Top 15 WordPress Security Plugins: Essential Guide

WordPress is the content management system used by 63.6% of all the websites and it is the most popular CMS in the world.

Hackers and other malware infestations can damage the online business by stealing vital information and harming the reputation by breaching the website protection.

However, one may get website protection to safeguard the website against brute force assaults, viruses, and hackers by using a WordPress security plugins.

15 Top WordPress Security Plugins in 2024

  1. Sucuri Security
  2. Jetpack Security
  3. Defender Security
  4. Wordfence Security
  5. iThemes Security
  6. All In One WP Security & Firewall
  7. BulletProof Security
  8. WPScan
  9. Anti-Malware Security and Brute Force Firewall
  10. Security MalCare
  11. Security Ninja
  12. Google Authenticator
  13. BBQ Firewall (Block Bad Queries)
  14. Shield Security
  15. Limit Login Attempts Reloaded

These WordPress security plugins are designed to thwart assaults that are specifically directed at WordPress.

Several features are included, such as website scanning, website protection and web application firewalls (WAFs).

Lets get to know the finest WordPress security plugins to stop those hackers.

1# Sucuri Security

Sucuri Security WordPress Plugin

The finest WordPress security plugin to protect the website from any security threats is Sucuri. Even one can utilize it to maintain the website protection of all of the websites.

A cloud-based security tool called Sucuri gives the website protection against threats including DDoS, malware, brute force assaults, hackers, and more.

This plugin that offers a range of features including malware scanning, firewall protection, and security hardening. It has over 800,000+ active installations and a 4.2 out of 5-star rating.

Sucuri’s website application firewall, or WAF, is what makes it the finest WordPress security plugin. Even before the unwanted traffic reaches the server, it is scanned and filtered away.

For more information about Sucuri Security WordPress Plugin, check out here: wordpress.org/plugins/sucuri-scanner/

2# Jetpack Security

Jetpack security WordPress plugin

Jetpack is one of the top WordPress security plugins, providing comprehensive solutions for website protection, enhancing its performance, and controlling site activities. There is a free and a premium variation offered.

It offers a range of features including malware scanning, brute force attack protection, and spam filtering. It has over 5 million active installations and a 3.9 out of 5-star rating.

Discover one of the most popular Jtepack WP Security Plugin, check out here: wordpress.org/plugins/jetpack

3# Defender Security

Defender wordpress plugin

Defender is a recently released yet optimistic WordPress security plugins that has already received over 80,000 active installations and a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on the WordPress plugin repository.

It is a comprehensive security plugin for WordPress that offers features such as malware scanning, firewall protection, two-factor authentication, and vulnerability reports.

The plugin provides site hardening tools to secure your WordPress site against potential security threats. Defender also includes a real-time IP blacklist to block known malicious IPs and helps to keep your site safe from brute-force attacks.

Defender Pro may be upgraded for an additional $49 per month, allowing for the scheduling of automated scans, more thorough reporting of website protection issues, and better support.

Check out here: Use Defender Security to prevent cross-site scripting XSS, SQL injections, brute force login attempts, and other WordPress issues.

4# Wordfence Security

wordfence security WordPress Plugn

The wonderful capabilities of the free security plugin, Wordfence will prevent hackers from accessing the website.

It has over 4 million active installations and a 4.7 out of 5-star rating and includes a full website protection firewall, malware signatures, and blocks access to the website from bad IP addresses.

Check out WordFence Security plugin here: wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence

5# Security by iThemes

iThemes security WordPress

A WordPress security plugins called iThemes Security is made to deter hackers. It also provides a lovely dashboard at the backend of your WordPress website.

iThemes Security offers features like two-factor authentication, malware scanning, and file change detection. It has over 1 million active installations and a 4.6-star rating out of 5.

One can keep tabs on activities and view website protection records using the dashboard.

Check out here: iThemes Security – WordPress Plugin

6# All In One WP Security & Firewall

Another well-liked WordPress security plugin to shield the website from the most serious dangers is All In One WP Security.

It offers features such as login lockdown, database security, and brute-force attack protection. It has over 1 million active installations and a 4.8 out of 5-star rating.

One may check the website protection for security flaws with the plugin installed, keep an eye out for dangers, and utilize the firewall to ward off attacks.

7# BulletProof Security

Another well-known WordPress security plugins with capabilities to help shield the WordPress website from hackers is BulletProof Security.

It has over 40,000+ active installations and a 4.8 out of 5-star rating. Although the UI isn’t the easiest to use, it makes up for it in terms of features.

8# WPScan

One of the top WordPress security plugins is WPScan. Using its own database, it checks the website for vulnerabilities.

