SAR One Click Security vs Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall

There’s a lot of WordPress security plugins with many many options and pages to setup. And that is fine if you know what to do. But most of the times, you don’t need so much or simply you’re not sure about what to set or not. This plugin adds some extra security to your WordPress with only one click. No options page, just activate it! Features Like many other security plugins SAR One Click Security adds well known .htaccess rules, but only the ones probed to be safe to use in almost any type of site (including WooCommerce stores), to protect your WordPress from common attacks. This allows you to have a safer WordPress without worries about what protection you should be using. Turn off ServerSignature directive, that may leak information about your web server. Turn off directory listing, avoiding bad configured hostings to leak your files. Blocks public access (from web) to following files that may leak information about your WordPress install: .htaccess, license.txt, readme.html, wp-config.php, wp-config-sample.php, install.php Blocks access to wp-login.php to dummy bots trying to register in WordPress sites that have registration disabled. Blocks requests looking for timthumb.php, reducing server load caused by bots trying to find it. (*) Blocks TRACE and TRACK request methods, preventing XST attacks. Blocks direct posting to wp-comments-post.php (most spammers do this) and access with blank User Agent, reducing spam comments a lot and also server load. Blocks direct access to PHP files in wp-content directory (this includes subdirectories like plugins or themes). Protecting you from a huge number of 0day exploits. Blocks direct POST to wp-login.php and access with blank User Agent, preventing most brute-force attacks and reducing server load. Blocks access to .txt files under any plugin/theme directory to prevent scans for installed plugins/themes. Blocks any query string trying to get a copy of the wp-config.php file. Blocks gf_page=upload query string argument, this was deprecated in Gravity Forms on May 2015, if your copy of Gravity Forms still uses it, update now! Removes version information from page headers. This includes not only the page header (html or xhtml) but also feed headers (rss, rss2, atom, rdf) and opml comments. Only the version number is removed, not the entire generator information. (*) If your theme uses TimThumb, you can disable that blocking rule, check FAQ before installing the plugin to see how. Requirements WordPress 3.9.2 or higher. (Works with WordPress network/multisite installation). Apache 2.4.x web server It has been tested in many servers including large providers like HostGator, Godaddy and 1&1 with optimal results, and it will work fine in any decent hosting service (that allows you to set options from .htaccess files). Anyway, if you get any problem after activating the plugin, check FAQ for instructions on how to manually uninstall it. If you’re not sure of which server is your hosting company using or if they allow to use custom .htaccess rules, I would recommend you to contact with your host support before installing the plugin. Usage To apply above mentioned security rules simply install and activate the plugin, no options page, no user setup! If you need to remove the security rules for some reason, simply deactivate the plugin. If you want to add them again, activate the plugin again, that easy 😉 And remember, if your theme uses TimThumb, check FAQ before installing the plugin.

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 Proactively alerts you to known vulnerabilities in plugins and themes so you can patch before they are exploited. Core Scanner – WordPress Installation Integrity Ensures your WordPress installation remains untampered and free of unauthorized files. Full core file integrity check – Scans every file in core WordPress folders for modifications. Unknown file detection – Flags extra or unexpected files in core directories. Built-in file viewer – Review flagged files in the dashboard. Restore or delete – Restore altered core files with one click, or remove suspicious unknowns. 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). Automatic service whitelisting (Pro) Cloud Firewall (Pro) whitelists known third-party service IPs so remote maintenance, optimization, and monitoring tools are less likely to be blocked. No manual IP entry is required for these built-in lists. WP Compress – image optimization and compression service MonSpark – uptime and website monitoring Modular DS – remote site management WPMU DEV – hosting and management platform Divi Dash – Elegant Themes site management Fastpixel – optimization service Broken Link Checker – link checking service GetTerms – cookie consent scanner (getterms.io) Optional one-click whitelists (Firewall → IP Management; enable per service): – ManageWP – enabled by default on new installs – WP Rocket – caching and optimization – UptimeRobot – uptime monitoring – Uptimia – uptime monitoring You can still add your own IPs and CIDR ranges manually on the IP Management screen. 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 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 Kinsta Hostinger Cloudways AppSumo Freemius WP Mayor: “Easy-to-Use WordPress Security Plugin” WPMarmite WPExplorer WPLift WP Loop InfluenceWP G2 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 * security headers and related server response checks The full suite covers 50+ checks across WordPress core/plugins/themes, user accounts and passwords, file permissions, debug modes, database configuration, PHP settings, security headers, and more. Open Security Ninja in your dashboard for the complete list with explanations and fix guidance. License info jQuery Cookie Plugin, Copyright 2013 Klaus Hartl The vulnerability scanner uses data from the National Vulnerability Database – NVD This product includes IP2Location LITE data available from https://lite.ip2location.com. This plugin uses the Persist Admin notice Dismissals by Collins Agbonghama @collizo4sky Firewall rules are based on 8G Firewall by Jeff Starr – https://perishablepress.com/8g-blacklist/ How can I report security bugs? You can report security bugs through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program. The Patchstack team help validate, triage and handle any security vulnerabilities. Report a security vulnerability.