Best WordPress Security Plugins
Introduction
You work as a professional web designer and use your WordPress site to share your content and intercept new customers. This means that the CMS created in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little is the most precious thing you have. For this reason, you have to protect it in the best possible way. Let take have a look at Best WordPress Security Plugins in 2020.
WordPress is the most popular and easy to use Content Management System in the world. As a result, and over time, it has become a favorite target of bad guys. People who are meant to undermine online security, thirsty for sensitive data. And willing to take over the server on which the CMS is hosted.
As if that weren’t enough February 2017 was a month to forget for those who manage WordPress with little attention. One attack led to the defacement of over 100,000 sites. Cybercriminals spotted an open door in a bug that was fixed in the latest update, but few administrators have performed the update.
To learn more, take a look at the Security Info article. You don’t want to have the same dramatic experience, do you? Then discover the best WordPress security plugins.
WordPress security tips
Before I list the best WordPress security plugins, I want to leave you some tips for securing the CMS. Let’s see the main steps you need to take to strengthen your web project defenses and retain important information.
Back up files and databases periodically
Don’t forget to set up your WordPress backup. Determine how often to do this: daily, weekly, or monthly.
This way you will always have an updated version of the website and you can always restore it in case it is endangered. Although many hosts offer a daily backup service, it is best to always have a personal copy.
Update WordPress
The WordPress community is very large and active, just take a look at the official forum to realize it. This means that as soon as a weakness in the system is discovered, it immediately runs for cover.
For this reason, among the WordPress security tips, there is always to watch over what is said in these dedicated places. And most importantly, to update the CMS to the latest version available and hide it.
The reason? Hackers could discover it and trace possible bugs.
Start with a secure installation
To secure WordPress you can start with a few simple steps to take from installation. These are operations that you should adopt for any type of CMS and if you get used to it you will see that you will do them without even thinking about it.
Choose secure credentials to log in
To be clear, do not use “admin” as the username. As for the password, it must be made up of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters.
Also, change the default prefix of the tables and set the secret keys to encrypt the authentication codes.
Use the .htaccess file
Use the .htaccess file to protect the wp-config.php which holds sensitive site data. To sleep peacefully, just take advantage of this option that limits the revenue in some areas of the CMS.
These are the main tips for securing WordPress. Now let’s go discover the best WordPress security plugins. Some perform targeted functions, others are more complete.
The best WordPress security plugins\
Wordfence
I start this list with Wordfence, a free and complete suite for increasing WordPress security. His most interesting skills? Checks for malware, monitor website activity in real-time by observing who visits the platform and what they see.
Read More: How to Find Your WordPress Page ID and Post ID
But not only. This tool can block the IP, allows you to login with a mobile phone, limits visits from a certain state, scans the site automatically, sends you notifications if there is something strange. Be careful, some alternatives are paid.
Limit Login Attempts
Limit Login Attempts is among the best WordPress login security plugins. This tool can defend WordPress from hackers and brute force attacks that can result in data loss. And modify the source code.
With this tool, you reduce the attempts available for login. For example, after the fourth attempt, you can decide to block the suspicious account for a certain period.
BulletProof Security
This tool is also on the list of the best WordPress security plugins. The great merit of BulletProof Security? Its ease of use even for the less experienced.
What can you do with this software? Make your files, especially configuration files and .htaccess files safer from problems like SQL Injection, XSS, CRLF, etc.
Another interesting aspect: the ability to update automatically without the need to intervene manually. At your disposal, you have the free and pro version with advanced functions.
All In One WP Security & Firewall
I already told you about the importance of changing the table prefix and hiding the WordPress version, remember? Well. With this WordPress security plugin, you can perform these operations with a simple click, by going to the control panel.
You can also do live traffic and site scan. As you can guess, the tool – in some respects – is similar to Wordfence.
Captcha
This extension allows you to defend yourself from SPAM. What do you get with Captcha? I go to the decisive point: you can insert a verification system made of numbers and letters to block annoying messages.
You can also add the function for contact forms on pages. You will see, you will not be able to do without this plugin to increase the security of WordPress.
Theme Authenticity Checker
Finally, since sometimes some malicious files also lurk in the typical WordPress themes and graphic templates, it is advisable to install Theme Authenticity Checker which carries out the verification of the theme and reports those not considered safe.
Secure your WordPress site: checklist
Undoubtedly these plugins are not the only ones and depending on the needs they may not be the best for every site or blog. The fact remains that through other small tips it is possible to increase the security of your WordPress.
Here is a simple checklist to follow to take the first steps towards a secure WordPress installation:
- update the platform with each version released periodically by WordPress;
- create a new administrator profile compared to the classic ” admin “;
- rename the database tables and do not leave those with the prefix ” wp_ “;
- limit access to the administration area (wp-admin or wp-login) by acting on the .htaccess file ;
- delete the data of the WordPress version used;
- perform a periodic backup of the folders and the database;
- choose secure passwords using at least 8 characters including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters.
WordPress security plugins: do you use them?
These are just some of the WordPress security plugins, solutions that allow you to work with peace of mind. On the other hand, the protection of sensitive data is always in the first place for professionals.
Do you know other tools to make a website safer? Leave your experience in the comments.