by WPMU DEV
4.8 (325 reviews)
Defender Security - Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall
WordPress security plugin with malware scanner, IP blocking, audit logs, antivirus scans, firewall, 2FA, brute force login security, and more.
Compatible with WP 6.9
v5.8.1
Current Version v5.8.1
Updated 1 week ago
Last Update on 12 Jan, 2026
Synced 9 hours ago
Last Synced on
Rank
#519
—
No change
Active Installs
90K+
—
No change
KW Avg Position
3.2
—
No change
Downloads
3.9M
+938 today
Support Resolved
100%
—
No change
Rating
96%
Review 4.8 out of 5
4.8
(325 reviews)
Next Milestone 100K
90K+
100K+
32
Ranks to Climb
-
Growth Needed
8,000,000
Active Installs
Pro
Unlock Exact Install Count
See the precise estimated active installs for this plugin, calculated from real-time ranking data.
- Exact install estimates within tiers
- Track install growth over time
- Milestone progress predictions
Need 7,112 more installs to reach 100K+
Rank Changes
Current
#519
Change
Best
#
Downloads Growth
Downloads
Growth
Peak
Upgrade to Pro
Unlock 30-day, 90-day, and yearly download history charts with a Pro subscription.
Upgrade NowReviews & Ratings
4.8
325 reviews
Overall
96%
5
297
(91%)
4
11
(3%)
3
4
(1%)
2
5
(2%)
1
8
(2%)
Tracked Keywords
Showing 5 of 5| Keyword | Position | Change | Type | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| malware scanner | 2 | — | Tag | 11 hours ago |
| firewall | 3 | — | Tag | 11 hours ago |
| malware | 3 | — | Tag | 11 hours ago |
| login security | 3 | — | Tag | 11 hours ago |
| security | 5 | — | Tag | 11 hours ago |
Unlock Keyword Analytics
Track keyword rankings, search positions, and discover new ranking opportunities with a Pro subscription.
- Full keyword position tracking
- Historical ranking data
- Competitor keyword analysis
Support Threads Overview
Resolved
Unresolved
6
Total Threads
6
Resolved
0
Unresolved
100%
Resolution Rate
Track This Plugin
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Start Tracking FreePlugin Details
- Version
- 5.8.1
- Last Updated
- Jan 12, 2026
- Requires WP
- 6.4+
- Tested Up To
- 6.9
- PHP Version
- 8.0.0 or higher
- Author
- WPMU DEV
Support & Rating
- Rating
- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.8
- Reviews
- 325
- Support Threads
- 6
- Resolved
- 100%
Keywords
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Defender Security - Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall
Defender is built to add all the best hardening and website 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, one-click hardening and faster setup.
Hackers and bot attacks are not the only security threats 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.
Yes! Defender's Firewall gives you robust site protection and security by allowing you to block bad bot IPs and use geographical IP blocking
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, such as malware scanners, firewall, and login security features.
Yes! All of Defender's security features are fully compatible with a multisite installation. It can be network enabled and managed from the network admin.
Yes, Defender provides multiple layers of spam protection and security. A large percentage of Trackbacks and Pingbacks are spam, and Defender allows you to easily disable both to reduce spam and improve site security. Additionally, Defender includes the AntiBot Global Firewall, which blocks known malicious IPs and bots before they even reach your site, offering proactive protection against common attacks and spam bots.
Yes. Defender's IP banning, IP lockout, and 404 detection security features can identify DDoS attacks and block bad IPs.
If you’re the administrator and you’ve been locked out due to multiple failed login attempts, Defender offers two options: Option #1: Use the “Unlock Me” feature: Click the Unlock Me button on the login page and enter your username or the email address linked to your site. You’ll receive an email with a secure link to unlock your account and regain access — no technical steps needed. Option #2: Use the manual method (if email doesn’t work): Add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file, located in the main directory of your active theme. add_filter( 'ip_lockout_default_whitelist_ip', function ( $ips ) { $ip = 'YOUR IP HERE'; $ips[] = $ip; return $ips; } ); Replace "YOUR IP HERE" with your actual IP address (you can use a tool like whatsmyip to find it.)
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 Defender Pro gives you access to 24/7 live support.
We take plugin security incredibly seriously; if you have a bug or vulnerability to report, you can do so through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program. It's fast, easy, and you will be notified when the issue is fixed. Report a vulnerability.