While we continuously protect ourselves from thieves and pickpockets, there is a whole new genre of criminals who can steal highly valuable information from us online – hackers. Hackers may attack your website to retrieve personal information including credit card numbers, customer data, order data, and other financial information. Some attackers simply do it to brutally break into a system without having a particular motive. Accordingly, as you aim to secure your houses and cars, it is equally important to secure your WordPress website. Check out the complete WordPress security guide to protect your site from hackers and spammers.
Security Plugins for WordPress
If your website is on WordPress, a highly popular content management system, there is a significant chance that your website may be drawing the attention of attackers. Before any party finds your website vulnerable, it is very important to protect it. How? Many companies provide managed services to help you deal with all of your IT-related challenges and help secure your website against threats. Inbound marketing firms can also help provide security to websites by installing one of these plugins or you can choose one yourself.
Check out these 4 plugins that can help secure your WordPress website.
1. Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security is a very commendable solution to your website security problems and is one of the most popular security plugins in the market. You can use it to customize your security protocols thoroughly and prevent vulnerability to common threats.
What does it do? It puts up a firewall that encompasses the whole website for protection against common threats, it prevents individual users and full networks of recognized attackers from causing harm by blocking them, and puts in very stringent security measures on login pages. It also regularly scans WordPress for common threats and ensures a strong system, blocking out unauthorised use.
The plugin is also compatible with WordPress Multisite.
Why should you purchase it? This plugin provides a thorough security solution and has numerous settings which will allow you to appropriately manage how you want to protect your website. The best part is that this is a free plugin but a premium version can be purchased for a nominal fee.
2. BulletProof Security
While the name sounds intimidating, the plugin is also very effective. The plugin has a variety of features, not as many as Wordfence Security, but enough to serve the purpose. The plugin can be used by amateurs or expert level users. There is a setup wizard which only requires one click for beginners and those who want to customize their experience can make use of the numerous settings.
The BulletProof Security plugin has robust login security measures in place that prevent unauthorized users from accessing your accounts. It also regularly schedules backups for your database and immediately logs out users who haven’t been active on the webpage after a certain period of time. The plugin also protects your .htaccess files.
Is it a worthy option? Although the plugin does not have any fancy features, it is a good option for security-conscious website owners who wish to protect their site from harm and prevent unauthorized use. It is a simple option and can even be used by those who are not familiar with using such software.
The plugin is free and a lifetime premium version of the product is available at a very affordable price.
3. iThemes Security
iThemes Security is one of the best plugins available in the market and has a very simple interface allowing even amateurs to use it with ease. The setup process is not complicated or lengthy and setup can be completed with a few clicks. For those who do not know how to put the numerous settings to use, each setting has a detailed description explaining what it is for and how to use it to ensure maximum protection.
Technical support is available to those who need it and queries are enthusiastically entertained by the iThemes support team. What are the features of the plugin? The plugin scans your website and attempts to find vulnerabilities and malware in order to prevent breakdowns. It makes sure that users insert strong passwords so that unauthorized use is prevented.
It also blocks IP addresses that seem dangerous or which have attempted to break into your computer before, keeping suspicious activity at arm’s length. The plugin also detects unexpected file changes and uses the SSL protocol. Accordingly, it has you covered from all spheres to enable a very secure website.
Why should you opt for it? This is an optimal choice if you are looking for an easy-to-use plugin that also has several customization settings. New users and experienced users can both use this plugin to their advantage and according to their specific requirements. It is easy to setup and provides everything from database backup, the enforcement of strong passwords, to protection against brute force. The plugin is free but you can always opt for the premium version for which you will have to pay a small fee annually for a license.
4. Sucuri Security
This plugin is also sure to satisfy as it is produced by a highly renowned team of web developers and software engineers. It offers a wide array of features and also offers options that help you deal with the situation ‘post hacking’.
Sucuri analyzes file integrity and informs you if files look suspicious or contain hazardous material. It also offers settings which can be utilized to help your website recover and to secure information again post-attack. Sucuri Security also offers several notification settings which means that you will always be informed of what is going on in your system and when your website is under threat. Last but not the least, the plugin thoroughly monitors malware and vulnerable areas in order to solidify support and prevent malpractice.
Who should use this plugin? This plugin is suitable for everyone and offers an attractive and easy- to-use interface and also includes extra functions to help users cope with an attack. The post-hack feature allows you to secure your data, reset your plugins and all of your passwords, and log out unauthorized users by force. It is surefire way to get rid of unwarranted access to your personal information and to make sure that your website remains solely your domain.
The price? Yes, this one is free as well and users can purchase additional services such as malware removal etc. from the company.
Final Words
That’s a wrap. All of these wonderful free plugins can get you started on your quest to secure your website and ensure that unauthorized users are out and stay out! Choose one and install it right away.
No wonder Wordfence Security is at the top of your list. Have been using it for a while and I have to say it is awesome.