{"id":38842,"date":"2018-06-05T10:09:10","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T15:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=38842"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:08:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:08:25","slug":"wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/","title":{"rendered":"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless of your site\u2019s intended purpose, security is crucial. It protects your website against malicious hacking attempts and ensures that your user data is safe. However, all of the advice available on website security can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fortunately, WordPress<sup>\u00ae1<\/sup> provides a simple way to protect your website against security breaches through its wide selection of security and antivirus plugins. These add-ons provide you with extensive security features\u2014including firewalls and activity monitoring\u2014and ensure that your WordPress site and its visitors remain safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this post, we\u2019ll cover the benefits of WordPress security and antivirus plugins. We\u2019ll also discuss what to look for in a plugin. Then you\u2019ll get a look at how our own built-in features stack up against other top options. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prioritizing security to mitigate executive risk:<\/strong> For modern leaders, the cost of a data breach extends far beyond technical fixes, often resulting in devastating reputational damage and legal liabilities. Integrating professional security plugins is a strategic necessity to protect sensitive user data. A single breach can lead to permanent loss of customer trust and significant financial penalties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leveraging security plugins for rapid defense:<\/strong> The ecosystem for websites built on WordPress offers a wide selection of security plugins that provide critical features like firewalls and malware scanning. These tools allow teams to harden their digital properties against common vulnerabilities without requiring extensive custom coding. Organizations can create multiple layers of defense that monitor activity and block malicious traffic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Evaluating reliability and performance impact:<\/strong> When selecting a security solution, leaders must evaluate the balance between robust defense tactics and the potential impact on site performance. It is vital to ensure that a plugin does not disrupt the user experience or slow down page load speeds. High-quality solutions provide a proven track record of protecting websites through advanced endpoint firewalls.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Addressing the vulnerability of outdated software:<\/strong> Research indicates plugin vulnerabilities are the primary source of security risks, making regular updates a high priority for business websites. By prioritizing tools and platforms that offer automated updates and real-time threat intelligence, organizations can stay ahead of bad actors. Maintaining a clean and updated codebase is the foundation of a secure managed platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Investing in managed edge protection for resilience:<\/strong> Protecting premium eCommerce or enterprise sites requires advanced edge security and DDoS mitigation to ensure long-term stability. These high-level solutions provide an essential managed firewall to protect databases from emerging threats. Investing in enterprise-grade protection ensures that malicious traffic is neutralized before it reaches your server, preserving uptime during high-traffic events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hardening the environment with managed features:<\/strong> Leaders should evaluate their current hosting environment to determine how built-in features like threat detection and disaster recovery complement their chosen strategy for security plugins. Utilizing a managed platform that includes daily encrypted backups and professional hacking remediation provides an invaluable safety net. This holistic approach ensures you have a clear path to recovery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the Benefits of Antivirus and Other WordPress Security Plugins?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security is an important factor for any website owner to consider, and one way to achieve this is by using a WordPress security or antivirus plugin. This enables you to expand your website\u2019s security quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even better, WordPress plugins are <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/wordpress-plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">easy to install<\/a>. With just a few clicks, you\u2019ll be able to protect your site. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a beginner since there are options for every comfort level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Choose a WordPress Antivirus Plugin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Narrowing down your choice of WordPress security plugin might seem daunting. You\u2019ll want to keep in mind the goal or purpose of your website and what kind of data might be shared by visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When choosing a WordPress security or antivirus plugin, there are a few other factors you\u2019ll want to consider, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reliability.<\/strong> You\u2019ll want to make sure the plugin can do what it says it will. It\u2019s best to download plugins from <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trusted directories<\/a> or marketplaces. You can also read some of the user reviews and look to see how often the plugin gets updated.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defense tactics. <\/strong>It is important to review your chosen plugins to see if they offer the security tools you need most. Some of the options you might check for include authentication methods, file access control, and the ability to disable error reporting.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Site performance. <\/strong>Reviewing any new plugin for compatibility is a recommended practice. You don\u2019t want your security plugin to disrupt your site\u2019s performance.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a WP Engine customer, it\u2019s also essential to ensure that any plugins you choose are not on our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/disallowed-plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">disallowed plugins list<\/a>. These tools can interfere with your site\u2019s smooth performance. However, there are plenty of other compatible options available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 7 WordPress Antivirus and Security Plugins&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With so many security and antivirus plugins available, it\u2019s important to have all of the information you need to choose the right one. This includes the features, benefits, and pricing models offered by each. You\u2019ll also want to consider whether a particular WordPress security plugin works for your website. After all, the security needs of an eCommerce site will be different than those of a blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve highlighted the top choices and compared their various elements. Let\u2019s take a look so you can determine the best WordPress security plugin for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/bulletproof-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BulletProof Security<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof-1024x274.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus and Security Plugins: BulletProof Security\" class=\"wp-image-148835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof-1024x274.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof-540x144.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof-768x206.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof-1536x411.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof-1500x401.