Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security vs Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall

Atomic Edge Security is a WordPress firewall plugin that protects your site with cloud-based WAF rules, malware scanning, 2FA, vulnerability checks, IP blocking, and real-time security logs. It blocks malicious traffic before it reaches WordPress while giving site owners firewall controls directly inside the WordPress admin. WordPress Firewall Protection Atomic Edge includes a cloud-based WordPress firewall that helps block malicious traffic before it reaches your website. The firewall protects against common attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), local file inclusion, remote file inclusion, brute-force login attempts, and suspicious bot activity. Web Application Firewall (WAF) The Atomic Edge WAF uses OWASP Core Rules and WordPress-specific security rules to protect high-risk areas such as wp-login.php, wp-admin, XML-RPC, REST API endpoints, vulnerable plugin paths, and common exploit patterns. Features Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – Protect WordPress logins with TOTP authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.) 2FA Enforcement Policies – Require 2FA for specific user roles with configurable grace periods 2FA Audit Logging – Complete security audit trail for all 2FA events Adaptive Defense – AI-powered threat detection that automatically identifies and blocks malicious actors Web Application Firewall (WAF) – Block SQL injection, XSS, and other attacks with OWASP Core Rules Content Delivery Network (CDN) – Serve static assets from global edge servers for faster page loads Real-time Analytics – Monitor traffic, blocked threats, and security events in real-time IP Access Control – Easily whitelist or blacklist IP addresses and CIDR ranges Geographic Blocking – Block or allow access based on visitor country Malware Scanner – Scan WordPress files for modifications and suspicious code patterns Vulnerability Scanner – Check WordPress core, plugins, and themes for known vulnerabilities (requires Atomic Edge connection) WAF Log Viewer – See exactly what threats are being blocked WP-CLI Integration – Run security scans from the command line How It Works Sign up for an Atomic Edge account at atomicedge.io Add your site to Atomic Edge and get your API key Install this plugin and enter your API key Manage your security settings directly from WordPress Vulnerability scanning is available when connected and uses Atomic Edge’s vulnerability data feed. Requirements PHP 7.4 or higher WordPress 5.8 or higher An Atomic Edge account (free tier available) OpenSSL PHP extension External Services This plugin connects to external services provided by Atomic Edge to deliver WAF, CDN, and security features. Below is a detailed explanation of each service, what data is transmitted, and when. Atomic Edge API The primary external service this plugin connects to is the Atomic Edge API at https://dashboard.atomicedge.io/api/v1. What it does: * Manages your site’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) settings * Retrieves real-time analytics and traffic data * Fetches WAF security logs showing blocked threats * Manages IP whitelist/blacklist and geographic access controls * Retrieves CDN configuration and status * Provides vulnerability scanning data for WordPress core, plugins, and themes * Powers the Adaptive Defense AI-powered threat detection system What data is sent: * Your site’s API key (for authentication) * IP addresses you add to whitelist/blacklist * Country codes for geographic blocking rules * CDN optimization settings (asset types, minification preferences) * Site URL and domain information * Adaptive Defense settings and blocked IP information When data is sent: * When you save settings in the plugin admin pages * When you view analytics or WAF logs (to fetch data) * When you run a vulnerability scan * When you manage IP access control rules * When Adaptive Defense checks or updates threat status * Background sync of CDN settings (when CDN is enabled) Service links: * Service website: https://atomicedge.io * Terms of Service: https://atomicedge.io/terms-of-service * Privacy Policy: https://atomicedge.io/privacy-policy Malware Signature API The malware scanner fetches signature patterns from a public API endpoint. What it does: * Provides up-to-date malware detection signatures * Allows scanning without requiring an API key What data is sent: * No personal or site-specific data is sent * Only a GET request to retrieve signature patterns When data is sent: * When you initiate a malware scan (if cached signatures have expired) * Signatures are cached locally for 24 hours Service links: * This service is provided by Atomic Edge (same terms and privacy policy as above) Data Storage All API responses are cached locally using WordPress transients to minimize external requests. Malware signature data is cached for 24 hours. Analytics data is fetched fresh on each page load but displayed quickly via JavaScript pagination.

