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WP Fail2Ban Redux

By Brandon Allen

Security & Privacy / Security Scanning & Malware Protection

WP Fail2Ban Redux Review - In-Depth Analysis

WP Fail2Ban Redux logs WordPress events to your server's system log for Fail2Ban integration. It enhances security by tracking authentication attempts and errors.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.82/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 15+ reviews)

Active Installations

7,000+

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

WP Fail2Ban Redux records various WordPress events to your server's system log for integration with Fail2Ban.

This plugin is mostly a drop-in replacement for WP fail2ban by Charles Lecklider.

While WP fail2ban is a great plugin, there are a number of improvements that could be made. In order to facilitate these improvements, a major refactoring of the codebase was necessary.

The core functionality between WP Fail2Ban Redux and WP fail2ban remains the same. WP Fail2Ban Redux is considered to be mostly a drop-in replacement, because all constants have been replaced with filters, and will possibly require some upgrade work.

The following events are recorded by default:

Failed XML-RPC authentication attempts.
Successful authentication attempts.
Failed authentication attempts - differentiated by a user's existence.
Pingback errors.

The following events can be enabled via filter:

Pingback requests.
Blocked user enumeration attempts.
Authentication attempts for blocked usernames.
Spammed comments.

Extra documentation is available on the WP Fail2Ban Redux GitHub Wiki.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Fail2Ban Redux is a straightforward security plugin focusing on integrating WordPress login attempts with the Fail2Ban server tool. Compared to other login security plugins, it emphasizes simplicity and server-level logging rather than in-dashboard controls.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Seamless integration with Fail2Ban for server-level logging
No complicated setup or in-dashboard configuration needed
No premium or freemium upsells, fully functional free plugin
Lightweight and minimalistic, reducing resource usage

Weaknesses

Requires Fail2Ban to be configured on the server, which may be complex for some users
No in-dashboard interface for managing blocked attempts or settings
Lacks additional features like IP blocking or country restrictions
Not tested with the latest WordPress versions officially

User Sentiment Analysis

Users appreciate the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness in enhancing WordPress security through Fail2Ban integration.

Positive highlights

'Works perfect! All failed logins reliably logged to server auth.log.' - galactica333
'Could not be simpler to use, just install and activate.' - thnilsen
'Underrated and a must-have for WordPress security.' - teeboy4real
'Easy, effective, no unnecessary control panel or premium parts.' - ABCdatos
'No premium/freemium blocklist scam, just does what it's supposed to do.' - brt

Common complaints

No official testing with the latest WordPress versions
Requires server-level Fail2Ban setup which may be challenging
Lacks user interface for managing security settings

Weaknesses

No premium version means no advanced features
Limited to logging and relies on external Fail2Ban configuration
No built-in brute force protection features beyond logging

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who have Fail2Ban already configured on their servers and want a simple plugin to forward WordPress login attempts to it without extra overhead.

Not ideal for

Users without server access or those who prefer an all-in-one WordPress security plugin with a graphical interface and built-in blocking features.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes full functionality to log failed WordPress login attempts to the server's Fail2Ban system without any restrictions or upsells.

Final Verdict

WP Fail2Ban Redux is a no-nonsense plugin that effectively bridges WordPress login security with the powerful Fail2Ban server tool, ideal for users comfortable with server configurations.

While it lacks a user interface and advanced features found in other plugins, its simplicity, reliability, and absence of upsells make it a valuable tool for enhancing WordPress security in the right environment.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free WP Fail2Ban Redux plugin.

Fail2ban

Security

Syslog

FAQ

If you haven’t set any of the WP fail2ban constants, you don’t need to do anything. If you have set some of the constants, view the upgrade instructions.