Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall vs Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin

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 Outdated & removed plugins: Plugins that have been delisted from the repository or have not been updated in over two years become a significant risk to your site’s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!

Bulletproof your website security in a few clicks against a range of security breaches, including brute-force attacks, malware threats and bots, with our free WordPress security plugin – Security Optimizer. Proactively monitor your site’s security to detect any suspicious activity and take immediate actions to protect your site and prevent further damage with these essential features: Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for an extra layer of website security Set Limit Login Attempts to deter malicious login attempts and brute-force attacks Change your default login URL to Custom Login URL to avoid attacks Activate Advanced XSS Protection to fortify your website against malicious attacks Lock and Protect System Folders to ensure no unauthorized or malicious scripts can be executed in your system folders Disable Themes & Plugins Editor to safeguard your website from unauthorized access via the WordPress editor Hide WordPress Version effortlessly, keeping it hidden from prying eyes Use Activity Log to monitor your site and quickly prevent malicious actions Post-Hack Actions to take immediate actions and prevent further damages Developed by the website security experts at SiteGround and trusted by over 900,000 webmasters for its robust security shield and ease of use to safeguard WordPress applications from possible attacks on any hosting platform. AWARDS: Monster Awards 2022: Best WordPress Security Plugin 🥇 Monster Awards 2021: Best WordPress Security Plugin 🥇 Plugin Video Plugin Tutorial Unveil the vast array of features and unleash the full potential of our security plugin in our Security Optimizer Tutorial. SITE PROTECTION FEATURES Safeguard your WordPress application using our powerful site security toolset. Our comprehensive features are specifically designed to strengthen your website’s defenses against malware, exploits, and various malicious activities. With these tools at your disposal, you can ensure the utmost bot, malware and brute force protection for your website: Lock and Protect System Folders Ensure the maximum security for your application’s system folders by preventing the execution of any unauthorized or malicious scripts. The Lock and Protect System Folders feature acts as a powerful shield against potential threats. Hide WordPress Version Protect your website from mass attacks by hiding the WordPress version, which helps to mitigate version-specific vulnerabilities. Disable Themes & Plugins Editor Enhance the security of your WordPress admin area by disabling the Themes & Plugins Editor, preventing potential coding errors and unauthorized access through the editor. Disable XML-RPC Mitigate potential security risks by disabling the XML-RPC protocol, which has been exploited in various attacks. Please note that disabling XML-RPC will restrict WordPress from communicating with third-party systems. We recommend enabling this feature unless you have a specific need for it. Disable RSS and ATOM Feeds Prevent content scraping and specific attacks on your site by disabling RSS and ATOM feeds. Unless you have readers accessing your site via RSS readers, it is recommended to keep this feature enabled. Advanced XSS Protection Add an extra layer of website security against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by enabling Advanced XSS Protection, bolstering the overall security of your website. Delete Default Readme.html Eliminate potential vulnerabilities by deleting the default readme.txt file, which contains information about your website. By removing this file, you reduce the risk of your site being listed in vulnerable sites targeted by hackers. Login Security Custom Login Url Personalize your login URL to thwart potential attacks and create a strong entry point. Bid farewell to the default login URL and embrace a bespoke path of your choosing. Additionally, you have the freedom to modify the default sign-up URL as well. Login Access Restrict login page access to specific IP addresses or IP ranges, effectively thwarting malicious login attempts and deterring brute force attacks. 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) Immerse your website in an impenetrable shield of security with 2FA. This formidable feature demands that all admin users furnish a unique token, generated exclusively through the Google Authentication application, during the login process. Disable Common Usernames Don’t fall victim to predictable security breaches! The use of common usernames, such as ‘admin,’ poses a significant threat to the integrity of your website. Activate this option to disable the creation of common usernames. If any weak usernames already exist, we’ll prompt you to provide new, stronger alternatives. Limit Login Attempts Maintain control over unauthorized access attempts with Limit Login Attempts. Set a specific threshold for the number of login failures users can endure before consequences arise. After reaching the limit, the IP address associated with the unsuccessful login attempts will be blocked for one hour. Persistent failures will result in longer restrictions, starting with 24 hours and escalating to a week. ACTIVITY MONITORING Monitor your website and login page for unauthorized visitors and brute force attempts to prevent malicious actions Activity Log The Activity Log page provides you with a comprehensive view of the activities performed by registered, unknown, and blocked visitors. It allows you to closely monitor any suspicious behavior and take appropriate actions in case of a compromised user, plugin, or hacking attempt. You can leverage the quick tools available to swiftly block future attempts. Weekly Security Reports Receive a weekly traffic summary for your website directly to your inbox. This Weekly Security Report compiles data on both bot and human traffic, along with details about blocked login and visit attempts to proactively monitor traffic and promptly identify suspicious activity. POST-HACK ACTIONS Take immediate measures to protect your website if you suspect a compromise and prevent further damage. Here, you’ll find convenient solutions to address the situation effectively: Reinstall All Free Plugins In the event of a hack, utilizing the Reinstall All Free Plugins feature can help mitigate potential harm. This action reinstalls all of your free plugins, reducing the likelihood of additional exploits or the reuse of malicious code. Log Out All Users To prevent any further unauthorized activities by users or attackers, you can choose to log out all users instantly using the Log Out All Users feature. Force Password Reset By enforcing a password reset, you can ensure that all users are prompted to change their passwords during their next login. This not only strengthens the security of their accounts but also immediately logs out all currently logged-in users. Requirements WordPress 4.7 PHP 7.0 Working .htaccess file Data Collection Collection of technical data is optional and is listed here. This data is collected only for technical analysis, improvements and the possibility to contact the plugin user in case urgent issues need to be fixed (for example a critical security release that needs to be communicated to site owners). The plugin user can manage their preferences within the WP admin to control the collection of technical data. We advise opting in for this data collection, as it can enhance the plugin’s performance. You may find more information on data collection in our Plugins Privacy Notice.