostinger's optimized hosting platform
By pairing Wordfence Security with Hostinger’s hosting service, you ensure that your WordPress site is not only secure but also performs at its peak.
This combination is key to creating a safe, fast, and reliable online presence.
2. Sucuri Security
Sucuri Security is known for its robust security suite that encompasses malware detection, integrity monitoring, and security hardening.
The plugin is designed to supplement your existing security measures, providing tools that significantly reduce risk and enhance your security posture.
It operates by filtering all traffic before it reaches your hosting server to ensure that threats are neutralized beforehand.
đź’» Key features
- Malware detection: It conducts thorough scans of your website for malware to ensure your site remains clean and secure.
- Integrity monitoring: The plugin monitors the integrity of your website and alerts you to any unauthorized changes to core files.
- Security hardening: With just one click, it applies several security hardening measures to bolster your website's defense against potential threats.
- Web application firewall: This serves as your website's first line of defense against hackers and attacks that filter out bad traffic.
- CDN for performance optimization: The inclusion of a content delivery network (CDN) not only enhances security but also improves your website's performance.
- DDoS mitigation: It also offers advanced DDoS protection capabilities that safeguard your site from this increasingly common form of cyber attack.
- Incident response service: Comprehensive support for malware removal, website cleanup, and blacklist removal during and after a security breach.
đź’° Pricing
- Basic: $199.99/year
- Pro: $299.99/year
- Business: $499.99/year
Sucuri Security’s confidence in its services is sealed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Solid Security
Solid Security, previously known as iThemes Security, is designed by WordPress security experts to provide a robust security foundation for WordPress websites.
This plugin offers a variety of features aimed at preventing unauthorized access and securing your website from potential attacks.
It includes innovative solutions such as biometric passwords and passkey technology, making it a versatile choice for WordPress site protection.
đź’» Key features
- Brute force protection: It identifies and locks out bad users and bots attempting unauthorized access.
- Two-factor authentication and passkeys: Enhances login security by requiring users to authenticate with a second form of verification.
- Patchstack integration: Offers automated vulnerability patching, significantly reducing the risk of exploits in plugins and themes.
- Customizable security dashboard: Allows for real-time monitoring of security-related events and activities on your site.
- Biometric login compatibility: Supports biometric authentication methods, including face ID, touch ID, and Windows Hello.
- Security site templates: Provides tailored security settings for various types of websites, including ecommerce, non-profit, and blogs.
- Comprehensive site scanning: In partnership with Patchstack, it scans your site for vulnerabilities and offers detailed reports and updates.
đź’° Pricing
Solid Security offers a tiered pricing plan starting at $99/year for one site.
It may also be purchased in a bundle with other high-powered plugins at a price of $199/year for one site.
4. Cerber Security
Cerber Security is an all-inclusive security plugin designed to protect WordPress websites against hacker attacks, spam, and malware.
It’s known for its advanced security solutions that exceed customer expectations, offering a fast and reliable defense mechanism.
The plugin features a sophisticated inspection algorithm that screens incoming requests for malicious code patterns, spam, and traffic anomalies.
đź’» Key features
- Advanced malware scanner & integrity checker: Automatically scans every file and folder on your website, with automatic removal and file recovery.
- Sophisticated anti-spam solution: Utilizes heuristic and content-based algorithms to detect bots and checks IPs against a real-time database​​.
- Rich GEO access rules: Set up access restrictions based on GEO country rules to enable you to define which countries can submit forms and post comments.
- Cerber security cloud: Leverages cloud servers to detect malicious IP addresses worldwide in real-time​​.
- Comprehensive user activity monitoring: Logs user activity and HTTP requests for both authorized and non-authorized users.
- Robust access control: Features like hiding wp-login.php, custom login URLs, and reCAPTCHA protection for registration forms.
- Flexible email notifications: Configurable email notifications with rate limiting keep you updated on security-related events, alerts, and reports.
đź’° Pricing
Cerber Security’s free version already grants security for unlimited sites, but its premium version for $99/year unlocks a host of all other must-have features.
