Description

Defender adds the best in WordPress plugin security to your website with just a few clicks. Stop brute force login attacks, SQL injections, cross-site scripting XSS, and other WordPress vulnerabilities and hacks with Defender’s malware scanner, antivirus scans, IP blocking, firewall, activity log, security log, and two-factor authentication (2FA) login security.

No longer do you have to go through hideously complex security settings and get a virtual PhD in security. Defender adds all the hardening and security recommendations you need.

Security Recommendations

Defender starts with a list of one-click hardening techniques that will instantly add layers of protection and security to your site.

Block hackers at every level:

Two-factor authentication (2FA) – App verification, backup codes, lost device email, WooCommerce 2FA, and Web Authentication
Login masking – change the location of WordPress’s default login area
Login lockout – failed login attempts lockout
Malware scanner – scan WordPress core files for modifications and unexpected changes
Security Headers – Add an extra layer of defense security and protect against common attacks like: XSS, code injection, and more
404 Detection – automated block of bot IPs
Configs – Create your ideal Defender security settings and export / import saved configs to any other site
Geolocation IP lockout – block users based on location and country (IP blocking)
WordPress Security Firewall – block or allowlist IPs
Disable trackbacks and pingbacks – spam prevention
Core and server update recommendations – stay on top of your system
Antivirus scan – scan for active security threats and viruses
Disable file editor – if they get in, they won’t get far
Hide error reporting – don’t reveal your security issues
Update security keys – reset on-demand
Prevent information disclosure – why tell them what you have
Prevent PHP execution – because it’s daaaangerous
Resolve security recommendations and issues in bulk
Google reCAPTCHA – easy to add, stop fraud and abuse – including BuddyPress and WooCommerce.
Pwned Password Check – Protect against compromised passwords.
Force Password Reset – Force users with selected roles to reset passwords.
User Agent Banning – Block bad bots and user agents from accessing your site.

Learn The Ropes With These Hands-On Defender Security Tutorials

WordPress Security Scans

Defender’s free malware scanner checks WordPress for suspicious code and malware. The Defender scan tool compares your WordPress install with the master copy in WP directory, reports changes and lets you restore the original file with a click.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Easily add an extra layer of protection to your WordPress sites with Defender’s range of two-factor authentication (2FA) features. Including: mobile app verification (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy), backup code generation, lost device emails, WooCommerce 2FA, Biometric Authentication (fingerprint/facial recognition), and Hardware Key Authentication (USB security keys).

Google reCAPTCHA Integration

Add reCAPTCHA to your login / registration pages, lost password forms, and post comments in a couple of steps to up security and help protect from fraud and abuse. Select reCAPTCHA type, language, location, and style to suit. As well as Google, Defender also supports the following reCAPTCHA types:

BuddyPress reCAPTCHA
WooCommerce reCAPTCHA

Firewall and IP Manager

Keep your site safe with Defender’s IP manager and firewall. Manually block specific IPs, import a list of banned IPs and set automated timed and permanent lockouts. Defender makes it easy to block and unblock specific locations quickly thanks to its advanced firewall (WAF).

Login Protection

Brute force login attacks are no match for Defender. Limit login attempts to stop users trying to guess passwords. Permanently ban IPs or trigger a timed lockout after a set number of failed login attempts.

Login Screen Masking

Defender makes it easy to move your login screen to a custom URL. Not only does login screen masking improve security, but it also lets you white label your login user experience and improves branding.

Force Password Reset

Password Reset enables you to force all users with selected roles to reset their password at any time. Especially helpful if you suspect a possible data breach on your site.

User Agent Banning

Add user agents to the block or allowlist and stop bad bots from spamming and scraping your site. All major search engines and special network bots are allow-listed out of the box. Easy to set up, Defender does all the security work, no editing of the .htaccess file required.

Security Headers

Security headers protect your site against the most likely types of attacks, such as: XSS, code injection, cross site scripting, and more. You can enable the following headers:

X-Frame-Options
X-XSS-Protection
X-Content-Type-Options
Strict Transport
Referrer Policy
Permissions-Policy

404 Limiter

Defender detects when bots are being used to scan your site for vulnerabilities and shuts them down. The 404 limiter lets you stop the scan by detecting when a bot keeps visiting pages that do not exist, which can also save you from a giant strain on your site’s performance.

Notifications and Reports

Defender runs surveillance and sends security notifications with information that matters.

Reduce Setup Time With Saved Configs

The configs module allows you to save your Defender configurations and reapply them to your other sites in just a few clicks. You can create and save an unlimited number of security configurations.

Pwned Password Check

Protect your site against password leak attacks. Entered passwords are checked against public database breach records. If a password is identified as compromised, the user will be asked to change it.

Global IP Block/Allowlists

This is a game-changer if you manage multiple sites. Create your IP block/allowlist once, then apply and automatically sync to all your other sites with a click. You’ll save hours by not having to manually add IPs to each individual site. *Note: a WPMU DEV membership is required to access this feature. Our new and 100% free plan is the best place to start.

