ArkHost

<p>A complete security plugin that’s actually free. No “pro” version, no nag screens, no made-up threat statistics.</p>
<h4>Login Protection</h4>
<ul>
<li>Blocks IPs after failed login attempts</li>
<li>Custom login URL (hides wp-login.php)</li>
<li>Hides wp-admin from logged-out users</li>
<li>Honeypot field for bots</li>
<li>Hides login errors (stops username enumeration)</li>
<li>Email alerts for admin logins from new IPs</li>
<li>Country/IP restrictions on login page</li>
</ul>
<h4>IP Control</h4>
<ul>
<li>Whitelist and blacklist</li>
<li>Auto-blacklist after repeated lockouts</li>
<li>IPv4, IPv6, CIDR supported</li>
</ul>
<h4>Geo Blocking</h4>
<ul>
<li>Block countries</li>
<li>Uses free IP2Location LITE database</li>
<li>One-click download</li>
</ul>
<h4>Hardening</h4>
<ul>
<li>Disable XML-RPC</li>
<li>Disable dashboard file editing</li>
<li>Disable application passwords</li>
<li>Restrict REST API to logged-in users</li>
<li>Remove WordPress version</li>
<li>Block user enumeration (?author=1 and REST API)</li>
<li>Disable pingbacks/trackbacks</li>
</ul>
<h4>Security Headers</h4>
<p>X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, X-XSS-Protection, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, Content-Security-Policy, HSTS</p>
<h4>Two-Factor Authentication</h4>
<ul>
<li>TOTP (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)</li>
<li>Backup codes</li>
<li>Enforce for admins</li>
</ul>
<h4>File Integrity Monitoring</h4>
<ul>
<li>Checks WordPress core files against official checksums</li>
<li>Daily scans</li>
<li>Email alerts on changes</li>
</ul>
<h4>Malware Scanner</h4>
<ul>
<li>Scans plugins, themes, uploads</li>
<li>Pattern-based detection</li>
<li>Quarantine suspicious files</li>
<li>Weekly scans</li>
</ul>
<h4>Activity Log</h4>
<ul>
<li>Login attempts, lockouts, blocks</li>
<li>IP, country, username, timestamp</li>
<li>Configurable retention</li>
<li>CSV export</li>
</ul>
<h4>Tools</h4>
<ul>
<li>Export/import settings</li>
<li>Force logout all users</li>
<li>Test email</li>
<li>Delete readme.html/license.txt</li>
</ul>
<h4>Privacy</h4>
<p>No tracking. No analytics. No telemetry.</p>
<p>External connections:<br />
* WordPress.org API (core file checksums)<br />
* IP2Location (database download, only when you click it)</p>
<h3>External services</h3>
<p>This plugin connects to the following external services under specific circumstances:</p>
<h4>WordPress.org Checksums API</h4>
<ul>
<li>Service: api.wordpress.org/core/checksums/1.0/</li>
<li>Used for: Verifying WordPress core file integrity by comparing local files against official checksums</li>
<li>Data sent: WordPress version and locale</li>
<li>When: During daily scheduled file integrity scans and when manually triggered by the admin</li>
<li>Privacy policy: https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/</li>
</ul>
<h4>IP Detection Services</h4>
<ul>
<li>Services: api.ipify.org, ifconfig.me, icanhazip.com</li>
<li>Used for: Detecting the server’s public IP address for the “Whitelist My IP” tool</li>
<li>Data sent: Standard HTTP request (no personal data)</li>
<li>When: Only when an admin uses the “Whitelist My IP” feature in the Tools tab</li>
<li>Terms: https://www.ipify.org/ / https://ifconfig.me/ / https://icanhazip.com/</li>
</ul>
<h4>IP2Location</h4>
<ul>
<li>Service: download.ip2location.com</li>
<li>Used for: Downloading the free IP2Location LITE geolocation database for country-based blocking</li>
<li>Data sent: Standard HTTP request (optional: user’s download token if configured)</li>
<li>When: Only when an admin clicks “Download IP2Location Database” in the IP Control tab</li>
<li>Terms of service: https://www.ip2location.com/terms</li>
<li>Privacy policy: https://www.ip2location.com/privacy</li>
</ul>


ArkHost Security Pack

WordPress security without the nonsense. No upsells, no premium tier, no fake threat counters.

Amrit Anandh

Kuppuraj

revmakx

<h3>Instant protection against disclosed vulnerabilities</h3>
<p><a href="https://defendwp.org/" rel="nofollow ugc">DefendWP.org</a> is a WordPress plugin that protects your website from hackers exploiting vulnerable code on your website. Security research companies discover vulnerabilities and notify plugin developers to patch them. After some time, they disclose the vulnerability to the public, allowing you to update your plugins. However, this system has flaws. Once vulnerabilities are publicly disclosed, hackers rush to exploit the sites in which you haven’t yet applied the patch.</p>
<h4>A Better Approach: Immediate Protection for All Users</h4>
<p>To solve this, our plugin pushes firewall rules and patches as soon as vulnerabilities are disclosed, ensuring websites are protected without waiting for an official patch. This protection is silent and automatic, ensuring that you are not affected even if you don’t take any immediate action.</p>
<ol>
<li>Immediate Patches Upon Disclosure: When vulnerabilities are disclosed, our plugin pushes patches or firewall rules that prevent exploitation.</li>
<li>Silent Protection: We operate in the background, allowing plugin developers to roll out patches at their own pace without compromising user security.</li>
<li>Free and Accessible: Security should not be a privilege. Our plugin is free and accessible and ensures that all WordPress users are protected from newly disclosed vulnerabilities.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Protecting Everyone, Not Just the Privileged Few</h3>
<p>Security should not be reserved for those who can afford premium services. The spirit of WordPress is inclusivity, and this should extend to security as well. When vulnerabilities are disclosed, they pose a risk to every website, regardless of its owner’s resources. Every WordPress user should have access to immediate protection.</p>
<p>Security researchers play a vital role in identifying vulnerabilities, but the current system leaves too many users exposed. Our approach aims to create a safer WordPress ecosystem for all, by closing the gap between vulnerability disclosure and patching.</p>
<p>This isn’t about taking credit—it’s about prioritizing the safety of small business owners, bloggers, and entrepreneurs who rely on WordPress. By silently closing the vulnerability gap, we aim for a future where WordPress security is accessible to everyone.</p>
<p>Let’s build a safer WordPress ecosystem together—one that protects all users, not just the privileged few.</p>
<h4>For plugin authors: Report a Vulnerability</h4>
<p>Do you have an active vulnerability in your plugin you want to safeguard users from? Report it <a href="https://defendwp.org/submit-a-vulnerability/" rel="nofollow ugc">here</a></p>
<h4>Support</h4>
<p>Need help with your website’s security? Just send us an email at <a href="mailto:help@defendwp.org" rel="nofollow ugc">help@defendwp.org</a>.</p>
<h4>Note</h4>
<p>This plugin utilizes the <a href="https://api.ipify.org?format=json" rel="nofollow ugc">Ipify.org</a> to provide enhanced functionality. The API allows the plugin to retrieve the exact IP of the current user, which will be used to determine whether the user can access the WordPress site.<a href="https://ipify.org" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy policy</a></p>
<p>Vulnerabilities, IPs, Plugins and Themes data will be sent between <a href="https://defendwp.org" rel="nofollow ugc">DefendWP.org</a> and the WP site to instantly patch from vulnerabilities.</p>


DefendWP Firewall

Get instant protection against vulnerabilities disclosed by security companies.

ArkHost Security Pack vs DefendWP Firewall