Security is a big issue on the web and WordPress is no exception. WordPress itself is very secure, but your website security is your own responsibility and you must work hard to make your WordPress installation as secure as possible. We have compiled a list of the best free WordPress Security Plugins that you can use to add an extra layer of security to your website. Let’s enjoy it!
This entry is the part 1 of 7 in the FREEBIE SERIES OF MUST-HAVE PLUGINS FOR A WORDPRESS WEBSITE. Click on the links below to quickly jump to the entry you want to read:
1. WordFence WordPress Security
Wordfence is the most popular security plugin with over 22 million downloads. It is a full-featured, powerful, and constantly updated security plugin for WordPress. WordFence provides protection from hacking, malware, malicious traffic and more features. make it one of the most powerful free WordPress security plugins. Then this plugin secures your site and makes it up to 50 times faster. That also makes WordFence one of the most powerful free WordPress security plugins.
Price: Free. Premium version is $8.25 per month.
2. iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security)
iThemes Security is an advantageous plugin which fixes common holes, stop automated attacks and strengthen user credentials. Both beginners and experienced WP users can use this plugin. Moreover, it comes with 1-click installation for easy setup of the plugin, on the other hand, its advanced security options can be easily configured from dashboard.
Price: Free. Premium plans start at $80 per year.
3. All In One WP Security & Firewall
All In One WP Security & Firewall is one of the most preferred WordPress Security plugins for beginners. Thanks to its user-friendly interface that makes configuring its security options easy. It offers the latest recommended WordPress security practices and techniques as easy-to-use features.
It will improve your site security a lot by adding a powerful firewall that prevents malicious scripts from changing your WordPress code. The firewall will also block fake Google bots from crawling your website, and can prevent hot-linking of your website images.
Price: Free.
4. WP-SpamShield
WP-SpamShield is a powerful and user-friendly WordPress anti-spam plugin. This plugin eliminates comment spam, contact form spam, registration spam, trackback spam, pingback spam, and every other type of WordPress spam. It works like a firewall to ensure your commenters are actually human, and that those humans aren’t spamming you.
Price: Free.
5. Really Simple SSL
Really Simple SSL automatically detects your settings and configures your website to run over HTTPs. To keep it lightweight, the options are kept to a minimum. All incoming requests are redirected to HTTPs. The site URL and home URL are changed to HTTPs.
Price: Free.
6. Shield WordPress Security
Shield WordPress Security is one of the most useful solution without “pro” feature restrictions on security features – it’s ALL there for you. This plugin will help you: Blocks malicious URLs and requests, Blocks ALL automated spambot comments, Hide your WordPress Admin and Login page, and so on.
Price: Free.
7. Sucuri Security
Sucuri Security plugin for WordPress is scanning and monitoring tool for WordPress. This free WordPress Security plugin has 4 main features: Security activity auditing, Remote Malware Scanner, File integrity monitoring, and Overall WordPress Security Hardening.
This free security plugin is meant for experienced users and developers as it requires understanding of codes and files within WordPress. Also remember to use this plugin with another WP security plugin like WordFence or iThemes Security in order to have the best security level.
Price: Free. CloudProxy firewall is a premium add-on.
8. WP Antivirus Site Protection
As the name suggests, WP Antivirus Site Protection is a security plugin to prevent, detect, and remove malicious viruses and suspicious codes. It scans all your WordPress installation files to detect malware, worms, spyware, backdoors, hidden links, rootkits, adware, Trojan horses, fraud tools and removes them. When the plugin detects any threat it displays it in the WordPress Admin dashboard and will also send an email to you if you want.
Price: Basic version is free. See site for premium pricing.
9. Bulletproof Security
Bulletproof Security plugin is a free security tool which helps you secure your WordPress-built website by adding powerful firewall, protecting Database & backing it up, and protecting from Brute Force Login Attacks. It also scans the .htaccess file for malicious codes that may affect website speed and security. The plugin is easy to setup thanks to its one-click install wizard, besides that you can also configure its advanced options by activating manual mode.
Price: Basic version is free. See site for premium pricing.
10. Google Authenticator – Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
Rather than relying on a password alone, which can be phished or guessed, Google Authenticator adds a second layer of security to your WordPress accounts. Instead of signing in using username and password only, another method of authentication is done for every new device such as a text, voice call or a mobile app. It helps to protect your website from hacks and unauthorized login attempts.
Price: Free.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
The useful plugins in our list will help to harden your WordPress security. However, we recommend that you should not rely on a security plugin only to secure WordPress. There are many things to consider in order to make your website secure. Please think about the following things to ensure that your websites is protected completely:
- Always Keep WordPress, plugins, and themes up to date.
- Use a good WordPress hosting company.
- Use strong passwords.
- Take WordPress backup regularly.
- Don’t install plugins or themes from unknown or untrusted sources.
- Take care of permissions you give to your website users, authors and editors.
- Secure your computer.
CONCLUSION
WordPress is the most popular content publishing platform and is being used by millions of websites around the globe. Due to its popularity, hackers like hacking websites that use WordPress. We hope that the list above will help you to add an extra layer of security to your WordPress website and keep it far from malicious hackers.
Hey THUYANH,
Thank you for this great plugin list, I’m actually looking to secure my website, and landed on this great list which helped me. Keep up the work!
I will share this list with my twitter followers.
Thanks!
Jason