Keep your sites safe from hackers, brute force attacks and malware with Defender, your easy-to-set-up, enterprise-level security plugin. With Defender, you can rely on the protection of a firewall, one-click hardening and 2FA, without having to be a cybersecurity expert. As hackers continue to evolve, you know you need to stay on top of your site’s security. But you don’t have the time to learn to code, stay abreast of every emerging threat, or apply complicated technical settings. Defender is here to give you the powerful security tools you need, without the technical headaches. Trusted by over 1 million WordPress users, this plugin works immediately with no confusing setup. Just activate Defender and let it handle the rest! Trusted by 1+ Million Sites | 4.8/5 Star Rating Defender makes it easy to: Run on-demand malware scans to find suspicious files and code Block malicious IPs with a global firewall Enforce strong passwords, 2FA, and login limits Apply recommended hardening settings in one click Get clear reports that show what needs attention Protect against compromised passwords before they are used on your site Free Malware Scanner: Stop security threats before they harm your site If your site has been infected by malware, this malicious code can cause a lot of damage before you even realize it’s there. Hackers use malware, often hidden in themes, extensions and plugins, to steal personal data, encrypt files for ransom, or spy on your activity. Defender gives you a highly-effective yet easy-to-use malware scanner that runs deep diagnostics across your entire site, making sure no malware is lurking in the shadows. Defender will scan your site for: Files that have changed unexpectedly: The scan will compare all core files and extensions against the official WordPress repository and flag any modifications or rogue additions instantly. Known vulnerabilities: Defender will check verified exploit registries to catch any security gaps in your active themes, plugins and core version, and help you fix them before they can be targeted. Suspicious code: By continually checking your server files, Defender will spot any potential code injections or backdoors, a common way bad actors try to gain access to your site. Outdated & removed plugins: Plugins that have been delisted from the repository or have not been updated in over two years become a significant risk to your site’s integrity. Defender flags these weak spots before they can cause a problem. AntiBot Global Firewall: Block harmful IPs with data from over 750,000 sites Put the collective threat intelligence of a massive network to work for your site. Powered by real-time threat data from over 750,000+ sites, the free AntiBot Global Firewall automatically blocks harmful traffic and spam bots with a single click. When any site on our network flags a threat, all other sites get protected too. It’s like having a bouncer for your website. If an IP is on the blocklist (updated every 12 hours), they’re not getting in! The most important part is, you’ll be in complete control. User-friendly setup: Defender Pro gives you AntiBot on every site you connect, regardless of where they’re hosted. Just flip the switch and it’ll start working so efficiently you won’t even notice it’s there. Choose your security level: Basic Mode offers balanced, everyday protection, while Strict Mode offers tighter security that blocks even the slightest suspicious activity. Manage IPs in The Hub: Manually block specific IPs, apply blocklists and allowlists across all sites, implement Geo IP blocking and configure everything from one central dashboard. Want to see AntiBot in action? You can click here to get a real-time look at the malicious IPs and suspicious requests it’s detected and blocked in the last 24 hours. Firewall Security & IP Management: Take control over your site’s traffic Defender’s advanced Web Application Firewall (WAF) makes it easy to lock out hackers, scrapers, and malicious bots without touching a single line of code. Advanced IP Lockouts: Manually block specific IPs, import custom blocklists, or set automated timed and permanent lockouts for repeat offenders. Geo IP Blocking: Instantly ban traffic from specific countries or geographic locations with a single click. User Agent Banning: Instantly block spam and scrapers using built-in bad bot presets. We automatically allowlist major search engines to protect your SEO. Malicious Bot Detector: Deploy layered defenses to trap aggressive bots that ignore your robots.txt rules and catch fake crawlers impersonating legitimate search engines. Login Security & 2FA: Prevent unauthorized access Make sure the only users logging into your WordPress site are the ones you actually want. Defender can protect your sites from unauthorized access or brute force attacks with sophisticated login security features. These features keep your site safe from malicious logins, while still ensuring legitimate users can log in easily. Hide Login URL: Change the location of WordPress’s default login area, making it harder for automated bots to find and more convenient for your users. Session Security: Protect your site from session hijacking, preventing attackers from stealing session tokens to impersonate users and gain unauthorized access to your website. Smart Password Rules: Enforce strong passwords for new registrations, automatically block compromised credentials using a public “pwned” passwords database, limit login attempts so hackers can’t guess passwords, and force a site-wide password reset upon the next login if you suspect a security breach. