Marc Armengou

Security Hardener applies WordPress security best practices based on the <a href="https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/security/hardening/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Advanced Administration / Security / Hardening</a> documentation and widely accepted hardening measures. It uses WordPress core functions and follows best practices without modifying core files.
<h4>Key Features</h4>
File Security: 
* Disable file editor in WordPress admin 
* Optionally disable all file modifications (blocks updates – use with caution)
XML-RPC Protection: 
* Disable XML-RPC completely (enabled by default) 
* Remove pingback methods when XML-RPC is enabled
Pingback Protection: 
* Disable self-pingbacks 
* Remove X-Pingback header 
* Block incoming pingbacks
User Enumeration Protection: 
* Block <code>/?author=N</code> queries (returns 404) 
* Secure REST API user endpoints (require authentication) 
* Remove users from XML sitemaps 
* Prevent canonical redirects that expose usernames 
* Optionally block author feed pages (<code>/author/username/feed/</code>)
Login Security: 
* Generic error messages (no username/password hints) 
* Login honeypot — silently blocks bots before any credential check 
* IP-based rate limiting with configurable thresholds 
* Security event logging (last 100 events) 
* Automatic blocking after failed attempts
Security Headers: 
* <code>X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN</code> (clickjacking protection) 
* <code>X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff</code> (MIME sniffing protection) 
* <code>Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin</code> 
* <code>Permissions-Policy</code> (restricts geolocation, microphone, camera) 
* Optional HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) for HTTPS sites — max-age set to 1 year
Additional Hardening: 
* Hide WordPress version (meta generator tag and asset query strings) 
* Remove obsolete wp_head items (RSD, WLW manifest, shortlink, emoji scripts) 
* Security event logging system 
* Optionally disable Application Passwords for API authentication
<blockquote>
⚠️ Important: Always test security settings in a staging environment first. Some features may affect third-party integrations or plugins.
</blockquote>
Privacy: This plugin does not send data to external services and does not create custom database tables. It stores plugin settings and a security event log in the WordPress options table, and uses transients for temporary login attempt tracking. All data is preserved on uninstall by default and only deleted if the “Delete all data on uninstall” option is explicitly enabled.

Security Hardener

Basic hardening: secure headers, login honeypot, user enumeration blocking, generic login errors, rate limiting, and more.

SafeWeb

BotFirewall is a powerful and modern plugin designed to protect your WordPress site from malicious bots, spam, and DDoS attacks. Using advanced JavaScript verification and encrypted cookies, BotFirewall ensures robust security without disrupting the experience of real users.
<h3>Why Do You Need BotFirewall?</h3>
In today’s internet landscape, bots make up a significant portion of web traffic, and many of them are malicious. They can attack your site, send spam, scrape content, or attempt to hack login pages like <code>wp-login.php</code>. BotFirewall addresses these threats by providing smart and flexible protection that: 
– Blocks bots with seamless JavaScript verification that most bots cannot pass. 
– Secures key pages like <code>wp-login.php</code> and <code>wp-signup.php</code> from unauthorized access. 
– Uses encrypted cookies to ensure only verified users gain access. 
– Offers customizable settings through an intuitive interface in the WordPress admin panel.
<h3>Key Features of BotFirewall</h3>
<ul>
<li>JavaScript Verification: Ensures visitors can execute JavaScript, effectively filtering out most bots.</li>
<li>Encrypted Cookies: Cookies are tied to IP and User-Agent for enhanced security against spoofing.</li>
<li>Customizable Page Protection: Enable or disable protection for <code>wp-login.php</code> and <code>wp-signup.php</code> pages via settings.</li>
<li>Whitelist and Blacklist: Configure lists of allowed bots (e.g., Googlebot) and IPs, and block known malicious IPs, including subnet support (e.g., 192.168.0.0/24).</li>
<li>Exclude URLs: Specify URLs to bypass bot protection entirely (e.g., for APIs or specific pages).</li>
<li>Real-Time Statistics: Monitor bot activity with detailed stats – filter by time periods (Last 24 hours, Last Week, Last Month).</li>
<li>Action Logging: Logs blocks and successful verifications with URL details, keeping data for the last 30 days.</li>
<li>Allowed Bots Tab: Easily select known bots to allow without verification, with quick filters for bot types.</li>
<li>Recent Activity: View the latest 10 logged sessions with details like IP, URL, and status.</li>
<li>Lightweight and Fast: Optimized for minimal impact on site performance.</li>
<li>Clean Uninstall: Removes all data, including logs and settings, upon deactivation and deletion.</li>
<li>Customizable Verification Page: Tailor the text (title, description, countdown), CSS styling, and logo of the verification page to match your site’s design.</li>
<li>Enhanced Support: Get assistance directly through Live Chat in the Support tab for quick resolution of issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How Does BotFirewall Work?</h3>
BotFirewall employs a multi-layered protection system: 
1. Cookie Check: If a visitor has a valid cookie, they bypass additional checks. 
2. Whitelist: Known “good” bots (e.g., search engine crawlers) are automatically allowed. 
3. JavaScript Verification: If no cookie is present, the visitor is redirected to a verification page where they must execute a JavaScript request. Bots unable to run JavaScript are blocked. 
4. Login Page Protection: Optionally protect <code>wp-login.php</code> and <code>wp-signup.php</code> to prevent brute-force attacks. 
5. Post-Verification Redirect: After successful verification, the user is redirected to their original page, and a cookie is set for future visits.
<h3>Why BotFirewall is a Must-Have for Your Site</h3>
<ul>
<li>Spam and DDoS Protection: Effectively blocks bots that attempt to spam or overload your site.</li>
<li>Login Security: Safeguards <code>wp-login.php</code> and <code>wp-signup.php</code> from unauthorized access and brute-force attacks.</li>
<li>Flexibility: Customize protection with whitelists, blacklists, cookie lifetime settings, and verification page styling.</li>
<li>Transparency: Detailed statistics and logs let you monitor bot activity.</li>
<li>Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface in the WordPress admin panel makes configuration a breeze.</li>
<li>Professional Look: Customize the verification page with your own text, styles, logo, and a modern font (Roboto) for a polished appearance.</li>
<li>Reliable Support: Access our support team via Live Chat for help with any technical or security issues.</li>
</ul>
BotFirewall is an essential tool for WordPress site owners who want to protect their content, users, and server from malicious bots. Install BotFirewall today and secure your site with confidence!

BotFirewall | Stop Spam Bots & Secure Login

BotFirewall is a powerful and modern plugin designed to protect your WordPress site from malicious bots, spam, and DDoS attacks.

Security Hardener vs BotFirewall | Stop Spam Bots & Secure Login