5. All In One Security (AIOS)
All In One Security is a multifunctional security plugin that offers a wide array of features to improve your site's security.
It's user-friendly, compatible with most WordPress plugins, and provides a security strength meter to give you a quick overview of your site's security status.
The plugin is regularly updated to include new security features and fixes to ensure your site benefits from the latest security protection techniques.
đź’» Key features
- User account hardening: Enhances the security of user accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
- Login page security: Implements measures like login attempt limits and reCAPTCHA to secure the login page against brute force attacks.
- Database backups: Offers options for backing up your site's database, adding an extra layer of data protection.
- File system security: Checks and fixes permissions issues, and prevents access to sensitive files.
- Blacklist functionality: Allows you to block problematic IP addresses and user agents from accessing your site.
- Firewall protection: A built-in 24/7 firewall to protect your site against common threats and vulnerabilities.
- Security scanner: Monitors changes in files and alerts you to any unauthorized modifications.
đź’° Pricing
Other than its free version, All In One Security is available starting from $70/year, an affordable solution for growing businesses and site owners.
6. MalCare Security
MalCare Security is a sweeping WordPress security plugin designed to fortify websites from malware and other security threats.
MalCare is celebrated for its ease of use, which offers a one-click setup that ensures your website is protected without needing extensive technical knowledge.
The plugin operates on a global network that analyzes billions of requests to stay ahead of potential threats and ensure the security of the sites.
đź’» Key features
- Malware scanner: Offers deep scans of your entire site using a dynamic and efficient algorithm that ensures no threat is missed​​​​.
- Instant malware removal: One of MalCare's standout features is its ability to instantly remove malware with just one click.
- Advanced firewall protection: Blocks the most sophisticated attacks to prevent harmful traffic from reaching your server​​​​.
- Bot protection: MalCare distinguishes between good and bad bots to ensure that your site's traffic is genuine without compromising on security​​​​.
- Activity logs: Helps you monitor all user actions and provides insights into potential security breaches or unusual activities​​.
- Vulnerability detection: The plugin scans your site for vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, and WordPress core, against potential exploits​​.
- Comprehensive website management: Includes login page protection, website hardening measures, and a centralized dashboard for management.
đź’° Pricing
- Plus: $149/year
- Pro: $299/year
- Max: $499/year
While MalCare Security’s free version is already a powerhouse in itself.
Its premium features take security to whole other levels, secured with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
7. Shield Security
Shield Security is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to simplify security for users and site owners by automating many of these processes.
It offers a wide range of protective measures to guard against common vulnerabilities and attacks, such as hacking, spam, and malware, with an emphasis on ease of use.
This approach not only enhances the security posture of WordPress sites but also instills a sense of confidence among website administrators.
đź’» Key features
- Powerful firewall: Automatically blocks malicious traffic and requests to prevent unauthorized access to your site.
- Login protection: Shields your site from brute force attacks and enables two-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
- Block automated spam: Utilizes advanced algorithms to detect and block spam comments, form submissions, and emails.
- Malware scanner: Periodically scans your WordPress files for malware and offers alerts and automated cleanup options.
- Automatic IP blacklist: Automatically detects and blocks IPs engaging in suspicious activities, thereby reducing the risk of attacks.
- Security hardening: Offers options to harden your WordPress site's security by tweaking various settings and disabling potentially vulnerable features.
- Audit trail & logs: Provides detailed logging of security-related events on your site to enable you to monitor and track potential issues.
đź’° Pricing
- Starter: $129/year
- Plus: $149/year
- Agency: $199/year
Shield Security is a cost-effective option compared to its competitors, even made more alluring with its 14-day money-back guarantee.
8. Defender Pro
Defender Pro is a cutting-edge WordPress security plugin that's designed to fortify your website against a wide array of digital threats.
The plugin is well-regarded for its blend of simplicity and effectiveness that offers users a straightforward approach to securing their sites.
