#sitelockdown

For any business owner, a hacked website is a nightmare scenario. But for me, it became a recurring horror show.

In just one year, my site fell victim no less than 5 crippling times. Each attack unleashed infected files, defaced pages, broken links and spam backdoors — sending my hard-earned traffic and rankings into a nosedive.

I felt overwhelmed and powerless. Out of desperation, I invested in a premium WordPress security plugin, crossing my fingers it would shield my site.

According to Sucuri, over 43,000 WordPress sites are hacked every single day. Symantec reports that 52% of cyber attacks now target small businesses, seeing us as vulnerable prey.

With threats skyrocketing, all WordPress site owners must implementrigorous security in 2024. After learning firsthand, I’m sharing the top 9 malware scanners to lock down your WP site tight.

Why WordPress Security Matters

WordPress powers over 35% of all websites, making it hackers’ #1 target. The open-source CMS offers flexibility for users but also vulnerabilities that cyber criminals ruthlessly exploit.

Some common WordPress security risks include:

Outdated software — Running outdated WP core, plugins and themes with security holes.

Weak passwords — Using guessable passwords for admin accounts.

Plugin vulnerabilities — Poorly coded plugins create openings for attacks.

Unpatched exploits — Not fixing known software vulnerabilities promptly.

Malicious code injection — Hackers sneak in spam links, viruses, backdoors.

Brute force attacks — Criminals guess passwords through automated rapid-fire logins.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) — Getting bombarded by traffic to crash your site.

Without adequate security, these threats leave you exposed, unable to thwart attacks. The consequences include:

Loss of control over your site

Blacklisted as spreading malware

Rankings plummet due to hacked content and links

Integrity of site and brand diminished

Major business disruption and revenue loss

Top 9 WordPress Malware Scanners for 2024

A WordPress malware scanner acts like an antivirus, detecting infections and vulnerabilities. It searches files, posts, plugins, themes and other areas, quarantining or removing identified threats.

Here are the top 9 WordPress malware scanners to deploy in 2024:

1. Wordfence

A popular WordPress security plugin installed on over 3 million sites. It provides malware scanning, blocking and removal. Key features:

Scans core files, themes, plugins and content for malware.

Real-time firewall blocking malicious traffic.

Locks out hackers using brute force attacks.

Alerts for blacklisting and reputation damage.

Integrates malware signature database from Threat Defense Feed.

Secures login page and admin accounts.

Wordfence offers both free and premium plans:

Free: Site scanning, firewall, login security, traffic blocking.

Premium: Real-time threat defense feed, plugin/theme version scans, premium support.

Pricing: Starts at $99/year. Offers site plans and multi-site licenses.

2. Sucuri

A cloud-based WordPress security solution providing malware detection, removal, monitoring and expert remediation.

Key features:

Malware scanner looks for backdoors, trojans, hidden redirects.

File integrity monitoring for unauthorized changes.

Blacklist monitoring if your site gets flagged for malware.

DDoS protection and bot mitigation options.

Remote malware removal without affecting site.

Ongoing site security hardening and cleanup.

Expert support.

Pricing: Starts at $199/year based on site traffic. 30-day free trial.

3. MalCare

MalCare focuses specifically on detecting and removing malware infections from WordPress sites.

Key capabilities:

Behavior analysis to detect malware and suspicious activity.

Automated scanning and threat removal.

File change monitoring including core, plugins, themes.

Virus database with signatures of over 67 million threats.

Manual and automated clean up processes.

Detailed security reports and diagnostics.

Site restore from malware-free cloud backups.

24/7 expert support.

Pricing: Starting at $149/year depending on sites. 15-day free trial.

4. Anti Malware Security and Brute Force Firewall

This plugin offers basic security features including:

Malware scanning to check for infected files.

Firewall for blocking dangerous traffic and IPs.

Brute force protection from rapid login attacks.

Hide backend for obscuring wp-login and wp-admin.

Core file change monitoring.

Database cleanup of malicious code.

Supports automatic security updates.

Pricing: Free basic version. Pro version (malware removal, themes/plugins scan, etc) starts at $29/year.

5. Acunetix WPScan

WPScan is a free automated vulnerability scanner that checks WordPress sites for security issues. Key features:

Identifies out of date WP core, plugins, themes with known vulnerabilities.

Scans for suspicious files, malware injections, and spam links.

Alerts if site is blacklisted.

Checks user accounts for weak passwords.

Provides raw data to diagnose vulnerabilities.

Can run scheduled, automated scans.

Integrates with Slack, Discord, and other platforms.

Pricing: Free

6. iThemes Security

iThemes Security is a customizable WordPress security plugin with advanced features:

Malware scanning including core, posts, comments, files, database.

Blocks common attacks like XSS, RFI, SQL injections.

Bans malicious bots and IPs.

Automatic updates for WP core, plugins, themes.

Locks down admin area and fixes common holes.

User logging, strong passwords, single sign-on.

Two-factor authentication compatible.

Pricing: Starts at $79/year. Offers personal plan and agency licenses.

