Cyber attacks are a real threat to any website. According to statistics, 60% of small businesses go out of business within six months after a data breach.
Luckily, there are several ways to prevent these malicious attacks from happening to your site. One of the best tools available is a security plugin for WordPress.
1. MalCare
The MalCare plugin is a complete security solution for WordPress websites. It scans and protects your site with a firewall and malware scanner that detects and removes all hacking attempts on your website. It also offers a backup, a password vault, and an automatic one-click malware cleaner. The plugin is free to use, but it also offers a premium version with a variety of additional features.
The premium version includes advanced malware detection, and it’s able to identify the most sophisticated malware that goes undetected by other malware scanners. The scanning technology uses more than 100 signals to identify the most complex hacks. This is an important feature because malware does more damage the longer it stays on your website.
MalCare is also a great WordPress plugin for beginners because it doesn’t require any settings to configure. It also hides the common files hackers target and makes it harder for them to gain access to your website. This is an excellent security measure because it will save you a lot of time and effort compared to other more complicated security plugins.
The MalCare security plugin also includes an in-built web application firewall that monitors incoming requests to your website. It can prevent hackers from gaining access to your WordPress website and compromising the integrity of your files. This is an important feature for any WordPress website owner. It can even prevent attacks from bots and other malicious automated scripts that attempt to break into your site. It can also help you avoid being blacklisted by Google and other search engines.
2. Sucuri
Sucuri offers a variety of tools to help you protect your site from hacks, DDoS attacks and more. Its features include malware scanning, security activity auditing, blacklist monitoring and file integrity monitoring. The plugin also has several security hardening options that you can apply with a click of a button.
Unlike Wordfence and other security plugins, Sucuri provides server-level scanning. This allows them to identify vulnerabilities in your site and patch them before hackers can exploit them. Additionally, they connect with WordPress’s core team to inform them of new and potential vulnerabilities and work side-by-side to ensure that they are fixed.
The Sucuri plugin is easy to use and requires very little maintenance on your part. Once you have configured it, it will automatically scan your website for any malware and alert you to any issues that need your attention. Additionally, it will automatically apply any security hardening settings that it recommends for your site.
In addition to scanning and cleaning, Sucuri’s security features include a blacklist monitoring service, a firewall and a one-click security hardening feature. These features can be very helpful in protecting your site from malicious attack and preventing a potential loss of revenue for your business.
In terms of functionality, Sucuri is a top choice for WordPress users. However, it is not without its drawbacks. The security scanner is unreliable, and the malware removal service is a bit too slow to respond. Nevertheless, the plugin is worth trying for its unique features. It also competes well against other security plugins, such as Sitelock and MalCare, which are subpar on many fronts. The scanner, cleaner and firewall are the key features to evaluate when choosing a WordPress security plugin.
3. WP Firewall
The WP Firewall plugin is a great choice for WordPress websites that need a strong security solution. Its features include core file scanning, firewall blocking, a variety of user and login security tools, and two-factor authentication. It also comes with a handy grading system that lets you see how well your site is protected and what needs improvement.
The free version of this firewall is a solid choice for users looking to protect their sites from common threats like brute force attacks and malware. The premium version offers a more comprehensive suite of features, including daily automated backups and advanced web application firewall technology. It’s worth noting that this plugin is notorious for blocking search engine bots, which can significantly hurt your SEO efforts.
While the free version of this plugin is solid, it falls short of some of the other firewalls on our list in terms of feature sets and speed. It also has a reputation for not updating the free firewall as often as other options, which can make it difficult to stay on top of current threats.
Another option for an entry-level firewall is Jetpack, which is a popular security plugin that comes with a full suite of features. The free plan includes basic brute force protection and downtime monitoring, while the paid plans start at $99 a year for one website.
4. WP Security Audit Log
This plugin is a good option for those running a multi-author WordPress site as it can inform the administrator if any changes have been made to the website that they did not make themselves. It can also help monitor unauthorized file editing or deletion and the uploading of dubious files that could be used to hack into your WordPress website and cause security breaches. It can even monitor unauthorized attempt to login to the site from external IP addresses. It can also keep a record of the addition or removal of any widget on the site, which can be useful for troubleshooting purposes.
It is highly customizable with almost 400 different types of events that can be monitored. Users can choose to monitor only the events that are important to them and disable other ones. There are also options to configure the events, date and time display parameters, data retention period and more. The plugin also comes with a widget that displays the 5 latest alerts on the admin dashboard.
Aside from its core logging functionality, the WP Security Audit Log can be configured to generate reports on a weekly, monthly or daily basis and to send them to the administrator via email. It can also be integrated with a third party service, like Slack or Papertrail, to allow for real-time monitoring.
A free version of the WP Security Audit Log is available on the plugin repository, but the paid edition of the plugin offers more features. This includes a 15 minute set-up and consultation call, priority support and a Personal Success Manager. The premium version of the WP Security Audit Log is $89 per year and is suitable for businesses that need to protect their websites from hackers.
5. iThemes Security
iThemes Security is a powerful plugin with an impressive set of features. It includes everything from simple but necessary options such as updating salts and keys to more advanced and specialized ones, such as two-factor authentication for your WordPress login that adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a code texted or sent to your phone with each attempt to log in. Other pro features that make iThemes Security a great choice include 404 error detection, brute force protection, the ability to ban users and enforce SSL for your WordPress dashboard and posts.
iTheme Security is also easy to use, especially for those who may not be familiar with security jargon or best practices. Its dashboard is clean and simple, allowing you to easily navigate and understand all of its features.
The iThemes Security plugin comes with a free and a paid version, but the difference is in the number of options that are available. The free version of the plugin provides an excellent set of features that will help you protect your website from various attacks. The paid version of the plugin is more comprehensive and offers a wide range of features, including a one-click malware removal button and the option to permanently block repeat offenders after a certain amount of failed login attempts.
The iThemes Security plugin also offers a site scan feature that runs twice a day and checks for known vulnerabilities. It also allows you to backup your site and perform a full restore at the touch of a button, as well as to monitor the activity on your website in real time. It is also compatible with CDNs, so it can be used with virtually any hosting service.
