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/ WP Hardening (discontinued)

WP Hardening (discontinued)

By WebProtect.ai

Security & Privacy / Security Scanning & Malware Protection

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

WP Hardening (discontinued) Review - In-Depth Analysis

WP Hardening is a one-click tool to enhance security on your WordPress site. It audits and fixes security issues with ease.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.93/10

User Rating

4/5 (based on 20+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6.1 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

WP Hardening is a tool which performs a real-time security audit of your website to find missing security best practices. Using our ‘Security Fixer’ you can also fix these with a single click from your WordPress backend.

IMPORTANT: This plugin is discontinued. This is to inform you that this plugin is no longer being maintained or updated. We have placed a discontinuation request with the WordPress team, and the plugin will soon be closed for new installations.

This plugin was launched as a side project and has sadly reached the end of its journey. Thank you for your understanding and for using our plugin. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We recommend that you deactivate and delete this plugin from your WordPress site as soon as possible. Please seek alternative plugins to replace the functionality provided by this plugin.

WP Hardening checks various aspects of your website's security, including WordPress version, outdated plugins, PHP version, file permissions, database password strength, and firewall protection.

It also provides security fixers to enhance admin and API security, disable unnecessary features, and protect against information disclosure.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Hardening offers practical security features but has several alternatives that provide more comprehensive or actively maintained solutions.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Provides practical protection features like API JSON lockdown at installation.
Lightweight and straightforward to use for basic hardening.
Free to use without requiring a paid upgrade.
Good initial rating with majority positive reviews.
Focuses on essential security hardening tasks.

Weaknesses

Plugin is discontinued and no longer maintained.
Known security vulnerabilities have been identified and fixed only in past versions.
Lacks advanced features and automation like 'click to fix' for file permissions.
No pro version or premium support available.

User Sentiment Analysis

With an 80% positive rating, users appreciate the plugin's practical security features, though some express frustration over lack of updates and support.

Positive highlights

'I like it – However ..' – appreciates practical protection features but notes missing automation (Krammig).
'WP Hardening does not accept WP 6.2' – identifies compatibility issues but acknowledges plugin's security intent (Agfuente).
'Overall it is quite a decent plugin' – users find it useful for basic hardening tasks (Krammig).

Common complaints

Plugin sends emails without user permission.
No support or updates for a long time, leading to errors.
Developers have abandoned the plugin, causing it to become outdated.
Plugin is no longer maintained, leading users to move on.

Weaknesses

Discontinued status leads to lack of updates and support.
Security vulnerabilities were present in earlier versions.
File Permission Checker lacks user-friendly automation.
Compatibility issues with newer WordPress versions.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a lightweight, straightforward security hardening plugin for basic protection and who do not require ongoing support or advanced features.

Not ideal for

Those needing active support, regular updates, advanced security features, or assurance against known vulnerabilities should consider other maintained security plugins.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential WordPress security hardening features such as API JSON lockdown and file permission checks.

Final Verdict

WP Hardening provides useful basic security hardening features and has been positively received for its practical approach. However, its discontinued status, lack of updates, and known past vulnerabilities significantly limit its suitability for current use. Users should be cautious about relying on it for ongoing security needs.

Given the availability of many actively maintained alternatives with broader feature sets and better support, WP Hardening is best suited only for those who need a simple, no-cost solution and are aware of its limitations and risks. For most users, exploring other plugins is recommended.