It offers features such as vulnerability scanning, plugin and theme detection, and password auditing. WPScan is now rated 3.9 out of 5 stars and has over 10,000 active installations.

With over 21,000 security vulnerabilities being checked in WordPress plugins, themes, and core software, WPScan offers comprehensive site scanning services. You can schedule automated daily scans and receive email notifications of the results.

The plugin provides a free security API that is ideal for most websites, and you can opt for the paid plan if you have a larger site with many plugins.

Users won’t need to worry about manually scanning websites for dangers if they use WPScan.

9# Anti-Malware Security and Brute Force Firewall

The following WordPress security plugins are on our list is Anti-Malware Security and Brute Force Firewall.

Anti-Malware Security and Brute Force Firewall is a free security plugin that offers features such as malware scanning, brute-force attack prevention, and file system monitoring. It has over 200,000+ active installations and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating.

It offers a simple setup method and integrates exceptionally well with WordPress websites.

Its primary objective is to prevent viruses from attacking the website. However, one can fend against brute force attacks using its firewall.

One may automatically identify and remove risks from websites by using the complete website scan function of this WordPress security plugin.

10# Security MalCare

MalCare Security is a WordPress security plugins that can assist one in removing the remnants of an assault with just one click, but one will need the premium version to do so.

MalCare deploys AI technology with over 100 intelligent signals to detect malware on websites.

With over 240,000 sites scanned to date, MalCare is constantly learning to protect websites against even unknown malware.

Along with unlimited scanning and cleaning options, MalCare also provides site hardening and management features. Among its attributes are:

  • firewall defense
  • malware scanning remotely that won’t overburden your server
  • Malware eradication with one click
  • Tools for developers, such as client reports and white labeling

11# Security Ninja

Security Ninja is a useful plugin that can help you determine how secure your website is with a range of tools to help harden your site’s security. It has over 10,000 active installations and a 4.8 out of 5-star rating.

With over 50 security tests available, you can check if your WordPress core, plugins, and themes are up-to-date, test file accessibility, and evaluate password strength by simulating a brute force attack.

Additionally, you can find out if general, database, or JavaScript debug mode is enabled.

The free version of Security Ninja only highlights vulnerabilities and does not provide a solution to the problems found.

However, the information provided can help you take action using another plugin or the paid version of Security Ninja.

The premium version, Security Ninja Pro, includes malware scanning, a cloud firewall, and other features starting at $29 per year.

12# The Google Authenticator from miniOrange

Surprisingly, the majority of free WordPress security plugins don’t automatically support two-factor authentication.

Google Authenticator is a free security plugin that adds two-factor authentication to the WordPress login process, requiring users to enter a code generated by the Google Authenticator app on their phone. It has over 30,000 active installations and a 4.3 out of 5-star rating.

However, MiniOrange is a free, straightforward option for adding extra website protection if one is trying to supplement a free WordPress security plugin or if they’re on a tighter budget and can’t afford a premium solution that provides a firewall, IP blocking, malware eradication, and other security features.

This WordPress security plugins enables one to add Google 2FA to the login screens for users with all access levels as well as to the forms and other user-submission fields.

13# BBQ Firewall (Block Bad Queries)

This simple WordPress security plugins prevents harmful assaults on the website in an inconspicuous manner.

It also includes features to help improve security, such as limiting the number of failed login attempts. It has over 100,000 active installations and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating.

Considering that Block Bad Queries runs quietly in the background, one won’t have to worry about it interfering with their workflow.

Additionally, it is simple to operate and can stop:

  • Directory traversal requests.
  • SQL injection.
  • Executable file uploads.

14 # Shield Security

One of the most popular and downloaded wordpress security plugins in the WordPress directory is Shield Security.

Once engaged, it begins operating right away and starts website protection while one adjusts its settings.

It also includes a range of tools to help optimize your site’s performance and improve SEO. It has over 50,000 active installations and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating.

15# Limit Login Attempts Reloaded

Limit Login Attempts Reloaded is a highly sought-after security plugin for WordPress with over 1 million active installations. This plugin provides an effective way to limit the number of login attempts for visitors.

You can set the maximum number of login attempts you want to allow, and once that limit is reached, the plugin will automatically ban the visitor’s IP address for a specified amount of time.

The plugin’s settings can be customized to fit the specific needs of your website and to help keep it safe from brute-force attacks.

It had over 2 million active installations and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on the WordPress plugin repository.

Conclusion

After locating and setting the preferred WordPress security plugins, one will be able to enable website protection.

If one wants to get managed WordPress hosting for their business and install WordPress security plugins to secure their website, Exabytes can help them.

Exabytes professionals can assist them in managing their WordPress site for website protection.

To talk to an Exabytes professional, contact us now.

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