Security Hardener vs Web-Art Login Shield with reCAPTCHA

Security Hardener applies WordPress security best practices based on the WordPress Advanced Administration / Security / Hardening documentation and widely accepted hardening measures. It uses WordPress core functions and follows best practices without modifying core files. Key Features File Security: * Disable file editor in WordPress admin * Optionally disable all file modifications XML-RPC Protection: * Disable XML-RPC completely * Remove pingback methods when XML-RPC is enabled Pingback Protection: * Disable self-pingbacks * Remove X-Pingback header * Block incoming pingbacks User Enumeration Protection: * Block /?author=N queries (returns 404) * Secure REST API user endpoints (require authentication) * Remove users from XML sitemaps * Prevent canonical redirects that expose usernames * Optionally block author feed pages (/author/username/feed/) * Optionally anonymize the author name in oEmbed responses Login Security: * Generic error messages (no username/password hints) * Login honeypot * Block unsafe usernames * Application Passwords disabled by default * IP-based rate limiting with configurable thresholds * Security event logging Security Headers: * X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN (clickjacking protection) * X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff (MIME sniffing protection) * Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin * Permissions-Policy (restricts geolocation, microphone, camera) * Optional HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) for HTTPS sites — max-age set to 1 year Additional Hardening: * Hide WordPress version (meta generator tag and asset query strings) * Remove obsolete wp_head items (RSD, WLW manifest, shortlink, emoji scripts) * System Status — monitors file permissions, WP_DEBUG, user registration, PHP version, administrator accounts, and database version ⚠️ Important: Always test security settings in a staging environment first. Some features may affect third-party integrations or plugins. Privacy: This plugin does not send data to external services and does not create custom database tables. It stores plugin settings and a security event log in the WordPress options table, and uses transients for temporary login attempt tracking. All data is preserved on uninstall by default and only deleted if the “Delete all data on uninstall” option is explicitly enabled.

Web-Art Login Shield with reCAPTCHA protects WordPress authentication, Elementor Login widgets and Elementor Forms. It provides optional Google reCAPTCHA v2/v3, IP lockouts, Advanced login URL protection, IP blocking and REST/XML-RPC protection. It preserves WordPress core authentication logic. No ads, author telemetry or external dashboard. All modules are opt-in and disabled by default. Key Features reCAPTCHA v2/v3 selectable v2 checkbox or v3 score-based verification protection for wp-login.php, Elementor Login and Elementor Forms server-side token, action, score and hostname validation where applicable configurable v3 score threshold one active type at a time configuration verification before activation Elementor support protection for Elementor Login and Elementor Pro Forms native Elementor reCAPTCHA fields are skipped to avoid duplication v2 alignment controls login errors and lockouts remain inside the Login widget dynamic content and Elementor popup support Login Protect per-IP failed-attempt counting and temporary lockouts safe concurrent-request handling active-lockout countdown local security event log with bounded retention optional REST API, Application Password and XML-RPC protection independent operation with or without reCAPTCHA Advanced login URL optional custom login endpoint protection of default login routes while preserving required public actions logout and password-link compatibility emergency wp-config.php recovery constant IP allowlists and blocking separate reCAPTCHA allowlist and Login Protect trusted IP list permanent IP blocking for public site requests with HTTP 403 optional IP | reason notes XML-RPC hardening Optional blocking of: pingback.ping pingback.extensions.getPingbacks system.multicall Security Model Protected flows use fail-closed handling. If an enabled check cannot be completed safely, the request is rejected instead of bypassing protection. Login Protect preserves active lockouts and safely handles concurrent requests. Setting Maximum login attempts or Lockout duration to 0 disables lockout enforcement. All modules remain disabled until enabled. Recovery constants are available in wp-config.php for selected modules. External Services This plugin integrates with Google reCAPTCHA v2 and v3, services provided by Google LLC. reCAPTCHA is disabled by default. Google scripts or verification requests are used only after an administrator enables reCAPTCHA or runs a settings-page verification test. Google’s reCAPTCHA JavaScript (https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js) may load on protected wp-login.php requests, pages containing protected Elementor widgets or forms, and the settings page during a verification test. Allowlisted visitors bypass frontend loading where applicable. When reCAPTCHA runs, the visitor’s browser connects directly to Google. Google may process browser, device and interaction information and may set the necessary _GRECAPTCHA cookie under its policies. For server-side verification, the plugin sends the token, configured Secret Key and visitor IP address when available to Google’s siteverify endpoint. It does not include usernames, passwords, email addresses or form contents in that request. The plugin sends no telemetry, analytics or usage data to its author. Google policies: https://policies.google.com/privacy https://policies.google.com/terms Privacy Locally stored security data may include: IP addresses, failed-attempt counts and lockout timestamps a username or email associated with an IP lockout recent events containing an IP address, username or email, source, type and timestamp the latest reCAPTCHA configuration or transport error used for diagnostics permanent IP blocklist entries and optional notes Inactive Login Protect entries become eligible for deletion after seven days. Active lockouts remain until expiry. The event log is limited to 30 entries and 30 days. WordPress privacy tools export or erase records matched to the requested email address or associated account. Unmatched IP-only records remain subject to retention and administrator cleanup. Permanent blocklist entries remain until removed by an administrator. Plugin data can be removed during uninstall when uninstall cleanup is enabled. Legal reCAPTCHA is a trademark of Google LLC. Elementor is a trademark of Elementor Ltd. This plugin is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google LLC or Elementor Ltd.