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of protection and security to your WordPress sites to prevent brute force attacks and login security vulnerabilities. Defender’s two-factor authentication (2FA) features include plenty of ways to verify logins, from mobile app verification (Google Authenticator, Authy) to Biometric Authentication (fingerprint/facial recognition) to Hardware Key Authentication (USB security keys.) Plus, built-in backup code generation, lost device emails and WooCommerce 2FA. Security Hardening: Apply recommended settings with a single click WordPress security hardening is all about adding multiple layers of protection to your website, to reduce your risk of attacks and unauthorized access. Defender makes it easy to do this, with 12 recommended hardening settings you can apply with one click. For example, Defender’s hardening settings include: Disabling the file editor to stop internal tampering Updating outdated security keys Hiding PHP error reporting on the frontend Adding advanced security headers (XSS protection, Strict Transport, etc.) Disabling trackbacks and pingbacks to prevent spam Automated Defenses: Protect your entire site, on autopilot You’ve got a lot to handle while running your business, wouldn’t it be nice if security was something you could set and forget? Learn more about Defender Pro. With Defender, you can put your security on autopilot. It’ll be working around the clock with hands-off, automated defenses that run seamlessly in the background to keep intruders out and your data safe. Here’s what Defender will be doing while you work on other things: Performing scheduled scans for issues: Set up regular scans that look for malicious code, suspicious code injections, vulnerabilities, abandoned plugins, and missing hardening recommendations. Creating automated security reports: Stay informed with health updates and immediate threat summaries delivered directly to your inbox. Keeping audit logs: Defender logs key site activity — logins, user changes, plugin and theme updates, content edits, and settings changes — so you can track what happened and when. Why choose Defender? There are plenty of WordPress security plugins out there, but many make it needlessly complicated to protect your site. Defender keeps the essentials simple. You can scan for malware, block harmful traffic, strengthen login security, and harden your site from one plugin, without digging through confusing technical options. It’s built specifically for WordPress, trusted across the WPMU DEV ecosystem, and designed to help you protect your site without slowing down your work. With Defender, you get: Security trusted by over 1 million WordPress users Protection built specifically for WordPress vulnerabilities Regular updates and threat intelligence improvements Malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security in one plugin Support from the award-winning WPMU DEV team So you get serious WordPress security, without the overwhelming setup. Built for speed and security A security plugin should protect your site without getting in the way. Defender is built to stop threats before they waste your server resources, with lightweight protection that runs quietly in the background. With Defender, you can: Detect and limit 404 bots before they drain server resources Run malware scans without overloading your CPU Keep your site protected without adding performance drag So you get the security your site needs, without making visitors wait for it. Works with your existing setup You shouldn’t have to change your plugins, tools or workflow just to secure your site. Defender works smoothly with your current WordPress setup. With Defender, you can: Protect WooCommerce, BuddyPress, and sites built with major page builders Apply saved security configs across multiple sites in a few clicks Enable and configure protection alongside your favorite plugins So you get the security your site needs, without getting in the way of the plugins, tools, and workflows you already rely on. Get started in minutes Defender works as soon as you activate it. Install the plugin, run your first malware scan, enable your firewall, strengthen login security, and apply recommended hardening settings in just a few clicks. Defender shows you what needs attention, so you can lock down your site without editing code or guessing which settings matter. Just install Defender, switch on the protections you need, and let it handle the rest. About Us WPMU DEV is a premium supplier of quality WordPress plugins and themes. For premium support with any WordPress-related issues you can join us here: https://wpmudev.com/ Don’t forget to stay up to date on everything WordPress from the Internet’s number one resource: WPMU DEV Blog Hey, one more thing… we hope you enjoy our free offerings as much as we’ve loved making them for you!