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/BulletProof.png 1876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A freemium security plugin, <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/bulletproof-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BulletProof Security<\/a> offers basic and advanced website protection to its users. Its most notable features include a one-click setup, malware scanning, Idle Session Logout (ISL), and login monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While this tool is great for personal websites, including blogs and galleries, you may want to look for something more robust for sites dealing with sensitive personal data, such as eCommerce sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A one-click setup wizard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Several automated features for whitelisting and cleanup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Database backups and restoration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PHP and HTTP error logging are available with the paid, pro version<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The user interface can have a steep learning curve<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>$69.95 <a href=\"https:\/\/affiliates.ait-pro.com\/po\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one-time fee<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/sucuri-scanner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sucuri Security<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"328\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri-1024x328.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus and Security Plugins: Sucuri Security\" class=\"wp-image-148834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri-1024x328.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri-540x173.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri-768x246.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri-1536x492.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri-1500x481.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sucuri.png 1878w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Used by hundreds of thousands of websites, <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/sucuri-scanner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sucuri Security<\/a> is another popular WordPress security plugin. This powerful plugin cleans and scans your website of any malware threats. With Sucuri, you can choose to clean a hacked site of viruses or protect your site from future attacks. The toolset for security integrity monitoring will harden your site and make you feel more at ease with activity monitoring, integrity monitoring, malware scanning, blacklist monitoring, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main limitation to Sucuri is its free version. There is very little in the way of true website protection, and it\u2019s more of an after-the-fact alert system. However, the premium version is robust and includes 24\/7 malware scanning, blacklist monitoring, and Denial of Service (DoS) mitigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provides a DNS-level firewall<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provides a post-hack checklist of actions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeps track of any file changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free features are limited<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is mostly a robust monitoring system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sucuri.net\/website-security-platform\/signup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plans are based<\/a> on how frequently a security scan is completed and start at $199.99 per year for scans every 12 hours. All plans also come with varying levels of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/better-wp-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iThemes Security<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes-1024x336.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus and Security Plugins: iThemes Security\" class=\"wp-image-148833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes-1024x336.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes-540x177.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes-768x252.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes-1536x504.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes-1500x492.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iThemes.png 1878w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another giant in the security world, <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/better-wp-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iThemes Security,<\/a> offers over 30 ways to keep you safe. You can enable or disable any of the features you want. The plugin offers brute force protection, database backups, banned users, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the plugin\u2019s advantages is its wide range of featured offerings, even for the free version. These include password enforcement, file change detection, and comment spam blocking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Extensive list of features in the free version<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brute force attack protection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Very easy to set up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Comprehensive user support is only available with the pro version, iThemes Security Pro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plugin can break your site due to simple things like not having an SSL certificate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/ithemes.com\/security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pro version<\/a> is sold by individual site license. One site license is $99 per year, 10 licenses are $299 per year, and they&#8217;ll customize a plan for anyone requiring 50 or more licenses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/all-in-one-wp-security-and-firewall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All In One Security (AIOS)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS-1024x332.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus and Security Plugins: All In One Security (AIOS)\" class=\"wp-image-148832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS-1024x332.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS-540x175.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS-768x249.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS-1536x497.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS-1500x486.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AIOS.png 1884w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/all-in-one-wp-security-and-firewall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All In One Security (AIOS)<\/a> is a popular and highly-rated tool. It has a user-friendly interface and covers most of the security areas you\u2019ll need to protect your WordPress website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">True to its name, this plugin is really useful right out of the box. You won\u2019t need to spend much time configuring settings or setting up options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A security points grading system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three levels of security rules for gradual, progressive installation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose between Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enhanced customer support is a paid premium feature<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support is limited to a forum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/aiosplugin.com\/product\/all-in-one-wp-security-and-firewall-premium\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pro plans<\/a> start at $70 per year for two sites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wordfence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wordfence Security<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"331\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence-1024x331.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus and Security Plugins: Wordfence Security\" class=\"wp-image-148831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence-1024x331.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence-540x175.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence-768x248.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence-1536x497.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence-1500x485.