Do you want to protect your website and visitors from hackers and malware? Learn about some of the best WordPress security plugins for safeguarding your site!
Your WordPress website stores a lot of important information, from user details to backend databases. Webpages are attacked every day, and if you don't have the proper security measures in place, your site can easily get hacked.
If you want bulletproof security for your site, a plugin could be just the ticket. Unless you are an experienced developer who can manually code state of the art security solutions, that is!
Fortunately, there are plenty of security plugin to help keep your website safe. In this post, we'll run through our picks for best security plugins for WordPress. Before that though, we'll discuss the dangers of running an insecure WordPress site.
Let’s get started!
Why you may want to consider using a security plugin
According to WordFence, there are up to 90,000 attacks on WordPress sites every minute. With this in mind, it's a smart idea to make online security one of your top priorities.
Common WordPress vulnerabilities include core files, cross-site scripting issues, plugins, and themes. However, plugins are the biggest culprit, causing 52 percent of vulnerabilities in WordPress sites.
An unsecured website can result in stolen data (including customer information), fraud, malware and brute-force attacks, plugin exploits, and even complete loss of your site. In a nutshell, the consequences of an attack on your site could be disastrous. Plus, getting hacked can ruin your site's reputation.
While WordPress does come with certain security features such as password protection, this is likely not enough to prevent more severe attacks. WordPress security plugins can provide a much needed extra layer of protection.
Top 6 WordPress security plugins
Now that you know how important it is to protect your site, here are our top WordPress security plugins compared.
1. Wordfence Security
No WordPress security plugins comparison would be complete without this one: Wordfence Security.
This dynamic security plugin that offers a powerful malware scanner. You even get a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with its free version. Its setup process is straightforward and the firewall feature makes it easy to protect your login page from password theft and brute-force attacks.
Key Features:
- A 24/7 incident response team
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Login attempt limits
Pricing: There is a free version of Wordfence Security, but premium licenses with added features start at $99 per year.
2. iThemes Security
When choosing the best WordPress security plugin, iThemes Security is worth a serious look.
It features a hassle-free setup process and provides you with a real-time dashboard to give you constant monitoring for your site's safety. It scans your website for vulnerable themes and plugins to see where updates are needed. This plugin can also block automated attacks and offers 2FA and strong password requirements.
Key Features:
- Local and network brute-force protection
- Blocking capabilities for bad users and bots
- Ability to stop specific IP addresses and user agents
Pricing: iThemes Security premium version starts at $80 per year. This includes protection for one site, ticketed email support, and plugin updates.
3. Sucuri Security
Sucuri Security is a popular plugin that offers safety activity auditing, post-hack security actions, file integrity monitoring, and more. It gives you the ability to check login attempts and see which IP addresses have tried to access your website. This plugin also allows you to set up a vast range of safety notifications that will inform you of suspicious activity.
Key Features:
- Blocklist monitoring
- Security activity auditing
- IP blacklisting
Pricing: The Sucuri Security plugin is free.
4. MalCare
The MalCare security tool has a unique scanner that helps identify complex malware. Its cloud-based server is designed not to slow down your site while scanning files and databases. You can also receive alerts about security risks using its vulnerability scanner.
Key Features:
- Automatic one-click malware removal
- Cloud-based firewall
- Notifications if your WordPress site goes down
Pricing: The cloud-based scanning, captcha-based login page protection, and firewall features are free. However, if you want more advanced features, pro plans start at $99 per year.
5. All In One WP Security & Firewall
The All In One WP Security & Firewall tool can measure how well you are protecting your site based on activated security features on your website. Its login lockdown feature blocks IP addresses in the case of too many login attempts. In addition to login security, this plugin can monitor your site's registration forms and allows you to add the reCaptcha feature.
Key Features:
- File backups and firewall functionality
- User account, login, registration, database, and file system security
- Comment spam security
Pricing: This WordPress security plugin is 100 percent free.
6. Jetpack Security
Jetpack Security‘s features offer spam protection, backups, and malware scanning. Using this tool, you can keep an eye on your site's uptime and downtime, receiving immediate email alerts when there is any change. It also offers 2FA secure authentication.
Key Features:
- Automatic updates for individual plugins
- One-click option that restores your website
- Activity log that lets you see site changes and who made them
Pricing: The free Jetpack plan comes with limited security features. For more advanced safety capabilities, Security plans start at $11.97 per month (billed annually).
Wrapping up
Although WordPress is generally considered a secure Content Management System (CMS), it’s still best practice to proactively protect your data and privacy. Security plugins can provide an extra layer of protection for your website and your business.
To review, here are the top six WordPress security plugins:
- Wordfence Security: Offers an easy setup and free WAF functionality.
- iThemes Security: Has a real-time dashboard for site monitoring.
- Sucuri Security: This free option lets you check login attempts and security notifications.
- MalCare: It won't slow down your site and uses cloud-based protection technology.
- All In One WP Security & Firewall: This tool lets you integrate safety features so you don't interrupt site functionality.
- Jetpack Security: A popular security plugin that enables spam protection, site monitoring, and more.
Now that you know how to protect sensitive user data, you may be ready to launch your directory website. Our Business Directory plugin lets you backup your WordPress site and export your data!
I used iThemes Security Pro for along time. This is the best security plugins with a lot of usefull features, i mean.