Prevent XSS Vulnerability vs Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall

This plugin helps safeguard your website against two common types of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities: Reflected XSS: This happens when harmful scripts are hidden in a website’s URL. If a user clicks a link with such a script, it can run in their browser, potentially stealing their data or taking control of their system. Self-XSS: This occurs when a user’s own input on your website is displayed back to them in an unsafe way, allowing malicious scripts to run in their browser. This plugin provides several layers of protection: Blocking: When active, the plugin checks URLs for specific characters. If it finds any of these characters in the URL, it redirects the user to prevent a potential XSS attack. You can customize which characters to block or allow. Opening Round Bracket ( Closing Round Bracket ) Less than Sign Opening Square Bracket [ Closing Square Bracket ] Opening Curly Bracket { Pipe or Vertical Bar | Closing Curly Bracket } Encoding: For an extra layer of security, the plugin encodes certain characters found in URL parameters. This stops harmful code from running, even if it’s present in the URL. You can also choose to exclude specific parameters from being encoded. Exclamation Mark ! Double Quotation " Single Quotation ' Opening Round Bracket ( Closing Round Bracket ) Asterisk Sign * Less than Sign Grave Accent “` Cap Sign ^ Opening Square Bracket [ Closing Square Bracket ] Opening Curly Bracket { Pipe or Vertical Bar | Closing Curly Bracket } Escaping HTML in $_GET: This plugin automatically makes HTML characters safe within the $_GET variable. This is vital if your website pulls data from URLs and displays it as part of your web page. It helps prevent malicious scripts from being injected through user-provided input. Important Notes: After activating the plugin, thoroughly test your website forms, especially if you use WooCommerce. Make sure the plugin doesn’t interfere with your shopping cart and checkout processes. We welcome bug reports for this plugin on GitHub: https://github.com/samiahmedsiddiqui/prevent-xss-vulnerability/issues. Please remember that GitHub is for bug reports only, not general support. By using this plugin and following these recommendations, you can significantly improve your website’s defense against XSS attacks.

Security Ninja is a lightweight WordPress security plugin that helps protect your site from common attacks and security mistakes – without turning your dashboard into a cockpit. Web Application Firewall (WAF) (based on the 8G ruleset) to block common malicious requests, plus 50+ security checks, a full vulnerability scanner, and a core integrity scanner to spot risky settings and unexpected file changes. Upgrade to Pro for Cloud Firewall, malware scanning/cleanup, login brute-force protection and 2FA, export/webhooks, and scheduled scans. This plugin can be downloaded for free without any paid subscription from the official WordPress repository. Included for free – Basic Firewall (8G-based) – Blocks common malicious requests and bot noise before it becomes a problem. – 50+ Security Tests – Fast audit of common WordPress security misconfigurations. – Vulnerability Scanner – Highlights known issues in plugins/themes so you can patch faster. – Core Scanner – Detect modified or unexpected files in WordPress core folders. – Basic Events Logger – Logs firewall events and login attempts (successful/failed). – AI Security Advisor (WordPress 7) – AI-generated audit summaries and guided follow-ups from your scans, using WordPress AI Connectors (you choose the LLM provider). Optional WordPress Abilities let other AI tools on your site read test summaries, attack activity, and your latest saved report. Pro adds – Cloud Firewall & advanced WAF – Block 600+ million known bad IPs, country blocking, IP management, and stronger firewall controls (free includes the 8G-based firewall). – Advanced Malware Scanner – Detect and clean malicious code and suspicious files. – Login protection & 2FA – Limit failed logins, rename the login URL, and add two-factor authentication. – One-click Fixes – Harden WordPress from the Fixes page (XML-RPC, file editor, headers, and more). – Full Events Logger – Export logs, scheduled email reports, webhooks (e.g. Slack/Discord), and deeper alerting. – Scheduled scans & reporting – Automated security scans and reports. Key Features Security Ninja is a lightweight WordPress firewall plugin and security toolkit designed to help you find misconfigurations, block common attacks, and stay ahead of known vulnerabilities – without slowing your site down. Comprehensive WordPress Security Testing Security Ninja performs 50+ advanced security tests to identify issues before attackers exploit them. This includes: Login and password checks – Audits weak passwords and related settings (Pro adds failed-login limits, rename login, and 2FA). File integrity monitoring – Detects unauthorized changes to WordPress core files, themes, and plugins. Database security checks – Identifies weak database permissions and potential SQL injection threats. User role audits – Ensures no unauthorized administrator accounts exist. Security misconfiguration scans – Identifies and fixes weak settings that could compromise security. Enhanced Vulnerability Scanner Stay Ahead of Threats – Our vulnerability scanner proactively alerts you to known vulnerabilities, allowing you to address potential threats before they exploit your website. Comprehensive Protection – Security Ninja not only checks and warns for common issues but also checks for known vulnerabilities in plugins and themes. Peace of Mind – Knowing your site is monitored for the latest vulnerabilities means you can focus on what matters most, growing your business and creating content, worry-free. Core Scanner – Comprehensive Protection for Your WordPress Installation The Core Scanner module adds a critical layer of security by ensuring your WordPress installation remains untampered and free of unauthorized files. Full Core File