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Wordfence.png 1886w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With over 3 million active downloads, <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wordfence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wordfence Security<\/a> is one of the most popular security plugins for WordPress. This plugin\u2019s primary defense systems include an endpoint firewall and a malware scanner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to \u2018hardening\u2019 features, Wordfence has them all. You can choose to fix issues yourself after the plugin scans your website. You\u2019ll also receive information on what level of concern a problem is, so you can decide how to handle it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regularly updated to fight known vulnerabilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malware scanner will block malicious requests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An extensive dashboard of security information and reports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Learning curve can be steep<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced features cost extra&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High-sensitivity screening can return lots of false positives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordfence.com\/wordfence-signup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Site licenses<\/a> start at $119 per year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/malcare-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MalCare Security<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"335\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare-1024x335.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus Plugins: MalCare Security\" class=\"wp-image-148830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare-1024x335.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare-540x177.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare-768x251.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare-1536x502.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare-1500x490.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MalCare.png 1884w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/malcare-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MalCare<\/a> offers a security solution for every level of WordPress user. This plugin brings a lot of security features to your website without a confusing interface or hundreds of complicated settings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This plugin differs a little from the others in that it claims to offer a full service. You\u2019ll be able to manage security for multiple sites from one dashboard, where you can also restore site backups at any time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>MalCare\u2019s \u2018cloud scan\u2019 won\u2019t slow your site down<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boasts a 50-second setup process, with no technical knowledge required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offers repair of a hacked site in 60 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free features do not include clean-up options after a hack<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does not currently offer two-factor authentication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MalCare has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.malcare.com\/pricing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three levels of pricing<\/a>, plus a custom plan option. You can secure one site starting at $99 per year.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-simple-firewall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shield Security<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security-1024x313.png\" alt=\"WordPress Antivirus Plugins: Shield Security\" class=\"wp-image-148829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security-1024x313.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security-540x165.png 540w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security-768x234.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security-1536x469.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security-1500x458.png 1500w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Shield-Security.png 1966w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-simple-firewall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shield Security<\/a> has over 800 five-star reviews in the WordPress Plugin Directory. One of the nice features of this plugin is the User Session Management tool. This monitors all user logins and offers important restrictions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most interesting things about ShieldSecurity is the pricing plans. While there <em>is<\/em> a free version, you\u2019ll need to upgrade if you want premium support and extra features. Fortunately, you can secure one site for a very low cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An active support team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy-to-use guided wizards for navigating feature settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offers spam protection from automated comments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No malware scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Costs:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Freemium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Pro version is <a href=\"https:\/\/onedollarplugin.com\/pricing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$99 per year per site<\/a> for Starter plans, and their Plus and Agency plans include even more features.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the Best WordPress Antivirus Plugin for You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With so many top-notch security and antivirus plugins available, you might need to revisit the key criteria for choosing one for your website. If you recall, plugin reliability, site performance, and defense tactics are some of the most important features to keep in mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, you\u2019ll want to consider your plugin budget. While there are some excellent free options, it\u2019s best to do a close review of the features list to see if your chosen plugin offers premium upgrades. You won\u2019t want to go through installation and setup just to find out that the feature you wanted most requires a costly upgrade.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s one other security element to consider when developing your website strategy. You\u2019ll want to investigate <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-engines-security-environment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the security features your web host offers<\/a>. Plugins are definitely a recommended way to add features and security to your website, but if your <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wordpress-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hosting platform<\/a> platform doesn\u2019t take security seriously, you might find yourself swimming upstream.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Securing Your Site on WP Engine&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here at WP Engine, we take security very seriously. While we don\u2019t offer a standalone security plugin, our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/secure-wordpress-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">secure hosting<\/a> environment is feature-rich and fully managed:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you host your website with us, you\u2019ll be able to take advantage of the following features:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Let\u2019s Encrypt SSL certificates: <\/strong>Ensure that your data transfers are encrypted and secure with the one-click addition of a free SSL certificate.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Managed updates for WordPress core: <\/strong>You can avoid many vulnerabilities by never missing minor core updates, and receive update recommendations on major overhauls.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Threat detection and blocking:<\/strong> Our security system always looks for malicious activity, and we block any suspicious traffic.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Malware scanning and cleaning:<\/strong> You can rest easy knowing that a malware scan will detect malware, clean it, and report back to you on the results.