Security Optimizer - The All-In-One Protection Plugin

Bulletproof your website security in a few clicks against a range of security breaches, including brute-force attacks, malware threats and bots, with our free WordPress security plugin - Security Optimizer. Proactively monitor your site’s security to detect any suspicious activity and take immediate actions to protect your site and prevent further damage with these essential features:

• Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for an extra layer of website security
• Set Limit Login Attempts to deter malicious login attempts and brute-force attacks
• Change your default login URL to Custom Login URL to avoid attacks
• Activate Advanced XSS Protection to fortify your website against malicious attacks
• Lock and Protect System Folders to ensure no unauthorized or malicious scripts can be executed in your system folders
• Disable Themes & Plugins Editor to safeguard your website from unauthorized access via the WordPress editor
• Hide WordPress Version effortlessly, keeping it hidden from prying eyes
• Use Activity Log to monitor your site and quickly prevent malicious actions
• Post-Hack Actions to take immediate actions and prevent further damages

Developed by the website security experts at SiteGround and trusted by over 900,000 webmasters for its robust security shield and ease of use to safeguard WordPress applications from possible attacks on any hosting platform. AWARDS: Monster Awards 2022: Best WordPress Security Plugin 🥇 Monster Awards 2021: Best WordPress Security Plugin 🥇 Plugin Video [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOheCz7sm9A] Plugin Tutorial Unveil the vast array of features and unleash the full potential of our security plugin in our Security Optimizer Tutorial.

Automatic Installation

1. Go to Plugins -> Add New
2. Search for "Security Optimizer by SiteGround"
3. Click on the Install button under the Security Optimizer by SiteGround plugin
4. Once the plugin is installed, click on the Activate plugin link

Manual Installation

1. Login to the WordPress admin panel and go to Plugins -> Add New
2. Select the 'Upload' menu
3. Click the 'Choose File' button and point your browser to the sg-security.zip file you've downloaded
4. Click the 'Install Now' button
5. Go to Plugins -> Installed Plugins and click the 'Activate' link under the WordPress Security Optimizer by SiteGround listing

Version 1.5.7 Release Date Nov 21st, 2024

• Translation loading improvements

Version 1.5.6 Release Date: Oct 9th, 2024

• Custom Login URL improvements
• 2FA improvements
• Activity Log improvements

Version 1.5.5 Release Date: Sep 18th, 2024

• Options improvements.
• Block Service improvements.

Version 1.5.4 Release Date: Sep 10th, 2024

• Activity log code improvements.
• Salt Shaker code improvements.

Version 1.5.3 Release Date: Aug 27th, 2024

• Code Improvements.

Version 1.5.2 Release Date: Aug 1st, 2024

• Improved Custom Login Url handling
• Improved Plugins Reinstall actions
• Improved Translations
• Improved plugin config
• Fixed deprecated warnings in custom WP-CLI commands

Version 1.5.1 Release Date: July 17th, 2024

• Improved Activity log bot detection
• Improved Activity log logout handling
• Improved 2FA with third-party custom logins
• Improved compatibility with third-party plugins
• Security improvements related to plugin notices

Version 1.5.0 Release Date: May 23rd, 2024

• Improved support for PHP 8.2 and 8.3.
• Improved plugin configuration.

Version 1.4.13 Release Date: Mar 27th, 2024

• Plugin optimization.

Version 1.4.12 Release Date: Feb 20th, 2024

• Bugfixes related to cookies and 2FA

Version 1.4.11 Release Date: Feb 14th, 2024

• Security improvements related to cookies
• Performance improvements

Version 1.4.10 Release Date: Jan 11th, 2024

• Static assets are now part of the plugin package and load locally.
• New users will be prompted to give their consent for the collection of technical data upon their initial use of the plugin.

Version 1.4.9 Release Date: Dec 12th, 2023

• Improved detection of bots in activity log
• Improved feature “Reinstall All Free Plugins” - deactivated plugins no longer get activated after the reinstall.

Version 1.4.8 Release Date: Nov 22nd, 2023

• Dashboard visuals improvements
• Readme file improvements
• Weekly Security Report improved translations

Version 1.4.7 Release Date: Oct 24th, 2023

• Data collection opt out option
• Readme file formatting improvements
• Plugin name formatting improvements
• Weekly Activity Report Sending Schedule Randomisation

Version 1.4.6 Release Date: Sept 26th, 2023

• Changing the name we use inside the plugin from SiteGround Security to Security Optimizer
• Updating data collection process and Introducing a link in the plugin interface to the Plugin Privacy notice

Version 1.4.5 Release Date: May 4th, 2023

• Improved log cleanup

Version 1.4.4 Release Date: May 3rd, 2023

• Improved Visitors DB table indexing
• Block service restored

Version 1.4.3 Release Date: Apr 27th, 2023

• Block service temporally disabled

Version 1.4.2 Release Date: Apr 27th, 2023

• Improved Activity Log process and filters
• Improved restricted login response code
• Improved PHP 8.2 compatibility
• Alternative constant added for non-standard cron job usage

