WordPress is considered to be a very important, easy to use and cost-effective blogging platform for website owners for publishing and sharing their views, contents, and information to the whole world. But as a stand-alone platform, WordPress has some security glitch that should be fixed in a professional website with a long term goal. So we have to protect WordPress from getting hacked or getting affected by many viruses and malware.
Fortunately, there are lots of security plugins are available for WordPress, most of them are really doing the pretty good job to protecting a WordPress website. So, in this article, you will get to know about 10 most effective security plugins of WordPress that you can trust and use to make your website ready to handle any kind of security attacks.
But, one thing I need to mention here. As some below-mentioned plugins are really providing much-advanced protection, some advanced knowledge is also required to understand it properly. So, if you are a basic user of WordPress without much technical knowledge, please use any of these plugins very carefully. It is always recommended to take a full backup of your website files and databases. This will help you to recover your website from any adverse situations.
Related: I have read a recent article by Joe Fylan, a WordPress lover. The article is related to WordPress security which can give us a detailed idea on how to hardening WordPress. The article is worth reading.
1. Wordfence Security - Free
Basically, Wordfence security gives your WordPress website a free enterprise class protection against malware and hackings. And as a result, you and your WordPress website will remain to relax and secured. Let’s know what their working features are.
Wordfence features generally cover up the factors like IP Blocking, Login Security, Security Scanning, WordPress Firewall, Monitoring, Multi-Site Security, Caching, IPv6 Compatibility, support for major Theme and Plugins and a free learning center which will keep updating you on the latest security features.
| Item Title: | Wordfence Security |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | Wordfence |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 50,806,518+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.8 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on April 21, 2012. |
| Update: | It was last updated on October 12, 2017. |
| Tags: | Wordpress Security // Security Plugin // Security // Secure // Login Security |
2. iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security) - Free
It gives security and protections over 30+ ways to your WordPress site. They basically protect your WordPress site by not only hiding the vital areas of your website but also gives protections to your important files just by preventing brute-force login attempts and also by detecting the threats which come the way of your website. Their implementation procedure is just like a one click activations process. Just use this plugin and fix your websites common holes and stop hackers from attacking your site by making it strong user credentials.
| Item Title: | iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security) |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | IThemes |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 11,199,741+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.7 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on October 23, 2010. |
| Update: | It was last updated on September 21, 2017. |
| Tags: | Hack // Secure // Security // Security Plugin // Malware |
4. All In One WP Security & Firewall - Free
This one is also a very easy plugin for users who always prefers a comprehensive solution, but at the same time, an easy to use, stable and well supported, for them All in One WP security & Firewall is an ideal one.
| Item Title: | All In One WP Security & Firewall |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | Tips And Tricks HQ, Peter, Ruhul, Ivy |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 4,493,361+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.8 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on June 03, 2013. |
| Update: | It was last updated on August 30, 2017. |
| Tags: | Ban // Secure // Anti-virus // Antivirus // Security |
5. Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening - Free
This plugin can be considered as a security toolset against the security integrity monitoring, malware detecting, and security hardening. This way Sucuri Security controls the hackers for stealing up or wiping up your forensic data from doing any kind of misuse. And if by chance any hackers get able to bypass your security controls, then also, your secured information will remain safe within the Sucuri Security Operations Center (SOC). This one is really a good security plugin for your WordPress site.
| Item Title: | Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | Sucuri Inc. |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 2,521,883+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.5 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on November 18, 2011. |
| Update: | It was last updated on August 31, 2017. |
| Tags: | Firewall // Security // Spam // Scan // Malware |
6. Login LockDown - Free
This plugin is especially good in giving security by recording your website IP address and timestamp for every failed login attempt made on your website. This way you can easily detect how many times an attempt is made in doing login within a short period of time from the same IP range. The login function can be disabled for all requests from that IP range. And as a result, it will protect your website from the hackers who brutally doing force password recovery attempts. Initially, you will get 1-hour security blockage after 3 repeated failed attempts within 5 minutes, but this can be modified via the options panel. But if it is you who are doing the mistakes then you can take help from the administrators, who will then release locked out IP ranges manually from the control panel.
| Item Title: | Login LockDown |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 749,699+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.6 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on June 16, 2008. |
| Update: | It was last updated on September 13, 2016. |
| Tags: | Security // Login |
7. Anti-spam - Free
Anti-spam plugin basically used for blocking spams usually which gets added in comments automatically, both for the users and for the admins, by staying invisible. This plugin is very easy to use because you can start using it by just installing it and it will be ready to use.
