7 Best WordPress Security Plugins to Keep Hackers Away

Running a WordPress site without a security plugin is like inviting cyber attacks. With the rising malware attacks, cyber threats, and data breaches, adopting security measures has become a necessity.

Thankfully, you don’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to keep your site protected. All credit goes to WordPress security plugins that can give heavy protection, including scanning for malware, blocking threats, restricting suspicious IPs, etc.

But with so many options available, how do you know which security plugin is right for your site?

Hence, in this guide, we’ll include all the essential features to look at in your security plugins along with the best ones that can help you protect your site from any unwanted attacks.

Features to Look at Before Selecting a WordPress Security Plugin

You should consider the following key features while selecting an ideal security plugin for your WordPress site:

• It regularly scans to detect and remove malware, viruses, cyber threats, and bot traffic.
• Security plugins must include two-factor authentication (2FA).
• The plugin should be able to track suspicious activities and user behavior with a real-time monitoring feature.
• This security plugin should have automated backup and restore options.
• It should come with spam and bot protection.
• The security plugin should have an option to restrict the high-risk regions and malicious IPs.
• A good security plugin should be easy to use.
• It should include content protection with an unauthorized content copy prevention option.

⭐ Need guide for learning WordPress vulnerabilities?
👉 Check the common WordPress vulnerabilities with solutions.

Top 7 WordPress Security Plugins 

Protecting your WordPress website from malware, hacks, and unauthorized access is crucial. A reliable security plugin can make this whole process quite smooth with better data protection and defense actions. So, here are the best 7 security plugins for WordPress:

Jetpack

Jetpack is one of the most popular and used backup and security plugins for WordPress. It has more than 4 million active users from around the world. Whether you are looking for security, backup, or speed solution, Jetpack includes all. Jetpack keeps your site safe from unpleasant brute force attacks, malicious threats, spam submissions, etc.

Jetpack is considered a must-have WordPress plugin because it brings all three solutions together in one place. Besides, it ensures growing traffic by maintaining a fast and secure site. Apart from security support, it backs up and restores the site with a single click.

Key Features of Jetpack:

• Jetpack automatically backs up sites in real time and restores them with a single click.
• It keeps your site protected with Web Application Firewall.
• This plugin comes with an auto malware scanner for sudden security threats.
• Its anti-spam functionality blocks spam comments and form responses.
• Jetpack saves your site from severe brute force attacks.
• It provides instant notification alerts with email.
• Jetpack updates individual plugins for quick site maintenance and management.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 4+ million
• Org rating: 3.7/5
• Pricing: Starts at $19.95/month

Wordfence Security

Wordfence Security is a powerful solution to give malware and threat protection to your WordPress site. It has more users than the Jetpack, which counts over 5 million active users. It supports spam protection, a central security system, malware scanner, etc. This comprehensive plugin comes with overall security solutions for all.

Moreover, this solution includes demanding features such as real-time suspicious IP blocking, country blocking, prior customer support, etc. Besides these, it gives extra protection to your site with two-factor authentication. So, if you are worried about website safety, then this plugin can be proven a significant solution for its robust security features.

Key Features of Wordfence Security:

• Wordfence Security identifies and tracks malicious traffic attacks.
• This plugin blocks all malicious IPs to keep your site secured.
• It blocks all malicious code and content with an integrated malware scanner that blocks requests.
• WordFence Security restricts login permits to keep your site protected from brute force attacks.
• This WordPress security plugin identifies vulnerabilities and gives you a heads-up for issues.
• It restricts bot login with the login page CAPTCHA.
• WordFence manages multisite security with a Central security system.
• Its premium version includes country blocking functionality.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 5+ million
• Org rating: 4.7/5
• Pricing: Starts at $149/year

All-In-One Security

All-In-One Security is a dedicated and trusted security solution for saving your site from cyber threats. It includes a web application firewall to provide auto-protection from security threats. Additionally, its content protection feature avoids spam comments and stealing content with iFrame prevention, and copywriting protection.

Also, it comes with malware scanning, country blocking, and smart 404 blocking along with many other security features. Altogether, it stands as another powerful security solution for its competitive security features.

Key Features of All-In-One Security:

• It ensures your site’s safety by hiding your login page from bots.
• All-In-One Security protects your site from hackers by changing the default wp-prefix.
• This plugin immediately locks down the login page for a short period of time if external users make multiple attempts.
• It also supports two-factor authentication.
• This plugin protects your site from malicious attacks with “6G Blacklist”.
• All-In-One Security avoids DDOS attacks, image hotlinking, cross site scripting, fake Google bots, etc.
• This plugin protects security code by disabling the file editing option of PHP code.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 1+ million
• Org rating: 4.7/5
• Pricing: Starts at $70/year

Sucuri Security

Sucuri Security is a free WordPress malware scanner and security plugin that audits your site 24/7 and keeps your site safe from all malicious attacks and cyber threats. This plugin can clean up your site and give a basic cleanup report. Also, they have a 24/7 security team to provide support whenever you need assistance.