Version 1.4.1 Release Date: Feb 23rd, 2023

• Internal configuration improvements

Version 1.4.0 Release Date: Feb 1st, 2023

• Internal configuration changes

Version 1.3.9 Release Date: Jan 25th, 2023

• Improved Foogra Theme support

Version 1.3.8 Release Date: Dec 6th, 2022

• Improved Rest response
• Improved Settings Page checks
• Improved Disable Themes & Plugins Editor

Version 1.3.7 Release Date: Nov 15th, 2022

• SG Security Dashboard bugfix
• Improved 2FA Encryption key validation
• Improved Custom Login/Register URL validation
• Improved LiteSpeed Cache support
• Option to use custom 2FA encryption key filepath

Version 1.3.6 Release Date: Nov 8th, 2022

• Improved 2FA security with encryption
• Improved Access Log filters
• New WP-CLI command: reset all users 2FA setup

Version 1.3.5 Release Date: Oct 18th, 2022

• Improved Custom Login URL
• Improved Activity log

Version 1.3.4 Release Date: Oct 10th, 2022

• Install service fix

Version 1.3.3 Release Date: Oct 10th, 2022

• New Manage Activity Log option
• New filter - Disable activity log
• Improved Custom login url
• Improved WP-CLI support
• Improved Jetpack plugin support
• Improved error handling
• Minor bug fixes
• Legacy code removed

Version 1.3.2 Release Date: Sept 21st, 2022

• 2FA Backup codes security strengthening

Version 1.3.1 Release Date: Sept 13th, 2022

• 2FA Authentication Security Strengthening
• IP Address detection Security Strengthening

Version 1.3.0 Release Date: July 14th, 2022

• Brand New Design
• Improved 2FA Authentication compatibility with Elementor custom login pages
• Improved data collection
• Minor fixes

Version 1.2.9 Release Date: June 20th, 2022

• NEW Filters for "Lock and Protect System Folders" excludes
• Improved IP Ranges support
• Improved Blocked IP addresses list
• Improved Delete the Default Readme.html
• Improved 2FA Authentication validation
• Improved 2FA Authentication support for "My Account" login
• Improved Data Collection
• Minor fixes

Version 1.2.8 Release Date: May 18th, 2022

• Improved plugin security

Version 1.2.7 Release Date: April 8th, 2022

• Minor bug fixes

Version 1.2.6 Release Date: April 7th, 2022

• 2FA Refactoring

Version 1.2.5 Release Date: April 6th, 2022

• 2FA Authentication refactoring
• Improved Weekly Emails
• HTST service deprecated

Version 1.2.4 Release Date: March 16th, 2022

• Improved Weekly Emails
• Improved Woocommerce Payments plugin support
• 2FA Authentication Security Strengthening

Version 1.2.3 Release Date: March 11th, 2022

• 2FA Authentication Security Strengthening

Version 1.2.2 Release Date: March 11th, 2022

• 2FA Authentication Security Strengthening

Version 1.2.1 Release Date: March 9th, 2022

• Improved Weekly reports
• Improved HTTP Headers service
• Code Refactoring

Version 1.2.0 Release Date: February 28th, 2022

• NEW – Weekly Reports
• Code Refactoring and General Improvements
• Improved 2FA user role support
• Improved error handling
• Improved Limit Login IP Range support
• Improved Event log
• Improved Phlox theme support
• Minor fixes
• Improved WP-CLI support
• Environment data collection consent added

Version 1.1.3 Release Date: October 1st, 2021

• Improved Hide WP version functionality

Version 1.1.2 Release Date: August 20th, 2021

• Improved Custom Login URL functionality
• Improved 2FA
• Improved success/error messages

Version 1.1.1 Release Date: August 12th, 2021

• Improved 2FA
• Improved logout functionality

Version 1.1.0 Release Date: July 27th, 2021

• NEW! Added 2FA backup codes to the profile edit page
• NEW! Custom login and registration URLs
• NEW! Added automatic HSTS headers generation
• Improved Disable common usernames functionality
• Improved Mass Logout Service
• Improved Activity Logging and added custom labeling
• Improved Password Reset functionality

Version 1.0.4

• Improved Limit Login Attempts

Version 1.0.3

• Fixed rating box bug on safari
• Improved RSS & ATOM Feed Disabler service

Version 1.0.2

• Added filter to configure log lifetime
• Added WP CLI support
• Improved strings

Version 1.0.1

• Added defaults on install
• Improved translation support
• Added cleanup on uninstall

Version 1.0.0

• First stable release.

Version 0.1

• Initial release.

Data Collection Collection of technical data is optional and is listed here. This data is collected only for technical analysis, improvements and the possibility to contact the plugin user in case urgent issues need to be fixed (for example a critical security release that needs to be communicated to site owners). The plugin user can manage their preferences within the WP admin to control the collection of technical data. We advise opting in for this data collection, as it can enhance the plugin's performance. You may find more information on data collection in our Plugins Privacy Notice.