With an easy setup process, Defender Pro brings advanced security features to your WordPress site, robust protection against hackers and malicious bots.
đź’» Key features
- Security recommendations: Offers a list of one-click hardening techniques that instantly add layers of protection to your site.
- Firewall and IP manager: Includes the ability to block or allowlist IPs, set automated lockouts, and implement geographical IP blocking for advanced protection​​​​.
- Two-factor authentication: Reduces the risk of unauthorized access through brute force attacks or compromised passwords​​.
- Malware scanning and file repair: Scheduled security scans to detect malware and other security threats, as well as safe repair options​​​​.
- Login protection: Prevents brute force login attacks by limiting login attempts and implementing Geo IP blocking.
- Security headers: Protects your site against various types of attacks such as XSS, code injection, and cross-site scripting.
- Audit logging and notifications: Keep track of all security-related events on your site and receive notifications about important security actions.
đź’° Pricing
- Basic: $15/month for use on 1 site
- Standard: $25/month for use on 3 sites
- Freelancer: $50/month for use on 10 sites
- Agency: $100/month for use on unlimited sites
Defender Pro is packed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
9. SecuPress
SecuPress is a highly regarded WordPress security plugin designed to bolster your site's defenses without compromising on usability.
It’s created to be straightforward for users of all backgrounds while creating a formidable barrier against unauthorized access.
By scanning your site for vulnerabilities, SecuPress provides a detailed report on how to fortify your WordPress installation.
đź’» Key features
- Alerts and daily reports: Stay informed about potential security threats with email alerts and comprehensive daily reports.
- Scheduled security tasks: Automate scans, backups, and malware checks to maintain a vigilant watch over your WordPress site.
- User & login security enhancements: Limit bad login attempts, enforce strong passwords, and introduce two-factor authentication.
- Protection against plugin and theme vulnerabilities: Receive alerts for vulnerable or tampered themes and plugins, and restrict their actions.
- Core WordPress protection: Strengthen the security of WordPress core files and configurations to shield against common exploits.
- Firewall capabilities: Block malicious requests, bad user agents, and manage traffic with GeoIP blocking for comprehensive protection.
- Malware scanning and removal: Comes with malware scanning technology to detect and remove malicious files from your site.
đź’° Pricing
SecuPress is available from $69.99/year for one site only, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Take note that you can select the number of websites for the license, up to 200 sites.
10. BulletProof Security
BulletProof Security offers a wide array of security measures aimed at defending your WordPress site against potential vulnerabilities and attacks.
The plugin includes .htaccess website protection, including firewalls, and an array of tools such as login security and monitoring, database backups, and malware scanning.
Advanced features like auto restore/quarantine intrusion detection and prevention system (ARQ IDPS) and real-time file monitoring further enhance your site's security.
đź’» Key features
- One-click setup wizard: Simplifies the initial setup process to ensure your website's security features are correctly configured from the start.
- .htaccess website security protection (firewalls): Processes server configurations before WordPress code is executed to effectively block malicious scripts.
- MScan malware scanner: Scans your website files and database for malware and offers scheduled scanning for ongoing protection.
- Login security & monitoring: Includes features to secure and monitor login attempts in order to stop unauthorized access.
- Database backups: Allows for manual or scheduled database backups to ensure you can restore your site to a previous state whenever needed.
- Security | HTTP error logging: Tracks and logs security and HTTP errors that aid in the identification and resolution of potential security issues.
- AutoRestore/Quarantine Intrusion Detection & Prevention System (ARQ IDPS): Monitors and protects all points of attack with automated security systems.
đź’° Pricing
BulletProof Security’s advanced no-nonsense protection is available for only a $69.95 one-time purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
11. WP Security Ninja
WP Security Ninja provides an all-in-one solution to secure WordPress websites by conducting over 50 security tests to identify vulnerabilities.
It’s a tool that empowers website owners to take proactive steps in securing their sites, further offering detailed insights and corrective actions for identified issues.
WP Security Ninja is dedicated to safeguarding websites against common threats like malware infections and brute force attacks, with regular updates and backups.
