18 Great Plugins to Keep Your eCommerce Website Secure
The threats of hackers and data theft grows by the day and even smaller eCommerce sites are not safe from attack. Security should be a top priority for any eCommerce website owner, no matter how big or small their site may be. Fortunately, there are plenty of great security plugins available to help keep your site safe and secure. In this article, we will take a look at 18 of the best plugins for keeping your eCommerce site secure.
The state of cybersecurity for eCommerce companies
As of 2018 (and that number has increased radically in the last several years), 43% of all cyber-attacks targeted small businesses. What’s more, the average cost of a data breach for a small business is $36,000 which can be devastating for a company that is just starting out. Even if you are not hacked, the mere threat of a data attack can be enough to cause customers to take their business elsewhere. This is why it is so important to make security a top priority for your eCommerce website. This is especially true as you add endpoints to your business, at which point you should be thinking about investing in endpoint protection from a company like Atera.
Types of security threats
There are many different types of security threats that eCommerce websites face including:
- SQL injection attacks: These are when malicious code is injected into your database in order to extract information or even delete data.
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks: These are when malicious scripts are injected into your website in order to steal information from visitors or even hijack their accounts.
- DDoS attacks: These are when your website is overloaded with traffic from multiple computers in order to take it offline.
- Phishing attacks: These are when someone uses fake emails or websites in order to trick people into giving them sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
The odds are that you will eventually experience one or more of these threats at some point, which is why it’s important to be prepared. The best way to do this is to install a security plugin on your eCommerce site.
You should also keep in mind that every plugin you add to your site represents a potential cybersecurity threat. There is no such thing as a 100% secure website, but you can minimize your risk by carefully choosing the plugins you install and keeping them up to date. Make sure when choosing plugins that they have been recently updated and are updated on a regular basis so that you can be confident they are as secure as possible.
Top security plugins for WordPress
1. Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening
This plugin is a must-have for any WordPress eCommerce site. Sucuri Security provides comprehensive security for your site, including auditing, malware scanning, and hardening. The plugin is free, but you can also upgrade to the premium version for additional features.
2. iThemes Security
This is one of those plugins that do a little bit of everything. iThemes Security offers features like two-factor authentication, user activity logging, malware scanning, and more. It’s a great all-in-one security solution for WordPress eCommerce sites.
3. Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security is trusted by over three million WordPress sites and offers features like malware scanning, real-time blocking of known attackers, two-factor authentication, and more. The plugin is free, but you can upgrade to the premium version for advanced features.
4. All In One WP Security & Firewall
This plugin is another great all-in-one security solution for WordPress eCommerce sites. All In One WP Security & Firewall offers features like malware scanning, two-factor authentication, user activity logging, and more.
5. WP fail2ban
WP fail2ban is very useful for WordPress eCommerce sites. The plugin works by banning IP addresses that have been used to attack your site. This helps to keep your site safe from brute force attacks.
6. Login Lockdown
Login Lockdown plugin adds an extra layer of security to your WordPress site by limiting the number of login attempts that can be made. This helps to prevent brute force attacks and keeps your site safe.
7. SecuPress
This plugin is a great security solution for WordPress eCommerce sites. SecuPress offers features like malware scanning, two-factor authentication, user activity logging, and more.
8. Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall
This plugin provides comprehensive security for WordPress eCommerce sites. Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall offer features like malware scanning, two-factor authentication, user activity logging, and more.
9. Site Alert
This plugin monitors your WordPress site for security vulnerabilities and alerts you if any are found. Site Alert is a great choice for those looking for a simple security solution.
10. BulletProof Security BPS
BulletProof Security is a great security solution for WordPress eCommerce sites. The plugin offers features like malware scanning, two-factor authentication, user activity logging, and more.
11. VaultPress
VaultPress is one of the best security solutions for WordPress eCommerce sites. The plugin offers features like malware scanning, real-time backups, security scanning, and more. For example, if your site is hacked, VaultPress can help you restore it easily and quickly.
12. Google Authenticator – Two Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is a great way to add an extra layer of security to your WordPress site. Google Authenticator – Two Factor Authentication is a great plugin that allows you to easily add two-factor authentication to your WordPress site.
13. Defender
Defender is one of those plugins that most experienced WordPress users have on their site. Defender offers a suite of security features like malware scanning, two-factor authentication, user activity logging, and more.
14. Astra Web Security
If you’re looking for a comprehensive security solution for your WordPress eCommerce site, Astra Web Security is a great choice. The plugin offers features like malware scanning, firewall protection, two-factor authentication, and more.
15. Shield Security
You can never have too much security, and Shield Security is a great plugin to add to your WordPress site. Shield Security offers features like malware scanning, brute force protection, two-factor authentication, and more.
16. MalCare
MalCare is a security plugin for WordPress websites designed to protect your website from malware and other security threats. It is available as a free and premium version. The premium version includes additional features such as malware removal and protection from brute force attacks. MalCare is easy to install and use. Simply download the plugin and activate it on your WordPress site.
17. WPS Scan
WPS Scan scans your website using its own database and server-side heuristics to identify any security vulnerabilities. It then creates a report of the findings which you can review and take action on. WPS Scan is available as a free and premium version. The premium version includes additional features such as malware removal and protection from brute force attacks.
18. Hide My WP
This works by hiding the fact that your site is running WordPress, which can help to deter hackers. Hide My WP offers features like malware scanning, two-factor authentication, user activity logging, and more.
Conclusion
WordPress is a great platform for eCommerce sites, but it’s important to remember that it’s not invincible. By taking the time to add security measures to your site, you can help to deter hackers and protect your business.
About the Author
Antonio Vecchio has been writing about web design and cybersecurity for the past ten years and his work has appeared in a wide range of web and print-based publications. He has also started and run a number of successful websites. When he is not reading and writing about the industry, he is usually out trying new craft beers.