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disaster recovery:<\/strong> If the worst happens, we offer expert-level recovery assistance to get you back online as quickly as possible.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Daily encrypted Backups:<\/strong> Think of this as a priceless insurance policy if the unthinkable happens, and you need to restore your WordPress site from a secure backup.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you require something beyond our standard security offerings, we offer several security add-on options as well. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/global-edge-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Global Edge Security<\/a> solution comes to you through our partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudflare.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting at $30 per month, you can get enhanced security features that include protection against <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-a-ddos-attack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)<\/a> attacks. This is an essential safeguard for business websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, Global Edge Security offers protection through a web application firewall. This means your database will be protected from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.owasp.org\/index.php\/SQL_Injection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SQL injection threats<\/a>. This feature will update in real-time to respond to emergent hacker techniques.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another option we offer is our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/smart-plugin-manager\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Smart Plugin Manager<\/a>. Plugin vulnerabilities are the number-one source of security risks on your website. We\u2019ve created a solution to time-consuming plugin management tasks so you can get back to business. You can add the Smart Plugin Manager to any of our plans for $100 per year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Increase Your Website Security With WP Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/our-difference\/secure-wordpress-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WP Engine<\/a> offers built-in security features <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">with all of our hosting plans<\/a>. These include real-time security threat detection, enterprise-grade firewalls, and, best of all, free hacking remediation by security experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you choose <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/managed-wordpress-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">managed hosting<\/a> with WP Engine, not only do you gain <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">excellent developer resources<\/a>, but you also get an entire security team with the know-how to keep your WordPress site up and running. Even more, WP Engine will <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/wp-engines-security-environment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">do all of the hard work<\/a> for you\u2014there\u2019s no security configuration required!<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Regardless of your site\u2019s intended purpose, security is crucial. It protects your website against malicious hacking attempts and ensures that your user data is safe. However, all of the advice available on website security can be overwhelming. Fortunately, WordPress\u00ae1 provides a simple way to protect your website against security breaches through its wide selection of<span class=\"tile__ellipses\">&hellip;<\/span><span class=\"tile__ellipses--animated\"><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146141,"template":"","resource-topic":[912,909],"resource-role":[899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-38842","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Secure your WordPress site with top antivirus solutions. Explore the most effective antivirus plugins for superior site safety today!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Secure your WordPress site with top antivirus solutions. Explore the most effective antivirus plugins for superior site safety today!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WP Engine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wpengine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-28T06:08:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/security-header.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1100\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wpengine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/\",\"name\":\"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-06-05T15:09:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-28T06:08:25+00:00\",\"description\":\"Secure your WordPress site with top antivirus solutions. Explore the most effective antivirus plugins for superior site safety today!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Resources\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/\",\"name\":\"WP Engine\",\"description\":\"Managed Hosting for WordPress\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/f5301455463371a10d1fc290e9ad0085\",\"name\":\"WP Engine\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d8770fe9625ca7c4601f13d9d0ab86565a6dac8cd6a77bfe2ada6d83c6837870?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d8770fe9625ca7c4601f13d9d0ab86565a6dac8cd6a77bfe2ada6d83c6837870?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"WP Engine\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress","description":"Secure your WordPress site with top antivirus solutions. Explore the most effective antivirus plugins for superior site safety today!","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress","og_description":"Secure your WordPress site with top antivirus solutions. Explore the most effective antivirus plugins for superior site safety today!","og_url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/","og_site_name":"WP Engine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wpengine","article_modified_time":"2026-02-28T06:08:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1100,"height":500,"url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/security-header.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@wpengine","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/","url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/","name":"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website"},"datePublished":"2018-06-05T15:09:10+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-28T06:08:25+00:00","description":"Secure your WordPress site with top antivirus solutions. Explore the most effective antivirus plugins for superior site safety today!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/wordpress-security-and-antivirus-plugins\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Resources","item":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Security and Antivirus Plugins for WordPress"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#website","url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/","name":"WP Engine","description":"Managed Hosting for WordPress","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/f5301455463371a10d1fc290e9ad0085","name":"WP Engine","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d8770fe9625ca7c4601f13d9d0ab86565a6dac8cd6a77bfe2ada6d83c6837870?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d8770fe9625ca7c4601f13d9d0ab86565a6dac8cd6a77bfe2ada6d83c6837870?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"WP Engine"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/wpengine.com"]}]}},"acf":[],"grid_image_url":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/security-grid.png","media-type":{"term_id":916,"name":"Article","slug":"article"},"role":"<strong>Roles:<\/strong> Site Owner","topic":"<strong>Topics:<\/strong> Performance, Security","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/38842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-topic?post=38842"},{"taxonomy":"resource-role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-role?post=38842"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=38842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}