Integrity Check: Every file in your core WordPress folders is scanned to ensure it hasn’t been modified or compromised. Detection of Unknown Files: The scanner flags any extra or unknown files in your core WordPress directories, alerting you to potential threats. Built-in File Viewer: Review flagged files directly within your WordPress dashboard using the integrated file viewer for a clear and easy inspection. Restore Core Files: If a core WordPress file has been altered, you can quickly restore it with a single click, ensuring your site is running the official version. Easy File Management: For unknown or suspicious files, you have the option to delete them right from the interface, keeping your WordPress installation clean and secure. Advanced Malware Scanner – Detect & Remove Malware Instantly (PRO) Security Ninja includes a high-performance malware scanner that automatically checks your WordPress core, plugins and themes for: Malicious scripts and backdoors – Identifies hidden malware and harmful injections. Trojan and virus detection – Scans for suspicious PHP and JavaScript entries. One-click malware removal – Instantly quarantine and delete infected files. WordPress Firewall & Real-Time Threat Protection Security Ninja includes a basic firewall for free (8G-based) to block common malicious requests. Upgrade to Pro for more advanced WAF controls. Basic protection (Free) – 8G rules block many common exploit patterns and abusive requests. Advanced protection (Pro) – Cloud Firewall, country blocking, IP lists, and additional intelligence/automation. Login brute-force protection (Pro) – Limit failed logins and harden the login flow (not included in the free firewall). Login Security & Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) (PRO) Your WordPress login page is a primary target for hackers. Security Ninja enhances login security with: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – Requires additional verification for safer logins. Brute-force attack protection – Limits failed login attempts to block unauthorized access. Rename login – Getting a lot of requests to your login form? Hide it for spammers. One-Click Security Fixes & WordPress Hardening (PRO) Manually fixing security issues is time-consuming. Security Ninja provides one-click hardening to: Disable XML-RPC – Blocks common DDoS attacks and brute-force exploits. Restrict file editing – Prevents unauthorized theme and plugin modifications. Hide PHP error messages – Stops hackers from exploiting sensitive error details. And many more fixes to harden your WordPress security! Events Logger / Activity Tracking Security Ninja includes a basic events logger for free so you can see what’s happening on your site. Free: firewall events and login attempts (successful/failed) in the dashboard. Pro: export security logs, scheduled email reports, webhooks (e.g. Slack/Discord), and deeper alerting. Automated Security Scans & Reports (PRO) Security Ninja performs scheduled security scans and sends reports directly to your inbox. Set up daily, weekly, or monthly security scans. Receive email alerts about vulnerabilities and malware infections. Analyze detailed reports to keep your website secure. Block Spam & Malicious Bots Instantly (PRO) Hackers and spammers use bots to exploit WordPress websites. Security Ninja prevents: Fake registrations and spam comments – Stops bots from even getting to your site. Malicious bot attacks – Blocks scripts attempting to hack your site. Unwanted traffic – Reduces server load by preventing unnecessary bot access. AI Security Advisor – from scan results to clear next steps (WordPress 7) Understanding a security scan shouldn’t feel like homework. AI Security Advisor uses your connected LLM (via WordPress 7 AI Connectors) to turn Security Ninja findings into a readable audit: executive summary, prioritized improvements, and suggested follow-up prompts-not an open-ended chatbot. Reports draw on Security Tests, the Vulnerability Scanner, Core Scanner, recent firewall/login events, and on Pro sites Malware Scanner results when available. Saved reports stay on your site until you remove them. What you need AI Security Advisor is included in the free plugin but requires WordPress 7. You connect the AI/LLM provider yourself under Settings → Connectors in WordPress; Security Ninja does not host or supply API keys. WordPress Abilities (optional) On WordPress 7, Security Ninja can register read-only Abilities so other AI tools on the same site can fetch a test summary, 7-day attack activity, or your latest saved audit-useful if you use multiple AI integrations. Report generation and follow-ups on the Security Advisor page work independently of this. Privacy, in everyday language Only non-identifying security context (test results, scan status, event counts-not personal data) is sent to your chosen AI provider to build a report. If you are not on WordPress 7 yet, you will see a notice on the AI Security Advisor screen; the rest of Security Ninja continues to work as usual. Join thousands of satisfied users who trust Security Ninja to keep their websites safe. Start protecting your online presence today. Extensions MainWP – Manage Security Ninja across many sites from one MainWP Dashboard. Security Ninja on each child site includes MainWP integration built in (no extra plugin on child sites). Free addon – Security Ninja for MainWP (WordPress.org): view test results and vulnerabilities per site, trigger remote security scans, and sync fresh results. Works with child sites on free or Pro Security Ninja; data shown matches what each site’s installed version provides. Premium addon – Adds a combined events log across all connected sites, search/filter for security events, and remote white-label control on Pro child sites. Requires Security Ninja Pro on child sites for log and white-label features. Available from your WP Security Ninja account; see MainWP integration for details. https://wordpress.org/plugins/security-ninja-for-mainwp/ Security Tests for your website Security Ninja – Your WordPress Guardian Key Features Immediate