As an experienced cybersecurity professional, I‘ve seen firsthand the damage that can be inflicted on WordPress sites as a result of inadequate security. Just looking at the numbers is sobering:
- Over 30 million new pieces of malware specifically targeting WordPress are detected each year according to Sucuri
- WordPress sites are compromised at an estimated rate of up to 70,000 per day as reported by Wordfence
- The average cost of a malware infection coming in around $970 when you factor in cleanup, forensics and preventative measures
With WordPress now powering over 40% of all websites globally, it has become the #1 target for hackers across the entire internet landscape.
Ignoring WordPress security is no longer an option.
The good news? Implementing protections for your site doesn‘t have to be painful or prohibitively expensive. In fact advanced solutions are now accessible for sites of any size.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover:
- An overview of WordPress security threats
- The benefits of leveraging security plugins/services
- The top 13 WordPress security solutions on the market
- Best practices for implementation and ongoing maintenance
Let‘s dive in and take control of locking down website security!
The Range of Threats Facing WordPress Sites
WordPress suffers from an array of vulnerabilities and attack vectors that hackers are aggressively exploiting:
Outdated Software
It‘s shockingly common to find WordPress sites running outdated PHP and MySQL versions, plugins that haven‘t been updated in years, and themes with known vulnerabilities. Just last year it was reported that over 2/3 of infected sites were leveraging software with known security issues. Keeping WordPress and all plugins/themes updated is critical to reducing this attack surface.
Stolen Credentials
Brute forcing passwords via login areas, vulnerabilities like XSS and compromised sites are extremely common ways hackers illegitimately gain admin level access. Once inside, data can be exfiltrated, backdoors installed and any variety of illegal activities conducted.
Vulnerabilities
WordPress along with themes, plugins and web server software often contain vulnerabilities allowing sites to be hacked. This includes issues like SQL injection, remote file inclusion (RFI), cross site scripting (XSS) and more. Over 100 new threats are discovered annually.
Malware & Backdoors
Tens of millions of pieces of malware designed explicitly for adding backdoors, sniffing data, conducting denial of service attacks and stealing credit card information target WordPress annually. Without active scanning they implant themselves silently.
This list highlights only a portion of the documented attacks and threats facing site owners today.
The scale of the risks make security tools essential for any business relying on an online presence.
Next let‘s explore how plugins and services can mitigate these risks through layered defenses.
Benefits of Utilizing Purpose-Built Security Solutions
Instead of forcing site owners to become security experts overnight, commercial and open source WordPress security tools have brought enterprise protections within reach of sites large and small through these core benefits:
Prevent Attacks Before They Happen
Rule and signature based firewalls, IP reputation blocking, disable vulnerable functionality and other tools stop inbound threats before they ever reach vulnerable code.
Ongoing Threat Detection
File integrity monitoring, traffic inspection, malware scanning and user behavior analysis detect suspicious changes that warrant immediate investigation.
Automated Security Hardening
One click setup wizards, scheduled scans and auto-quarantine of threats make security easy to deploy to a large fleet of sites.
Rest Easy With Expert Support
commercial plugins and services provide access to support staff with experience in incident response and forensic investigations.
Always Up-to-Date Protection
Cloud-based solutions push updated firewall rules, malware signatures and vulnerability data to sites automatically the moment they become available.
Now that we‘ve made the case for using purpose-built security tools for WordPress, let‘s explore the top plugin and service options available based on features, protection capability and value.
1. Wordfence
As the most widely installed premium plugin with over 2 million active sites guarded, Wordfence is likely the go-to option for anyone looking for robust WordPress security backed by an impressive feature set.
The free version includes basic firewall protection, country blocking and reputation analysis on traffic sources. Stepping up to the affordable premium offering for $99 per year unlocks advanced features:
- Web application firewall using 1,000+ rules
- Block attackers by IP after failed attempts
- Fix files changed by malware
- Real-time traffic and threat monitoring
- Scheduled and on-demand security scanning
For site owners that want enterprise-grade features without the taxing price tag, Wordfence balances capabilities against cost extremely well.