What Do People Say About Defender?

★★★★★
“I found other pro security plugins a bit too fiddly for my taste…I’m delighted with Defender” – KeithADV

★★★★★
“Thank you for bringing back a free and easy to use 2-Factor Authentication after Clef! Defender helps keep me aware of my sites security.” – awijasa

★★★★★
“Defender’s interface is very intuitive with warnings that are very helpful” – djohns

★★★★★
“Defender Recently blocked over 3000 attacks in one week without any noticeable impact on the website. WPMUDEV knocking it out of the park on this one.” – David Oswald

Secure Websites, More Trust, Better Profit

Your visitors expect a super-safe extra secure website when deciding whether or not to make a purchase or submit information. If visitors don’t trust your site, they will leave without completing a transaction.

If you’re running a business website or eCommerce store privacy, security, uptime and trust are essential.

Defender is here to help you: it’s a one of a kind WordPress security plugin that makes web security easy for anyone, for free!

Google two-factor authentication (2FA)
Web Authentication
One-click site hardening and security tweaking
WordPress core file scanning and repair
Malware scan
Ongoing firewall protection
Google reCAPTCHA
Security headers
One-click configs
Login Screen Masking
Pwned Password Check
IP Blocklist manager and logging
Unlimited file scans
Timed Lockout brute force login attack shield for login protection
404 limiter for blocking vulnerability scans
IP lockout notifications and reports

Defender is built to make security simple: it makes your WordPress site harder to hack and it’s insanely easy to set up. Run a security scan and implement recommended changes in one-click, for added security in mere minutes.

All the above is free and will secure WordPress for you. If you need extra security for your WordPress site, you should get WPMU DEV Membership.

Our Membership gives you access to Defender Pro – which features automated scanning, scheduled malware scans for Core, themes, plugins and other files, audit logs, firewall protection, Blocklist monitoring – alongside Snapshot Pro cloud backups, the Hub with automated plugin, theme and core updates and safe-upgrade scans, all our premium WordPress plugins, 24/7 WordPress support and if your sites already been hacked our team of security experts will clean it up at no additional cost.

It’s an incredible deal, and you can find out more here.

A Note From Defender

Hey! This is Defender, your trusted solution for WordPress security and hack prevention. I’m part of the WPMU DEV team, a superhero-suite of WordPress plugins, services, and support. Here are some of our other free plugins:

Smush – Image Compression and Optimization
Forminator – Form, Quiz, Poll and Survey Builder
Hummingbird – Page Speed Optimization
Hustle – Pop-ups, Slide-ins and Email Opt-ins
SmartCrawl – SEO checker, Analyzer and Optimizer

And if you need ALL our Pro plugins AND 24/7 WordPress support, get WPMU DEV membership! You can try it free for 30 days: wpmudev.com

My superhero friends run the WPMU DEV Blog, your source for the very best WordPress tutorials. If you need to be in the know about WordPress, check it out.

Thanks for looking at Defender, and I look forward to hardening your site and making it safer than ever.

Enjoy, The Defender

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!

Screenshots

Malware scans and one-click hardening recommendations.
Layered security recommendations let your harden your site with a few clicks.
Compares your WordPress install with the directory and restore original files with a click.
Use 2-Step Verification to protect your accounts with your phone.
IP blocklisting, 404 limiter and Timed Lockout attack shield.

Installation

Upload the wp-defender plugin to your /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Configure and manage using the defender menu item in the WordPress dashboard.
Done!

FAQ

Why should I choose Defender over other security plugins?

Defender is built to add all the best hardening and security recommendations used by the pros without having to become a security expert. This means you get all the most effective and proven protection methods other services provide with fewer settings, on-click hardening and faster setup.

Is Defender the only step I need to take in securing my WordPress site?

Hackers and bot attacks are not the only threat to your site. No matter what security plugin or service you use, always be prepared with a secure backup stored in a safe location away from your live site. Security does not protect from hosting outages, server errors and accidentally lost or damaged data. We recommend Snapshot. Defender with scheduled managed backups is the best way to keep your site safe.

Does Defender protect against harmful bots?

Yes! Defender’s Firewall gives you robust site protection and security by allowing you to block bad bot IPs.

Can I use Defender with other security plugins?

You can. Just make sure not to enable the same security features in the third-party plugin, that you also have enabled in Defender, as this might cause conflicts.

Is Defender compatible with WordPress Multisite?

Yes! The plugin is fully compatible with a multisite installation. It can be network enabled and managed from the network admin.

Does Defender offer spam protection?

A high percentage of Trackbacks and Pingbacks are spam. Defender allows you to easily disable both, giving you added security and protection.

Will my site be protected from DDoS attacks?

Yes. Defender’s IP banning, IP lockouts, and 404 detections can identify DDoS attacks and block bad IPs.

I’ve locked myself out of my admin panel, what can I do?