| Item Title: | Anti-spam |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | Webvitaly |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 859,862+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.8 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on September 06, 2012. |
| Update: | It was last updated on August 31, 2017. |
| Tags: | Comment // Spammer // Comment Spam // Spam // Comments |
8. WP-SpamShield - Free
This plugin works as a shield for any website to remove its spams. So its work is to remove spam from comments, plus it track back all the spam, plus it removes spam from contact and registration forms.
| Item Title: | WP-SpamShield |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | Scott Allen |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 3,808,030+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.8 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on March 18, 2014. |
| Update: | It was last updated on October 14, 2017. |
| Tags: | Security // Anti-spam // Comments // Antispam // Spam |
9. Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall - Free
The work of Anti-Malware Security and Brute Force Firewall is to scan and fix all the malware, viruses, and other security threats and vulnerabilities which can create a problem for your server. So, as a result, your WordPress site can remain threat free all time.
| Item Title: | Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | Eli Scheetz |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 1,635,912+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.9 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on March 27, 2012. |
| Update: | It was last updated on August 04, 2017. |
| Tags: | Firewall // Anti-malware // Security // Scanner // Automatic |
10. BulletProof Security - Free
Last but not the least one is BulletProof Security. This plugin specially provides protections against hardening WordPress website security. Like, it can be firewall security, it can be login security, and it can be database security. Moreover, this plugin is very much effective, at the same time it is reliable and very easy to use.
| Item Title: | BulletProof Security |
|---|---|
| Category: | WordPress >> WordPress Security Plugins |
| Author: | AITpro Website Security |
| Publisher: | WordPress Plugin Repository |
| Stats: | 2,536,703+ users are already downloaded this. |
| Rating: | (4.6 out of 5) |
| Release: | It was first released on April 29, 2010. |
| Update: | It was last updated on September 26, 2017. |
| Tags: | Login Security // Security // Firewall // Scanner // Secure |
Conclusion:
Here above are some of the names of security plugins for WordPress who are doing very well. But always remember, to make your website fully secure you should have some technical knowledge. Also, always keep it in mind that you should know what you are implementing.
Also, please remember, you cannot able to use all plugins on the same website. So, please review all plugins and its features and then choose the appropriate plugin as per your needs. Be protected, take regular backup and stay safe.
FYI: In our website we are currently using 2 of the above-mentioned plugins, Wordfence Security and Anti-spam. Both are protecting our website pretty well.
Disclosure: Some of our articles may contain affiliate links; this means each time you make a purchase, we get a small commission. However, the input we produce is reliable; we always handpick and review all information before publishing it on our website. We can ensure you will always get genuine as well as valuable knowledge and resources.
Web Developer & SEO Specialist with 10+ years of experience in Open Source Web Development, specialized in Joomla & WordPress development. He is also the moderator of this blog "RS Web Solutions".
Hi,
My Website was hacked on last day and inserted some folders and locked my backend logins. There was already a security plugin added in my web from the start time onwards (All in one Security).
So can you help to choose which one among above listing, or any users who can suggest a better star-rated plugin to protect from similar attacks?
I personally use Wordfence on all of my WordPress sites. It actually saved my sites from many attacks.
That’s a brilliant list of security plugins you have there. I really liked the research you have put into this list.
I think WP Antivirus Site Protection is an excellent security plugin. It has the ability to detect backdoors, rootkits, Trojan horses, worms, fraud tools, adware, spyware, hidden links, redirection, etc.
The plugin you mentioned has a bad reputation and user review currently.
Great Job. Thanks for sharing.
I would like to add one more useful security plugin in this list which is User Activity Log Pro. It helps you monitor and keep track of all the activities occurs on the admin side. Find out more features: https://codecanyon.net/item/user-activity-log-pro-for-wordpress/18201203?ref=rswebsols
Thank you very much for your share. It is really helpful!
This is a fantastic list and I love how you have analyzed all of those security plugins, but there is a new one on the market that I found very useful. It’s called IVGuard and it does stuff that the others don’t. You can read more about it here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/ivguard/
Thank you for your share! :-)
Hello Souvik,
This article is really helpful because I know what it means but it all sounds like spun content, nowhere near correct English. Did you just move here from India? Maybe that is why it is so hard to understand these articles. You have a good site, just scan over it once in a while, OK?
Hello Tony,
Thank you for your suggestion. As I am from a non-native English country, you may find some glitch in my English. I will surely try to improve it over time. Nice to see, instead of unfriendly English, you found the article helpful.
Regards,
Souvik