Top 7 WordPress Security Plugins to Defend Your Website

Before understanding why WordPress Security Plugins are important, let me tell you something. Assume You have bought a store where you want to sell some products. For that,  you have to buy the store and all the products you want to sell, and that is a very heavy investment to do.

Aren’t you scared now? What if someone comes and loot the store? So for that, you need to take some security measurements, so your store remains safe and secure. Either you will install cameras or hire a guard to protect your store.

So, you see how you need to protect your store. It is necessary to protect the sites, also because if someone breached the site and hacked it there will be a lot of loss, and you have to deal with it. That will be more costly than buying a plugin and protecting your site. Although, you can also manually fix your WordPress website from hacking.

If you don’t secure your site and it’s hacked, the consequences will be:

1. They will steal all the data that belongs to you and also your customer.
2. They can do some malicious activity from your site.
3. They can even throw you out of your site because you won’t be having any control
4. This will have a negative impact, and you will rank low in SEO.

Now before selecting the WordPress security plugin. There are some basic requirements you should look into. Those are:

1. Scanning all files
2. Scanning for malware
3. Firewalls
4. Attack from brute force
5. Post hack action
6. Actively doing monitoring of website
7. Notify if there is any threat

And much more.

Here I have listed down a few plugins so that you can compare their features and select the WordPress security plugin as per your requirements.

1. Wordfence Security 

This is the most user-friendly WordPress security plugin, you have to be a tech geek or wizard to know the basics of this plugin. Wordfence provides a lot of features in his basic version only which other plugin is charging for.

• Wordfence free version: 

• Firewall monitoring
• Malware scanning
• Monitoring blacklist
• Security audits
• Security procedures after your website is hacked
• Website firewall
• Brute force attack
• Customizable email alerts
• Limiting fail login attempts 

• Wordfence premium version: 

• All the features that are in the free version.
• Monitor all sites from the central board.
• Real-time IP blacklisting and blocking feature.
• Direct customer support assistance.
• Two-factor authentication.
• Malware real-time threat detection.
• Live traffic and analytic monitoring.

2. iThemes Security

Another popular WordPress security plugin is iThemes which was formerly known as WP security. You won’t get many free features in iThemes. To enjoy all the features of iThemes, you have to pay for it. But once you buy it, the plugin won’t let you down, or we can say its security feature won’t disappoint you.

Let’s see what all features you are getting in the premium feature of iThemes:

• Two-factor authentication.
• Malware scans are pre-scheduled.
• 404 detection.
• Brute force attack prevention.
• Password security.
• Google reCAPTCHA integration.
• Plugin scan.
• Importing and exporting.
• Strong password enforcement.

3. Jetpack 

Another on the list is the powerhouse of WordPress security plugins. There are basic features available in the free version of jetpack, but you have to keep an eye on the premium feature because the security it is providing is more than you are asking for.

Let’s see the feature and decide for yourself:

• One-click restoration.
• Real-time backup is done so every change you make on the website is saved.
• If you want to monitor your site for downtown you can do that too.
• Spam protection.
• Security scanning.
• Automated marketing tools.
• Alerts you via emails in case your site is down.
• You can check the activity log to see what or who broke the site.

4. Sucuri Security 

It’s the leading WordPress security plugin in the world of security. Sucuri provides so much facility in the free version only, but its premium version is something you can’t neglect.

Let’s see all the facilities we get in the free version of Sucuri and the premium version of Sucuri so that your WordPress site is not hacked easily.

• Sucuri’s free version:

• Firewall monitoring
• Malware scanning
• Monitoring blacklist
• Security audits
• Notifications
• Security procedures after your website are hacked
• Website firewall

• Sucuri’s premium version: 

• Multiple SSL certificates, although you have to pay for them.
• They will notify you if there is anything wrong with your website.
• DDoS attack prevention and protection are also available.
• You can chat with customer service in the form of an email. 

    5. Bulletproof Security 

This security is for tech geeks, and it is meant for advanced developers, who can do some changes in settings. They also say that in the last few years, whoever has downloaded this plugin there site has never been hacked. The bulletproof plugin is made for more comprehensive users. Although most of the features are included in the premium version, if you are a tech wizard, you will love this plugin.

• Bulletproof free version 

• MScanner
• Htaccess core
• Login security and monitoring
• Idle session logout
• Auth Cookie expiration
• Security log
• UI and UX setting
• Setup wizard 

• Bulletproof premium version 

• All free version feature
• AutoRestore
• Plugin Firewall
• DB Monitor
• DB Diff tool
• Uploads anti-exploit guard
• F-Lock
• JTC anti-hacker

6. MalCare Security 

The only plugin I can say can clean up after there is an attack on your site with just one click, this feature is included in the premium version, but this feature is worth mentioning. What MalCare does is copy your whole site on its server so that it can run an in-depth scan.

• Features MalCare provides (Custom) 

• Unlimited automatic malware removal
• Daily scan
• Smart website firewall
• Login protection
• Website hardening
• Website management completely
• Client reports
• White Label solution

   _7.  All in one WP Security & Firewall 

Last but not the least, and the only security plugin in this list that is completely free of cost, you don’t have to pay for any of its features. And like the name, it has a list of features to back it up.

• All in one features 

• Account security
• Login security
• Registration security
• File system security
• Brute force login attack prevention
• Firewall functionality
• Blocklist functionality
• Comment spam security
• Front end text copy protection
• Security scanner

Conclusion: 

So this is it from my side, looking at the feature the security plugin offers and the feature you want compare both of them and choose the plugin you want, accordingly. As security is one of the main things, you need to protect your site. So choose wisely and never think twice if what you want is in the paid version of the plugin, buy it.