Add the code below to your theme’s function.php file, which you’ll find in the main directory of an active theme. Replace “YOUR IP HERE” with your IP address. Use a site like whatsmyip to get your IP.

add_filter( 'ip_lockout_default_whitelist_ip', function ( $ips ) {
  $ip    = 'YOUR IP HERE';
  $ips[] = $ip;
  return $ips;
} );

Help! I was already hacked. What should I do?

WPMU DEV’s expert support can advise you on how to clean up your site if it’s been hacked. Create a new thread in our support forum, or start a free 7 day trial of Defender Pro to get access to 24/7 live support.

I have another question, where’s the best place to get help?

Please open a new thread in Defender’s support forum. Our support team is always happy to help!

Reviews

asilprens 3 di Jugn dal 2023 1 reply

This security plugin is great. Congratulations to the producer for his hard work. By the people I've tried to get support for my website. helped me find malicious or unconsciously created pages and viruses caused by faulty plugins. and it helped me to delete it. Thank you. DEFENDER

picktwomedia 31 di Mai dal 2023 1 reply

Not sure what happened, but the site scan function no longer works on any of the 5 sites I use this plugin on.

valentinseciu 22 di Mai dal 2023 1 reply

Always accurate

thiagorangel 15 di Mai dal 2023 1 reply

I am very satisfied with the plugin for its easy and effective interface, the support is wonderful too! Congratulations!

informatykadam 5 di Mai dal 2023 1 reply

Wszystko pięknie działa

staremeout 24 di Avrîl dal 2023 1 reply

Currently using the free version (because the sites I'm testing it on are just small, hobby sites). But the functionality looks impressive. And the interface is clean and fairly simple to understand. I've had a look at a few other security plugins and, so far, Defender seems the best.

Read all 258 reviews

Contributors & Developers

“Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

WPMU DEV - Your All-in-One WordPress Platform

“Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall” has been translated into 14 locales. Thank you to the translators for their contributions.

Translate “Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

3.11.0 ( 2023-05-15 )

New: Autosync Local Blocklists with the Hub Global IP
Enhance: Compatibility with PHP 8.2
Enhance: Improve ‘Hide error reporting’ recommendation
Enhance: Improve ‘Prevent PHP Execution’ and ‘Prevent Information Disclosure’ recommendations on Windows server
Enhance: WP-CLI commands for Google reCAPTCHA
Enhance: Remove unused plugin core methods
Fix: Error when adding a ‘<‘ tag in Invite by email Recipients name in all notifications
Fix: Not possible to create config with Defender free version if it is not connected to the Hub
Fix: Display Undefined message when session expired on Malware Scanning page
Fix: Audit Logging > Events logs results are not consistent with different WordPress time settings
Fix: Username filters display incorrect results on Audit Logging page
Fix: Incorrect message is displayed to user when we enter a ‘<‘ tag in banned username and other textarea lockout fields
Fix: Button status (color and text) are not changed when Ban Bulk applies on the Firewall Logs page
Fix: When session expired and try to login with 2FA TOTP then email and password are empty

3.10.1 ( 2023-04-10 )

Fix: Unparsed HTML in email notification templates

3.10.0 ( 2023-04-03 )

Enhance: Improve Maxmind country selection flow
Enhance: Security improvements in plugin email templates
Enhance: Remove declare( strict_types = 1 ); directive to reduce error cases
Enhance: Replace old Grunt packages
Enhance: Improve Defender admin menu icon
Enhance: Rephrase the Fallback email description
Enhance: Create hash by reading the file in chunks to save memory
Enhance: Update SUI to the latest version
Fix: Security Key regeneration cron doesn’t take the wp-config.php file’s modification date into account
Fix: Google reCAPTCHA prevents creating a new member-user with WC Memberships plugin
Fix: Google reCAPTCHA error when using the Ultimate Member reCAPTCHA extension with Login enabled
Fix: Defender conflicts with Eventlist plugin at checkout step

3.9.1 ( 2023-03-14 )

Enhance: Compatibility with WordPress 6.2
Enhance: Security improvements

3.9.0 ( 2023-02-20 )

Enhance: Remove Hummingbird log from Audit Logging
Enhance: Add YARA rule to detect malware
Enhance: Improve IP columns
Enhance: Minify DateRangePicker JS and CSS files
Enhance: Display additional vulnerability data on Malware Scanning page
Fix: Defender continuously reports WP core vulnerability even after ignore
Fix: File change detection for plugins and WP core not working on Windows
Fix: Google reCAPTCHA error when using ProfilePress plugin with Lost Password enabled
Fix: Google reCAPTCHA is preventing the submission of the WooCommerce review form
Fix: Country flag broken on Defender’s Dashboard page if Emojis Remove option selected in Hummingbird

3.8.2 ( 2023-02-09 )

Fix: Issue with saved configurations from the Hub

3.8.1 ( 2023-01-19 )

Fix: Issue with “Prevent user enumeration” recommendation and WP_Sitemaps_Provider and Stop oEmbed calls

Changelog for previous versions.