Again, malware and hack removal can be done with the help of experts. Moreover, it supports a website application firewall for blocking malicious traffic. Thus, this plugin has all website security features from auditing to hardening.

Key Features of Sucuri Security:

• It audits all the security activity of your site.
• You can remotely scan malware.
• Sucuri Security keeps you updated with security notifications.
• This security plugin includes file integrity and blocklist monitoring.
• It comes with security hardening functionality to give extra security protection.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 700000+
• Org rating: 4.2/5
• Pricing: Starts at $229/year

Defender Security

This is a two-factor authentication security plugin that comes with a malware scanner, suspicious IP blocking, antivirus scanning, etc. options. Defender Security identifies all brute force attacks, vulnerabilities, and hacks in your WordPress site and keeps your site protected by eliminating those.

Besides, it has a login masking feature that can change the default WordPress login location. Also, it ensures file security and eliminates the risks of data disclosure. Apart from these, it helps you to avoid all common cyber attacks by enabling security headers such as XSS, Code injection, cross-site scripting, etc.

Key Features of Defender Security:

• It includes a malware scan for sudden attacks and threats.
• Defender Security blocks insecure IPs to keep your site safe from brute force attacks.
• This provides two-factor authentication for the site’s security.
• This plugin supports geolocation to block users based on location and country.
• It provides antivirus protection for eliminating active threats, viruses, and malware.
• This plugin restricts automatic PHP code execution.
• Defender Security also supports Google reCAPTCHA.
• It hides all code errors on the front end so that unwanted access can be avoided.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 90,000+
• Org rating: 4.7/5
• Pricing: Starts at $3/month

SecuPress

SecuPress is another security plugin for WordPress websites that aims to provide protection from malicious attacks, bot IPs, vulnerable plugins and themes, etc. This plugin can run an auto scan and eliminate cyber crises in no time. Also, it generates a brief security report that can be exported as a PDF.

Also, SecuPress can scan a site’s health and prepare an overall report on it. Again, it locks sensitive WordPress settings to ensure data security. It even bans all suspicious accounts and limits login attempts, hiding connection errors, two-factor authentication, etc. Alltogether, it is another best security plugin for WordPress.

Key Features of SecuPress:

• It restricts visits from bad bots.
• SecuPress identifies all the vulnerable or faulty plugins and themes.
• This must have WordPress plugin generates detailed security reports in PDF.
• The complete security system is password-sprotected to ensure zero malware attacks.
• It avoids access to suspicious URLs.
• This plugin lets you schedule security checks or scans in advance.
• Backups and malware scans can be scheduled to ensure a secured site.
• Daily security reports are provided with brief attack attempts and risks.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 40,000+
• Org rating: 4.2/5
• Pricing: Starts at $69.99/year

Security Ninja

Security Ninja is a comparatively less popular security plugin that can instantly block 600+ million IPs and unauthorized entries. Also, it detects malicious plugin codes and suspicious requests. Again, you can schedule a scan to identify and remove all cyber and brute force attacks over time.

Moreover, Security Ninja regularly highlights plugin and theme vulnerabilities and keeps you safe from faulty tools. On top of these, 2FA login protection, country blocking, bad requests, etc. can be done with this free WordPress security plugin.

Key Features of Security Ninja:

• It thoroughly checks all the files in your WordPress core.
• Security Ninja instantly detects unknown files in the WP core to keep you updated with security threats and malware.
• This WordPress security plugin can instantly restore files if your file gets deleted or removed.
• It lets you get rid of any suspicious files from your WordPress interface.
• Security Ninja comes with notification options for your vulnerability alerts.
• This plugin initiates 50+ security checks with a single click.
• This free WordPress security plugin includes a proactive defensive strategy to keep your site safe from potential attacks.
• It strongly prevents unauthorized attacks.

Other Metrics:

• Active installations: 10,000+
• Org rating: 4.8/5
• Pricing: Starts at $49.99/year

⭐ Check all WordPress security tips to lock down your site ⭐

Wrapping up

Spending for your website’s cyber security is a long-term investment. Because these plugins take care of all the potential threats that you can face while running your site. Besides, by choosing the right security plugin, you’re not just protecting your site; you’re protecting your brand, content, and data.

So, take your time to explore the options and select the plugin that is best suited for your site’s health. Always remember that a small step today can save you from a big crisis tomorrow.