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BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security

By Jeff Starr

Security & Privacy / Security Scanning & Malware Protection

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security Review - In-Depth Analysis

The fastest firewall plugin for WordPress. Protect against a wide range of threats with minimal performance impact.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.8/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 160+ reviews)

Active Installations

100,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Install, activate, and done! BBQ Firewall is a lightweight, blazing-fast firewall plugin that protects your site against a wide range of threats. BBQ checks all incoming traffic and quietly blocks bad requests containing nasty stuff like eval(), base64_, and excessively long request-strings. This is a simple yet solid solution for sites that are unable to use a strong Apache/.htaccess firewall.

BBQ protects your site against many threats, including SQL injection attacks, executable file uploads, directory traversal attacks, unsafe character requests, and many more. It works great with other security plugins and is designed to be hassle-free and easy to use.

This plugin does not collect or store any user data, ensuring user privacy. Regularly updated and lightweight, BBQ Firewall is the perfect solution for enhancing your site's security.

Comparing to Alternatives

BBQ Firewall stands out in the WordPress security plugin landscape with its unique approach and lightweight design. While there are several alternatives available, BBQ Firewall offers a distinct balance of simplicity and effectiveness.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Extremely lightweight and fast, causing minimal impact on site performance
Easy to set up and use, suitable for users of all skill levels
Highly effective at blocking bad bots and malicious queries
Excellent and responsive support from the developer
Unique design philosophy tailored specifically for WordPress environments

Weaknesses

Lacks some advanced features found in more comprehensive security suites
Limited customization options compared to some competitors
Pro version details are less prominently promoted, which may confuse some users

User Sentiment Analysis

With an outstanding 4.9 out of 5 rating based on 160 reviews, user feedback for BBQ Firewall is overwhelmingly positive. The vast majority praise its simplicity, effectiveness, and developer support.

Positive highlights

'Easy to use, not complicated' – mikapin
'A fast, lightweight and highly effective firewall' – pgmachtweb
'Newbie Proof Plugin!' – sadduck
'Great plugin and fast support' – Aurélien Denis
'Outstanding support' – Bernhard Leube

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited advanced features compared to some other security plugins
Some users may desire more detailed configuration options

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward, lightweight, and effective WordPress firewall that requires minimal setup and maintenance will find BBQ Firewall ideal. It's especially suited for those who prefer a 'set it and forget it' security solution.

Not ideal for

Users needing a comprehensive security suite with extensive customization and advanced features might find BBQ Firewall too basic. Also, those looking for heavily promoted premium options may prefer alternatives with clearer pro offerings.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers robust firewall protection that blocks malicious queries and bad bots effectively, making it a valuable security tool for most WordPress sites.

Pro version (25 - 180 USD / one-time)

The pro version adds enhanced features and capabilities beyond the free offering, though specific premium features are not prominently detailed in the plugin's promotion.

Final Verdict

BBQ Firewall is a highly effective and lightweight WordPress security plugin that excels in simplicity and performance. Its excellent user ratings and responsive developer support make it a trustworthy choice for users wanting reliable firewall protection without complexity.

While it may lack some advanced features found in other security plugins, its unique design and ease of use make it an excellent option for most WordPress site owners. The presence of a pro version offers potential for enhanced functionality, rounding out its appeal.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security plugin.

firewall

security

web application firewall

FAQ

To test that the plugin is working, you can request any of the blocked patterns. For example, visit your site’s homepage and enter the following URL:

https://example.com/eval(

Replace example.com with your site’s actual domain. If BBQ is active, the request for that URL will be blocked (with a “403 Forbidden” status). This means the plugin is working properly. You can test other patterns as well. To view all the patterns blocked by BBQ, look at the function bbq_core() located in block-bad-queries.php.