We often wonder which security plugin is best for WordPress. In this post I have selected three of the most used ones to analyze them and see the differences between them. First of all, we have to ask ourselves…
Why should I have a security plugin on WordPress?
Every week millions of web pages are attacked or infected with malware. Many times we do not even find out, and a security flaw can cause serious damage to the website and also to our business. As WordPress is the most used CMS in the world, it is also the most attacked: attacks are usually automated and look for vulnerable plugins, themes and passwords.
Some of the consequences are data loss, losing access to your website, having it locked or “hijacked”. It also lowers our SEO performance, we lose rankings in the search engine and we may even be flagged as a dangerous site or deindexed (no longer appearing on Google).
Now that the fear has set in, let’s see how to fix this defenselessness. To avoid being hacked you have to follow some security best practices. Today we cover one of them: installing a security plugin.
Careful: the three do very similar jobs, so installing one of them is enough. Installing several at the same time can cause conflicts and slow down your website.
The best security plugins for WordPress
1. Sucuri
Sucuri is one of the most powerful WordPress security extensions. Its free plugin offers security best practices, activity logging and a scanner that looks for common threats. If you sign up for its paid plan, you get access to one of the best firewalls for WordPress.
Fact: for anyone who does not know what a firewall is, it is basically a barrier that blocks, for example, brute force attacks or malicious attempts to access our website.
Sucuri’s firewall works at DNS level, meaning it filters malicious traffic even before it reaches your server, and it also serves static content from its own CDN network, which helps speed up your website.
2. Wordfence
Wordfence is another very popular security plugin. Its free version includes a powerful malware scanner, vulnerability detection and a firewall. It scans your website automatically for common threats, but you can also launch a full scan whenever you want, and it alerts you if it detects signs of a breach, with instructions to fix them.
Its firewall runs on your own server, right before WordPress loads. That makes it slightly less effective than a DNS-level firewall like Sucuri’s, but it is a complete solution and easy to start using.
3. Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security)
iThemes Security, now known as Solid Security, is another complete WordPress security plugin. It has a clean, pleasant interface with many options: file checks, security hardening, login attempt blocking, strong passwords, 404 error detection, brute force protection, two-step verification and more.
It does not include its own website firewall, which is why it tends to be a bit more basic in protection than the other two. The available features depend on whether you use the free or the paid version.
Tip: take advantage of the fact that these plugins handle alerts very well: enter your email address and adjust the notifications for peace of mind, because if anything happens with your website they will let you know.
Other measures you cannot forget
A security plugin helps a lot, but it is not the only piece. These are the basic best practices:
- Update WordPress, plugins and themes, and delete the ones you do not use. Most vulnerabilities arrive through outdated plugins. Some tools, like Patchstack, warn you about known vulnerabilities in your plugins.
- Strong passwords and two-step verification, and avoid usernames like “admin”.
- Automatic backups, stored outside the server. It is your life insurance if something goes wrong.
- Good hosting, with an SSL certificate and server-level security measures.
- Limit login attempts and protect forms against spam.
You will find more ideas in my article about the 5 steps to take after building your website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best security plugin for WordPress?
It depends on your needs, but with Wordfence or Sucuri you have a good base. The important thing is to choose one, configure it well and not install several at once.
Do I need a security plugin if my hosting is already secure?
Good hosting helps a lot, but it does not fully protect against weak passwords or vulnerable plugins. Both layers complement each other.
Does a security plugin slow down my website?
It can use some resources, especially when scanning. Schedule scans for low-traffic hours and do not install more than one.
If you need more information about security or want someone to take care of your site monthly WordPress maintenance, you can contact me. You can also visit some of my marketing services, such as WordPress web design, or read the article about adding Instagram to WordPress.