Vulnerability Alerts: Get instant notifications about vulnerabilities to keep your website safe and secure. Comprehensive One-click Security Audit: With just one click, perform over 50+ detailed security checks that scrutinize every corner of your site for security vulnerabilities and performance issues. You’re in Command: Security Ninja respects your autonomy, providing insights and recommendations without making unsolicited changes to your site. Holistic Security Evaluation: Comprehensive checks on everything from the WordPress core, plugins, and themes to ensure they are up-to-date and secure. Proactive Defense Strategies: Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to prevent attacks before they happen, safeguarding your site from potential threats. Optimization Beyond Security: Improve your site’s performance with database optimization tips, ensuring a seamless experience for your users. Knowledge: Each test comes with an easy-to-understand explanation, documentation, and actionable steps to fix identified issues. Customized Security Insights: Tailored security assessments to check critical updates and configurations specific to your WordPress setup for a personalized protection strategy. Future-Proof Your Site: Stay ahead with tests that include the latest WordPress features and best practices for site security. Prevent Unauthorized Access: Strengthen your defenses with checks designed to prevent weak passwords and unauthorized file access. Secure Configuration Checks: Ensure your website is configured according to security best practices, from file permissions to security headers, for comprehensive protection against threats. Enhance your website’s security, performance, and user experience with Security Ninja – your trusted partner in WordPress protection. Security Ninja Pro adds Cloud Firewall (600+ million known bad IPs), country blocking, advanced WAF controls, Malware Scanner, login protection (failed-login limits, rename login, 2FA), One-click Fixes, full Events Logger (export, webhooks, scheduled reports), and scheduled scans. The free plugin already includes the 8G firewall, 50+ security tests, Vulnerability Scanner, Core Scanner, basic Events Logger, and AI Security Advisor on WordPress 7. An all-in-one security solution for any site. With premium support and continuous updates Security Ninja Pro is a perfect tool to keep your site safe. See what the PRO version offers Automatically block 600+ million bad IPs with one click! Security Ninja Pro Firewall will help you stay one step ahead of bad guys by using the collective know-how of millions of attacked sites, and ban bad guys before they even open your site. Read more about Pro features on the Security Ninja website What others say about the plugin WP Mayor: “Easy-to-Use WordPress Security Plugin” WPLift WPExplorer WP Loop Bitcatcha.com WebHostingSecretRevealed Ravi Singh Tutorials 7 onlinedecoded.com Tests * The tests include: * brute-force attack on user accounts to test password strength * numerous installation parameters tests * file permissions * version hiding * 0-day exploits tests * debug and auto-update modes tests * database configuration tests * Apache and PHP related tests * WP options tests Complete list of tests: Check if Application Passwords feature is enabled (new to WP 5.6) Check if WordPress core is up to date Check if automatic WordPress core updates are enabled Check if plugins are up to date Check if there are deactivated plugins Check if active plugins have been updated in the last 12 months Check if active plugins are compatible with your version of WP Check if themes are up to date Check if there are any deactivated themes Check if full WordPress version info is revealed in page’s meta data Check if REST API links are displayed in page’s meta data Check the PHP version is up to date Check the MySQL version Check if server response headers contain detailed PHP version info Check if expose_php PHP directive is turned off Check if user with username “admin” and administrator privileges exists Check if “anyone can register” option is enabled Check user’s password strength with a brute-force attack Check for display of unnecessary information on failed login attempts Check if database table prefix is the default one Check if security keys and salts have proper values Check the age of security keys and salts Test the strength of WordPress database password Check if general debug mode is enabled Check if the debug.log file exists Check if database debug mode is enabled Check if JavaScript debug mode is enabled Check if display_errors PHP directive is turned off Check if WordPress installation address is the same as the site address Check if wp-config.php file has the right permissions (chmod) set Check if register_globals PHP directive is turned off Check if PHP safe mode is disabled Check if allow_url_include PHP directive is turned off Check if plugins/themes file editor is enabled Check if uploads folder is browsable by browsers Test if user with ID 1 and administrator role exists Check if Windows Live Writer link is present in pages’ header data Check if wp-config.php is present on the default location Check if MySQL server is connectable from outside with the WP user Check if EditURI link is present in pages’ header data Check if TimThumb script is used in the active theme Check if the server is vulnerable to the Shellshock bug #6271 Check if the server is vulnerable to the Shellshock bug #7169 Check if admin interface is delivered via SSL Check if MySQL account used by WordPress has too many permissions Test if a list of usernames can be fetched by looping through user IDs on http://siteurl.com/?author={ID} (also called username enumeration) Check if server response headers contain Strict-Transport-Security Check if server response headers contain X-Frame-Options Check if server response headers contain X-Content-Type-Options Check if server response headers contain Content-Security-Policy Check if server response headers contain Strict-Transport-Security Check if server response headers contain Referrer-Policy Check …