7. SecuPress

SecuPress is a comprehensive WordPress security solution. Features include:

Malware detection with hourly scans.

File change detection plugin for core, themes, plugins.

Firewall and bot protection.

Blocks spam registrations.

Security activity logs and notifications.

Vulnerability scans with suggested fixes.

Two-factor authentication.

Pricing: Starts at $109/year for personal use. Has business and agency plans.

8. Defender

Defender Security is a WordPress security plugin with both free and paid plans:

Free version includes:

Malware scanning for threats.

IP blacklisting and firewall.

Brute force login protection.

Core file integrity monitoring.

Database cleanup.

Pro version ($60/year) adds:

Real-time threat defense intelligence.

Plugin/theme file scanning.

Automatic security patching.

Scheduled malware scans.

Vulnerability alerts and fixes.

Malware removal and site repair.

9. Jetpack Protect

Jetpack Protect is a free WordPress plugin that helps secure your site. It was acquired by WordPress.com. Features:

Daily scans for malware, spam injections, and suspicious files.

Virus database with over 1 million signatures.

One-click fix to remove threats automatically.

Blocks brute force login attempts.

Automatic security updates.

Monitors DNS changes.

Activity logs.

Which Scanner is Best for You?

With core features like malware detection emerging in both free and paid scanners, deciding which to implement depends on your budget, site traffic, and unique needs.

Here’s an overview of factors to consider:

Paid scanners offer extras like real-time threat monitoring, automated patching/updates, premium support, malware removal and backups. Worth the investment for business sites.

Free scanners provide adequate protection for many personal sites. Lack extras like plugin scans and restoration capabilities.

Cloud-based services seamlessly handle everything security related. No software to install.

Plugin-based require self-installing but allow for customization.

Frequency of scans should be daily for optimum security. Schedule automatic scans when possible.

Site traffic determines how robust a solution you need. More traffic equals more risk.

Brand reputation of the scanner for credibility in the WP security space.

Reviews to validate quality, usability and customer satisfaction.

Testing different scanners is also worthwhile to compare features and interface. Most offer free trials for evaluation.

Implementing a Scanner: Next Steps

Once you’ve chosen a WordPress malware scanner, a few best practices will maximize your protection:

Quarantine identified infections immediately so they can’t spread.

Scan frequently — daily, weekly and on-demand after noticing suspicious behavior.

Fix vulnerabilities like outdated plugins which scanners flag.

Strengthen passwords using length, complexity, and a password manager.

Limit admin accounts to only essential personnel.

Back up routinely in case malware damages files.

Monitor site traffic for spikes indicating an attack.

Educate staff on security practices to avoid risky behavior.

Sign up for site security notifications by email or other alerts offered by your scanner.

The top WordPress malware scanners reviewed above provide robust solutions for identifying threats before they can damage your site. But scanners are just one piece of complete website security.

Comprehensive WordPress Security Lockdown

While scanners help safeguard you from emergent attacks, think proactively about security from the start:

Managed WordPress hosting with security built-in for the stack.

Auto updates for core, plugins, themes since old versions harbour vulnerabilities.

Minimize plugins to only what’s essential, eliminating vulnerabilities.

Vet third-party providers like designers, developers, agencies for security practices.

SSL Certificate to encrypt all traffic via HTTPS.

DDoS protection to defend against traffic flooding attacks.

Website backup solution allowing easy restore if infected.

Limit admin access using permissions and restrictions.

Password manager for strong unique passwords everywhere.

Two-factor authentication for all users able to access backend and hosting account.

Security-focused design like permission levels, obscuring wp-admin, etc.

Fortifying your WP site from end to end takes knowledge and vigilance. But with a hardened security posture, you significantly decrease risks. A malware scanner acts as your last line of defense to catch any impending attacks.

Conclusion

After suffering repeat hacks and witnessing rising cyber attacks targeting WordPress sites, I learned firsthand the critical importance of security. The solution was finally implementing a scanner to detect and eliminate malware and vulnerabilities.

For site owners wanting to avoid the inevitable disaster of being hacked, a quality WordPress malware scanner is essential. 

Paired with comprehensive security measures, it helps harden your site against sophisticated threats lurking online in 2024. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to take action.

The scanners featured in this guide represent proven solutions to lock down your site. While premium options like Wordfence and Sucuri offer robust protection, even free plugins like Jetpack Protect provide fundamental scanning to catch common attacks. 

Review your budget, traffic levels, and functionality needs to select the right solution.

With hackers constantly evolving threats, the stakes are too high to stay vulnerable. Fortify your WordPress site with a robust malware scanner now, combining it with secure hosting, strong passwords, limited access and other best practices. Your visitors, revenue and brand reputation will thank you.

I aimed to share my painful lessons so fellow site owners can avoid becoming victims. 

A multi-layered security strategy centered around a quality scanner will help you rest easy instead of dreading the next hack.

 Just don’t make my mistake of overlooking this crucial piece of defense.

Follow @webjinnee23 For More!

Thank you!

Nitin Mathur