Aside from being the most popular CMS in the world, WordPress is also the most vulnerable one. Websites ranging from small blogs to big corporate websites are hacked every minute, making the security concern at the top of the list of issues for new and experiences site owners alike.
Companies providing web hosting can offer a certain level of security, but essentially your site’s security is up to you.
This is why we have compiled a list of the top WordPress security plugins available, needed for the protection of your site from hackers, malware, force attacks and all kinds of security threads.
How to keep your WordPress site secure?
Considering the shocking stats of cyber-attacks, it can be a little challenging to power a business or your very own personal blog using WordPress. WP is an open-source and free platform which any user can modify or share, so it’s very easy for anyone to insert a malicious code or malware into its core, themes and plugins, constantly developed by 3rd party designers.
WP developers are working around the clock to provide protection for the WordPress source code with ongoing patches and security updates. However, site owners can make a customized security system which correspondents to a site’s specific needs with a combination of plugins designed to add a certain functionality to any WP site.
Every website is unique, with its own security issues. An e-commerce store handling a customer’s credit card details needs different protection than a photographer’s online portfolio. In any case, a plugin created for your site’s protection should include some essential features, such as:
Ongoing website monitoring, which includes regular malware and file scanning Firewall protection Blacklist monitoring, which helps against malicious websites Authentication protocols used for users with different roles Password protocols that decline weak passwords Email notifications when a suspicious activity is registered Backups for protections against outages, attacks and other events If you are using a shared hosting plan, putting in place a stiff website security will protect not only your site but others on the server as well. Malware introduced on one site can affect others in that shared space, causing a server crash and taking down all sites which are hosted there.
The best security plugins are user-friendly and customizable, some of them are even free, with the premium versions offering features which can be useful for certain sites. Some of these plugins are available in the official WP directory, accessible from your dashboard, while other you can download from reputable developers around the globe. Even if one plugin doesn’t offer all needed features, you can simply install multiple ones compatible with each other.
Sucuri Security
Sucury is a security plugin with all features included. The standard version is free, while the additional features are available with the premium version. Both options include security activity auditing, malware scanning and file monitoring. The premium version includes 3rd party features, like McAfee Site Advisor and Google Site Browsing. It provides email notifications when a suspicious activity is registered, as well as blacklist monitoring.
WordFence
This free plugin provides continuous malware checking, bot-blocking, spam and two-factor authentication for all users. It also scans a website’s host for potential backdoors which could put a site at risk and provides users with the option to block traffic from certain sources and locations if desired. WordFence also send you instant email notifications when a possible security breach occurs.
All in One WordPress Security and Firewall
No need for developer or coding experience with this free plugin. It scans websites for any security weaknesses, recommends preventive measures and will monitor your account’s activity. The All in One WordPress Security and Firewall plugin automates backups and can perform certain automatic fixes when a presence of malware is detected. It works with most other plugins and will send immediate updates when needed.
Defender
Defender has an array of easy to use security features, providing two-factor authentication for all users, file and site scanning, and IP monitoring or blacklisting. Its premium version offers some additional features for specific needs, while both free and pro version offer instant email notifications for detected threads on your site.
VaultPress
VaultPress is dedicated mostly to backup services. It’s free but there is also a premium version, offering real-time scheduled backups for all media files, posts, comments and other type of content, providing protection against hacks, viruses, or accidents like outages.
It also included default security features like malware scanning or email notifications of suspicious activity.
Google Authenticator
A lot of WP security plugins offer two-factor authentication, but this feature can be installed separately with the Google Authenticator. It ads this feature for all users who use WP sites and is compatible with all mobile devices. The pro version also offers additional options like customizable templates for SMS and email.
iThemes Security
This plugin has a free and premium version, featuring scanning with automatic fixes for security issues, while banning spams, bots and users who have previously attacked other users. The premium version includes some additional features like scheduled malware scans, password generator and a dashboard widget for managing all other functions.
Conclusion
WordPress powers millions of sites around the world, professional and personal as well. All of these websites can become target for malicious activity. All cybersecurity experts advice that it’s not possible to achieve 100% security against all types of hacks, but the best plugins offer customizable and comprehensive solutions to your site from all kinds of cyber threads.
