8 Must Have WooCommerce Security Plugins

Security is essential for all kinds of websites, and even more so for e-commerce ones where users have to submit sensitive information like personal data, credit/debit/bank details as well as addresses.

Although WordPress and WooCommerce have built-in security measures that are pretty decent for starters, for people running an E-Commerce, investing in a security plugin ensures their data is safeguarded against unauthorized access and malicious intent.

What Are Woocommerce Security Plugins?

WooCommerce security plugins are specialized software tools installed to improve the security of online stores that run on the WooCommerce platform, a popular and widely used e-commerce plugin for WordPress. These security plugins offer various kinds of protection in layers to fortify online stores and websites from security threats, including malware infections, breaches of personal information and credentials, brute force attacks, etc. Some of their most important capabilities are.

• Improved Security: Security plugins provide protective features such as two-factor authentication, continuous user activity monitoring, regular backing up of data as well as malware resistance to inhibit unauthorized access attempts.
• Vulnerability Protection: Security plugins stay updated on the vulnerabilities of sites like WooCommerce and secure them to minimize potential risks.
• Malware Scanning: These plugins scan the website repeatedly foraging for malware and viruses that might’ve been injected into the data to disrupt the normal functioning of the site.
• Data Security: Security plugins encrypt sensitive user data like credit card information, to add an extra measure to shield the user’s information and ensure trust.

8 Must Have WooCommerce Security Plugins

1. Jetpack

Jetpack is a popular security plugin that offers an all-inclusive security that is integrated seamlessly with WordPress websites, including those built with WooCommerce.

Key features

• Daily data scans for detection of any suspicious activity/login and instant email alerts.
• Jetpack has features like WAF (web application firewall), and brute-force attack protection to safeguard your site from various malicious threats.
• Jetpack VaultPress offers automatic real-time backups, allowing restoration of user’s website in case of security breach or malware attack.

Advantages

• Offers free usage of decent security features, making it accessible to budget-conscious WooCommerce stores.
• The Jetpack mobile app is supported on both android and iOS
• Provides 10 GB storage initially.

Pricing: Starts from $9.95 per month.

2. Sucuri

Sucuri is another well-known cloud-based security provider offering potent security plugin for WooCommerce stores. It helps to boost your site performance with a CDN speed enhancement and firewall protection. Also, you will get access to malware removal without any limits.

Key features

• Sucuri offers assistance in cleaning up the malware after a breach of security or hacking.
• Strengthens website’s security posture by identifying vulnerabilities and fixing them to prevent a compromise of safety of data.
• Constant malware scanning to avoid any virus attack

Advantages

• Comprehensive Security Solutions to secure your WooCommerce store.
• Sucuri holds a strong performance record and good reputation in security work.
• Some of the paid plans include performance optimization features.

Pricing: $ 199.99/yr with Advanced DDoS mitigation and unlimited hack removals.

3. iThemes Security

iThemes is a free plugin has a rating of 4.4 with over 100k downloads. It is a modification of OSE Firewall Security and works perpetually to identify vulnerabilities and fixing them, thus enhancing admin security.

Key features

• Limiting failed login attempts that prohibit brute force entries.
• Detection of the 404 error.
• Immediate alerts and email notifications on file or data changes and failed logins

Advantages

• Great option for beginners due to its simplicity and user-friendly interface.
• Essential security features are included in the free version making insurance against potential attacks accessible to all.
• Gives you 30+ ways to secure your WordPress site.

Pricing: Basic version of iThemes security is accessible to download via WordPress repository. The Pro version starts from $80USD per year.

4. WordFence

It is one of the most powerful security plugin that includes an extensive database of previously detected threats that help in detecting new threats instantly and easily.

Key features

• Provides two-factor authentication (2FA), one of the most secure efficient forms of authentication, via any TOTP-based authenticator.
• Login Page includes renewable CAPTCHA that restricts bots from logging in.
• Has an endpoint firewall as well as real-time IP blocklist which comes with the premium plan. This allows manual blocking of suspicious IP addresses or URLs that might pose a threat of malware attack

Advantages

• Unlike cloud based plugins, wordfence can’t be bypassed or break encryption.
• Large user community spreading worldwide for constant support.
• Different monetary plans available to cater to specific security needs of the user.

