As one of the most widely used CMS platforms, WordPress has become an attractive target for hackers. And if you’re quite unfamiliar with programming, this can be quite alarming. That’s why having knowledge about cybersecurity plugins is crucial.
Not that WordPress has a terrible security system, but with an estimated cyberattack happening every 39 seconds, knowing the right cybersecurity plugins is one of the best precautionary measures to keep your website safe from hackers.
These tools not only protect your brand and website visitors from potential security breaches, but they also prevent spam messages and accounts from accessing your site, repair corrupted files, improve SEO rankings, and quickly address potential security threats to avoid more serious issues that could cause significant damages later, like getting banned in certain countries for content and security threat.
So, What are the Top WordPress Cybersecurity Plugins in 2024?
Now, if you’re not on the techy side, no need to fret about all these plugins. We’ve got you covered.
While choosing the right WordPress plugin can be quite a challenging task with thousands of options to choose from, knowing the top-performing plugins can help eliminate those not well-vetted by cybersecurity experts in terms of protecting websites from malicious threats.
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Here, we have listed the experts’ top choices—from free versions to premium upgrades—to help you choose the best plugin that meets your website’s security needs.
- Malcare
- WP Rating: 4.2
- Active Installations: 400k+
- Price: Free
- Upgrade: $149 (Plus) – $499/year (Max)
When it comes to malware protection, Malcare has always been a reliable option for many. With its seven-layer protection complete with an integrated firewall, automatic malware scanner, and instant malware cleaner, this WordPress plugin keeps websites safe from malicious bots and requests.
Protecting websites from dangerous attacks that could cost thousands of business losses, Malcare prides itself on its three-pronged protection: bot protection, real-time Web Application Firewall (WAF), and brute force protection. With 10 years of experience in safeguarding WordPress sites, it has protected over 300,000 sites from potential threats through its deep malware scan and instant malware removal feature.
- Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security)
- WP Rating: 5
- Active Installations: 50k+
- Price: Free
- Upgrade: $99 – $499/year
iThemes Security has long established itself as one of the strongest contenders against brute force attacks and malware—the ‘only WordPress security plug-ins you need.’
Rebranded as Solid Security, it brings a more proactive and strategic approach to WordPress security, helping secure sites in over 30 ways, including password protection, user activity monitoring, and automatically locking out bad users identified by the system’s Brute Force Protection Network. This free plugin offers a real-time security dashboard for monitoring all site activities and threats. The Pro version offers advanced cybersecurity monitoring, including Patchstack integration, which protects the site before vulnerabilities can be exploited.
- Sucuri Security
- WP Rating: 4.2
- Active Installations: 800k+
- Price: Free
- Upgrade: $199.99 (Basic Platform) – $499/year (Business Platform)
Highly regarded for uncovering security gaps, Sucuri Security provides antivirus services, a firewall, and activity monitoring and alerts for malware and other suspicious activities. The free version features a ban on PHP files, constant site monitoring, and the intervention and removal of malicious codes.
It also offers a scanner that checks if the site has been infected with malware, which is very helpful in case of an attack. For more comprehensive protection, Sucuri offers a robust plan designed for web pros and agencies.
- Wordfence
- WP Rating: 4.1
- Active Installations: 60k+
- Price: Free
- Upgrade: $199 (Wordfence Premium) – $950/year (Wordfence Response)
With over 100 million downloads and 2 million activations, Wordfence is one of the most impressive cybersecurity plugins. Its free and premium versions offer automated removal for file-based malware, bot-blocking, and real-time firewall updates.
Wordfence Premium features country blocking, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), IP filter, and personal support. In addition to stopping brute force attacks, it scans websites to determine if they have been infected, revealing security gaps and allowing them to be fixed—all accessible in its user-friendly dashboard that displays website firewall summary, security scan issues, and hack attempts.
- All-in-One Security
- WP Rating: 4.7
- Active Installations: 1M
- Price: Free
- Upgrade: $70 – $195/year
Designed specifically for WordPress, All-in-One Security offers a range of features for free, including enhanced protection against bot infiltration and brute-force attacks, a customizable login URL to deter automated attacks, a login lockout feature for multiple failed attempts, and 2FA.
AIOS also has WAF as an initial defense against malicious traffic, a 6G firewall, DDOS attack prevention, comment spam prevention, and iFrame and copywriting protection. The Premium option includes the Smart 404 feature, country blocking, and unlimited support. In its latest security feature update, it now has an Audit Log for admins to oversee all website activities and security detection.
- Jetpack
- WP Rating: 3.7
- Active Installations: 4M
- Price: Free
- Upgrade: $4.95 – $24.95/year
If you’ve been a longtime WordPress user, there’s no chance you haven’t heard of Jetpack. Developed by the WordPress team, Jetpack offers a wide range of features and robust tools for protecting your site against attacks and security threats.
The free version covers basic security features, like vulnerability checks. Sites hosted by WordPress.com already have Jetpack and all of its features that help with site design, marketing, traffic growth, and security. Meanwhile, its free version covers basic security features, like vulnerability checks.
Now, for more comprehensive protection, you may also consider upgrading to the premium version for advanced features like Web Application Firewall, daily automatic malware scanning, VaultPress backup, downtime monitoring, spam protection, and priority support.
Are WordPress Plugins Safe?
Knowing that cybercriminals are constantly finding new attack methods, you may wonder if these WordPress plugins are generally safe for your website. Well, as plugins are curated by the WordPress team, they are generally safe.
However, with so many plugins available, some poorly coded ones can affect your website’s performance and make you susceptible to data breaches. That’s why it is important to thoroughly evaluate the capabilities of these WordPress plugins and the reviews made by experts and users.
Most importantly, as a site owner, you must be aware of other potential risks that come with the Internet. You can integrate a VPN with a free trial to encrypt data transmissions, mask IP addresses, and mitigate DDOS attacks. Additionally, using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) can provide an extra layer of security.
Keep your site up to date, monitor activities regularly, and immediately address security gaps to avoid making your site vulnerable to hackers. Regular backups, using secure hosting services, and employing firewall protection are also essential practices to safeguard your site against potential threats.