2. Sucuri
Trusted by many large sites and agencies, Sucuri takes a cloud-based approach by leveraging a global network for security intelligence and site integrity monitoring.
Sucuri plans scale to meet the needs of sites from small to Fortune 500 through features like:
- Remote malware scanning
- SiteCheck monitoring
- Integration with CloudProxy CDN
- Emergency security experts
- Web application firewall
- Blacklist monitoring
- DDoS protection
With custom pricing starting at $299 per site per year, Sucuri sits at the top end of commercial WordPress security services but brings top-shelf capabilities to match. For site owners willing to invest at enterprise scale, it wins on robust features and expert staff.
3. Cloudflare
Although not specific to WordPress, Cloudflare protects some of the largest websites in the world through an integrated web application firewall coupled with a high performance content delivery network.
For WordPress site owners needing to block attacks while accelerating site delivery, highlights include:
- Absorbs DDoS attacks before reaching host
- Global CDN and proxy network
- Shared IP reputation intelligence
- Intelligent threat identification
- Web application firewall protection
With plans starting at just $20 per month, Cloudflare brings exceptional security traditionally reserved for only the largest sites.
4. iThemes Security
iThemes is well-known in the WordPress ecosystem for their managed hosting and backup solutions. Their flagship security plugin iThemes Security aims to not just shield sites from attacks but also control permissions with precision.
Standout features for locking down access include:
- Restricting file editing capabilities
- Application password support
- Disable author enumeration
- Limit login attempts per IP
- Blacklist capabilities by IP, agent and host
iThemes Security starts at $80 per year for a single site or $177 yearly for unlimited WordPress installations. The focus beyond just technical protections to user management makes for an attractive package.
5. All In One WP Security
This plugin attempts to live up to its name by consolidating protections ranging from firewall rules to strong password requirements and everything in between.
Several of the preventative features include:
- One-click site lockdowns
- Disable file editing by plugin/theme
- Blocklisted monitoring
- Brute force attack prevention
- Hide backend for key roles
For small business owners that want simplicity without a burdensome price, All in One WP Security delivers a lot of value with rates starting at only $29 per year.
6. Cerber Security
Maintaining an impenetrable shield around the login area stands as the prime directive of Cerber Security through tactics like:
- Restrict admin access by both IP and role
- Two-factor authentication compatible
- Limit login attempts by IP address
- Notify administrator after failed logins
- Stealth mode to hide admin login area
With a reliable track record and straightforward pricing of $49 per year, Cerber warrants consideration from site owners with login security as a top concern.
7. WP Security Audit Log
Let‘s switch gears from prevention to detection with WP Security Audit Log that focuses on detailed monitoring of all user and system activity.
It stands in a class of its own for capabilities such as:
- Tracking file and database changes
- User action logging with millisecond precision
- Multi-site compatible
- Activity dashboard filters for investigation
- Double authentication protection
Starting at only $99 per year, WP Security Audit Log satisfies demanding audit requirements.
8. Google Authenticator
Sometimes effective security can be as simple as requiring a login passcode from a mobile app in addition to the standard password through two-factor authentication.
The open source Google Authenticator plugin allows site owners to easily achieve this extra layer of account protection through features such as:
- Compatible with Google Authenticator apps for iOS and Android
- Can enforce 2FA on all accounts or just administrators
- Simple setup without needing advanced technical skills
As a free plugin that can significantly elevate security, Google Authenticator deserves consideration for any site allowing user logins.
9. Malcare
The central focus of Malcare zeros in on preventing and eliminating malware infections through tools like:
- Anti-malware signature database
- Behavior analysis for detecting emerging threats
- Scheduled and on-demand scanning
- Quarantine of suspicious files
- Emergency response team available 24/7
For site owners highly concerned about malware management, Malcare pairs affordable pricing starting at $99 per year with top notch support and protection.