đź’» Key features
- Auto fixer: Ideal for beginners, this feature automatically resolves issues detected on your site with a single click.
- Core scanner: Compares your WordPress core files with the official WordPress.org repository to identify any modifications or issues.
- Malware scanner: Scans your site for malware and other malicious codes, but displays them for review before deletion.
- Scheduled scans: Enables the scheduling of regular security checks to ensure continuous monitoring and protection.
- Cloud firewall: Acts as a robust firewall that allows you to block IPs and ban users as part of your website's defense mechanism.
- Database optimizer: Cleans and optimizes your website's database, including the removal of unnecessary data to amp up performance.
- Event logger: Monitors and logs over 50 different events on your site to record detailed reports of all activities for enhanced security monitoring.
đź’° Pricing
- Starter: $39.99 for use on 1 site
- Plus: $99.99 for use on 3 sites
- Pro: $149.99 for use on 5 sites or $249 for 10 sites
WP Security Ninja’s confidence in its services is sealed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
12. Astra Security
Astra Security provides a comprehensive suite designed to simplify and enhance the security of websites and businesses globally.
It’s recognized for delivering a robust security setup that includes a mix of automated and expert-driven processes to effectively address vulnerabilities and threats.
Astra's approach to security includes a mix of automated and expert-driven processes to ensure thorough coverage and proactive defense against various digital threats.
đź’» Key features
- Pentest platform: Astra's pentest platform is designed for modern engineering teams and allows for comprehensive testing.
- Vulnerability scanner: Astra includes a powerful, continuous vulnerability scanner that proactively identifies security weaknesses in your website.
- Vulnerability management: The platform offers robust vulnerability management tools to help plan and prioritize fixes for identified security issues.
- Integration with CI/CD pipelines: Astra can be integrated into your CI/CD pipelines to enhance your DevSecOps practices by embedding continuous testing.
- Compliance assurance: Supports continuous compliance with major standards and notifies you of any new vulnerabilities.
- Custom security rules: Astra allows you to create custom security rules for your website, offering a tailored defense mechanism against threats.
đź’° Pricing
- Scanner: $1,999/year with a free trial
- Pentest: $5,999/year
- Enterprise: Starting from $9,999/year
Astra Security is comparatively costly compared to its competition, so you may want to check its plans for yourself and see what works for your site’s size and clientele.
13. WP fail2ban
WP fail2ban is a nuanced security plugin designed to shield your WordPress website from various threats like brute-force attacks, spam comments, and other harmful traffic.
It’s known for its effectiveness in enhancing your site's security without affecting its performance or using excessive resources.
The plugin is configurable and permits you to tailor its settings for optimal protection against the specific threats your site may face.
đź’» Key features
- Brute-force attack protection: WP fail2ban is particularly effective against brute-force attacks and in monitoring and blocking malicious login attempts.
- Spam comment blocking: The plugin helps in reducing spam comments to keep your site clean and more reputable.
- Flexible configuration: You can adjust the settings of WP fail2ban to focus on the specific security threats relevant to your website.
- Syslog integration: WP fail2ban writes various WordPress events to your server's system log, facilitating integration with your system protection.
- Multiple filters: Includes different fail2ban filters such as wordpress-hard.conf, wordpress-soft.conf, and wordpress-extra.conf.
đź’° Pricing
While WP fail2ban is a free plugin, it has several add-ons (one of them is paid) that add to the strength of your site protection.
Using a Security Plugin
Deploying a security plugin is just the beginning — integrating a security plugin with other best practices enhances your website's resilience.
To maximize its effectiveness, regular updates are a must in the WordPress core and every plugin, because defenses must evolve as rapidly as the cyber threats.
Customize the plugin settings to suit your website’s specific needs and objectives, keeping in mind that what works for one site may not be the best for another.
Wrapping up, it's clear that securing your website is a multifaceted endeavor.
Beyond plugins, another aspect of your website that demands attention is its design and functionality.
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