Most of our clients really do not have much idea of how we provide security using Wordfence for their WordPress sites. Fortunately, Google AI can provide a quality overview of what should be done (and is what we do at a minimum). FYI, we use Wordfence Premium.
Organizations use Wordfence to improve the security of their websites by protecting them against a wide range of cyber threats, from malware and bots to brute-force attacks. They leverage Wordfence’s robust suite of features, including a Web Application Firewall (WAF), a malware scanner, and login security measures. That includes:
Proactive threat defense
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): The Wordfence WAF acts as an endpoint firewall that runs on the same server as the website, unlike many cloud-based firewalls that can be bypassed. This allows it to identify and block malicious traffic, including threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and malicious file uploads, before they can do damage.
- Real-time threat intelligence: Premium subscribers benefit from the Threat Defense Feed, which provides real-time updates to firewall rules and malware signatures as new threats emerge. This protects against new and zero-day vulnerabilities.
- IP blocking: Wordfence blocks known malicious IP addresses and can be configured to block entire countries from accessing specific parts of a website, or the entire site. The premium version offers a real-time IP blocklist of the most aggressive attackers.
Malware detection and removal
- Malware scanner: Wordfence regularly scans core files, themes, and plugins for malware, backdoors, malicious URLs, and code injections. It compares file integrity against clean versions from the official WordPress.org repository to identify and report any unauthorized changes.
- One-click repair: In many cases, Wordfence allows for a one-click repair of compromised files by replacing them with the original, clean versions. For more complex issues, the paid Care and Response plans offer hands-on malware removal services from security experts.
Enhanced login security
- Two-factor authentication (2FA): Organizations use 2FA to add a crucial second layer of security, making it extremely difficult for hackers to gain access, even with a compromised password.
- Brute-force attack prevention: To prevent automated bots from guessing usernames and passwords, Wordfence limits login attempts, enforces strong passwords, and can block users who try to log in with invalid usernames.
- Leaked password protection: The plugin automatically blocks login attempts that use passwords found in data breaches, forcing users to reset their credentials.
- Login CAPTCHA: Wordfence can add a CAPTCHA to the login page to verify that the user is human, which is effective against botnets that spread login attempts across many IP addresses.
Simplified management for multiple sites
- Wordfence Central: This free service is highly valued by agencies and organizations managing multiple websites. It provides a single dashboard to oversee the security posture of an entire network of sites, view security events, and launch scans remotely.
- Template-based configurations: Administrators can use Wordfence Central to create and deploy security templates, standardizing settings across a fleet of websites.
Monitoring and auditing
- Live traffic monitoring: This tool gives site owners real-time visibility into all traffic, including human visitors and bots, to detect unusual activity like a surge in failed login attempts.
- Security audit log: Paid licenses include an audit log that monitors security-sensitive actions and changes on the site, which is crucial for investigating a breach.
- Email alerts: Wordfence can be configured to send email alerts for critical security issues, ensuring administrators are quickly notified of problems.