Pricing: Premium starts from $119 USD per year.

5. MalCare

MalCare is a reliable security plugin that provides it’s users with a wide range of diacritic and efficient security measures like automatic website malware cleanups and junk clearing.

Key Features

• MalCare exhibits an adept cloud-based scanner that detects malware that are engineered to pass under the radar.
• Nullifies potential attack risks by staying up to date with WordPress vulnerabilities and fixing them if detected.
• A custom designed firewall blocks common malicious access threats..

Advantages

• Optimization of performance along with security checks which enhance the overall working and function of the website.
• Individual MalCare dashboard for independent user management.
• Beginner-friendly interface that is easy to understand and use, even for non-technical users.

Pricing: Paid PLUS plan starts from $149 a year which includes complete complete security as well as daily backups.

6. reCAPTCHA

reCAPTCHA is a free service powered by Google that distinguishes between humans and bots by a series of tests based on pattern recognition and mouse activity screening. It’s a common and widely used security measure used on various WooCommerce stores to filter out spam orders, fake registrations, etc.

Key features

• reCAPTCHA uses an advanced risk analysis engine to detect spam or malicious activities going on in the website.
• v2 Checkbox: The user interacting with the website checks a box to confirm they’re not a robot. Google analyzes their checked choice based on legitimacy and understanding of the pattern.
• v3 Invisible: This screening runs silently in the background and does not involve any user interaction. It involves tracking of the mouse and analyzing scrolls, clicks as well as keyboard typing patterns(bots type quickly and repetitively) and time spent on pages.

Advantages

• Completely free to use feature which makes it accessible to people of all funding brackets.
• The benefit of v3 is that it provides a smoother user experience since there’s no need to solve challenges explicitly.
• Widely known and thus customers from all background can easily interact with this security measure.

Pricing: Free of cost upto 10,000 assessments and costs $8 upto 100,000 assessments.

7. WP Activity Log

WP activity log primarily focuses on monitoring real-time user activity and login behavior, making it a very sought after choice for analyzing site activity. It also provides features which allows the users to track any changes, minor or major, on the WooCommerce website.

Key features

• Instant alerts/ notifications for important security events or breach of safety.
• Supports multiple sites which enables multi-managing and convenient usage.
• Backup of user activity and logging to trace any form of misconduct.

Advantages

• Supports extensions like Yoast SEO and WPForms alongwith WooCommerce.
• Provides a sense of security knowing you have a record of website activity.
• Simplified troubleshooting experience since a record of past changes in the site has been recorded already.

Pricing: $99 per year for basic functionality.

8. Defender

Although relatively new in comparison to other well known security plugins, Defender security plugin has already garnered trust among its users and surpassed 1 million+ downloads by 2023. Equipped with one–click installation and firewall with malicious IP blocking, this has quickly become an efficient and excellent choice for Woocommerce site protection.

Key features

• Protects your login page from brute-force attacks by limiting login attempts and implementing security measures .
• Scans your website and recommends security best practices.
• Two-Factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security alongwith username and password verification.

Advantages

• Masks your WordPress or WooCommerce login URL from public view
• User-friendly interface that makes it accessible to all.
• Defender enhances security by offering two-factor authentication (2FA).

Pricing: Pro plan starts from $3 per month

Also Read

• 5 Best WordPress Security Plugins to Protect Your Site in 2024
• 7 Best WordPress Plugins For Developers
• 10 Best WordPress Two Factor Authentication Plugins in 2024

Conclusion

Overall, investing and installing a security plugin is crucial for ensuring safety of customer data as well as business information for running various freelance and small businesses on online platforms. To prevent unwanted access attempts, security plugins provide features like user activity monitoring, multi-factor authentication, and strong password enforcement. These features increase the difficulty of hackers accessing your website and stealing client information. With all these features, one can solely focus on growing and widening their business instead of stressing about the security of their site.

8 Must Have WooCommerce Security Plugins — FAQs

What is the best security plugin?

Different plugins provide different services so its upto the user to choose the software best suited for their needs.

Are security plugins necessary for a WooCommerce website?

Although not necessary, it is highly recommendated to install a security plugin to ensure smooth running of the business.

Are security plugins totally efficient ?

Reliable and popular WordPress security plugins are efficient in their assigned security tasts and are worth investing.