10. BulletProof Security
BulletProof Security lives up to its name by locking down access and closing vulnerabilities across the WordPress stack through features such as:
- Dynamic .htaccess firewall
- Disable XML-RPC and pingbacks
- Limit login attempts per IP
- Disable vulnerable PHP functions
- Enforce strong passwords for all users
- Stealth mode for hiding admin login area
With a free version and premium for only $27 per year including official support, BulletProof Security makes ultra tight WordPress security accessible to sites of all sizes.
11. Block Bad Queries (BBQ)
Whereas other plugins take an all-in approach, Block Bad Queries focuses exclusively on analyzing all inbound traffic for threatening patterns indicative of probes and exploitation attempts.
It automatically blocks patterns such as:
- Directory traversal attacks
- Suspected SQL injection strings
- Excessively long query strings
- Known malicious command sequences
As BBQ keeps bad traffic from ever reaching your site, it pairs perfectly with other broad security solutions. And as an open source plugin available free of charge, any site can benefit from this extra shield.
12. Anti-Malware and Brute Force Security
Doing double duty against malware and login area attacks, Anti-Malware and Brute Force Security leverages features such as:
- One-click malware scanning and removal
- Database malware scanning
- Brute force attack prevention
- XML-RPC protection
- Server security hardening
- Leverage Google Safe Browsing for reputation
This plugin is also offered free of charge and open source, making enterprise-grade protection available to sites irrespective of budget. For the features it brings, it deserves to be in the conversation when selecting security solutions.
13. Wordfence (Free)
Earlier we covered the premium version of Wordfence, which enhances the platform‘s already impressive security capabilities. However the free version itself still provides tremendous protections including:
- Basic firewall rules
- Scheduled weekly scanning
- Real-time traffic anomaly detection
- Country blocking
- IP blacklist checks
- SSL detection
Leveraging this widely used and community supported plugin can establish foundational security to build upon with other tools as needs evolve.
Expert Tips for Securing Your WordPress Website
While plugins provide the underlying security foundations, proper ongoing configuration and monitoring determines the true strength of your defense. Here are pro tips for locking down WordPress:
Never Allow Admin Access Over Unencrypted HTTP
You should immediately redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS, but at a bare minimum disable any admin or login page access over unencrypted channels. There are many plugins that make enforcing HTTPS simple.
Leverage Two-Factor Authentication
Adding an extra login step requiring a code from an authenticator app protects against credential stuffing attacks even if your password is compromised. Enable 2FA on all admin accounts at a minimum.
Automatically Patch Vulnerabilities
Subscribe to automatic updates for WordPress Core, plugins and themes to ensure you always have the latest security patches as threats are discovered and addressed.
Regularly Backup Your Website
Having recent easily restorable backups can mean the different between a few lost hours or complete business failure in the face of an incident. Backup plugins make the process simple to automate on a schedule.
Limit User Accounts and Roles
Every account with dashboard access increases exposure to compromised credentials allowing admin accessibility. Create only the essential roles needed and user accounts required for site management.
Monitor Traffic and Events
Leverage endpoint detection technology included with many plugins to analyze traffic, data access and user behavior. Investigate anything deemed suspicious immediately.
Following security best practices expands protection beyond any individual tool‘s capabilities for true defense in depth.
Closing Thoughts on Securing Your Livelihood With WordPress
In assessing security solutions, rather than consider protection a sunk cost view it as an investment towards safeguarding your business model and brand reputation.
The suggestions outlined in this guide represent industry leading options applicable for organizations from small shops up to the enterprise. Most importantly, they make leveraging WordPress security achievable at any level of technical proficiency.
No website can eliminate 100% of risk on an ongoing basis. But refusing to adequately invest in security also introduces unacceptable peril, especially for businesses operating entirely online.
I encourage you to carefully review the threats, solutions and best practices covered at length across this resource. Identify elements allowing you strengthen defenses tailored to your specific risk tolerance and move forward confidently growing on the world‘s most popular CMS.
The potential of your website should not be limited by the technology itself. Following the recommendations outlined here clears the path for securely unlocking the full promise of building on WordPress.
