iThemes Security Review 2024 – Is It the Best WordPress Security Plugin? [An In-Depth Analysis]

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world, powering over 43% of the internet. With its ease of use and wide range of features, it’s no wonder why so many businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs turn to WordPress for their website needs.

Unfortunately, as WordPress becomes more popular, it also becomes increasingly attractive to malicious hackers seeking to exploit weaknesses in its security.

To protect your website from being compromised, it’s essential to ensure that you have a robust security solution in place. And one of the best ways to ensure your website is secure is to have a WordPress security plugin installed on your website.

A WordPress security plugin can provide an extra layer of protection and help protect your website from potential hackers and their malicious activities.

In this iThemes Security review post, we’ll look at one of the most popular WordPress security plugins and see how it can help you protect your website.

We’ll also discuss the features that make iThemes Security stand out from the competition and why you should consider using it on your site.

So, let’s get started!

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Latest Updates 🎉 – iThemes Security team has recently unveiled an innovative new feature – “Biometric Logins with Passkeys” – which provides a powerful enhancement to their security suite. This feature allows you to log in with biometric authentication, adding an extra layer of security to your website.

About iThemes Security

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iThemes Security is a comprehensive security solution for WordPress that helps protect your site from malicious attacks and unwanted security threats.

It is designed to be user-friendly while providing essential security features such as firewall protection, malware scanning, and two-factor authentication to help keep your website data safe and secure.

With the iThemes Security plugin, you can protect your site from malicious hackers, malicious bots, and other security threats. It also provides a way to back up and restore your site, and can even help protect your site from brute-force attacks.

In addition, the iThemes security plugin is available in both a free and pro version. The free version provides limited features.

However, if you want additional premium features, then you will need to upgrade to the iThemes security pro version which will provide an extra layer of protection for your website.

The Team Behind iThemes Security

iThemes Security is a flagship product of StellarWP and was developed by the same team behind Liquid Web, which has been around since 1997.

The company offers a wide range of products, including themes, plugins, and hosting services, making it a one-stop solution for website security, design, and hosting.

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With years of experience providing WordPress & internet security services, iThemes Security is fully equipped to meet all your security needs.

If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy WordPress security solution, iThemes Security could be just what you are looking for.

Now, let’s explore some of the key features of iThemes Security and see why it’s become one of the leading WordPress security solutions.

iThemes Security Features & Functionality

With the rapid growth of WordPress, websites are becoming increasingly vulnerable to malicious attacks.

iThemes Security is a powerful WordPress security plugin that helps protect your website from potential security threats.

It offers a wide range of features, from two-factor authentication to password strength checks, and provides a comprehensive set of tools for website security.

In this section, we’ll explore the various iThemes Security features, and how they can help make your website more secure.

1. Most Comprehensive Vulnerability Database

As a WordPress user, you know that keeping your site secure is essential. But with so many vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins and themes, it can be difficult to keep track of them all.

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That’s where iThemes Security comes in. It offers the most comprehensive vulnerability database available for WordPress, scanning your website for known vulnerabilities and providing detailed reports on any potential security issues.

This ensures that your website is always up-to-date and protected from malicious attacks.

2. Google Safe Browsing API Integration

Google Safe Browsing is a service provided by Google that helps protect users from potentially harmful web resources, such as malware-infected websites or phishing sites.

The Google Safe Browsing API is a way for developers to programmatically access this service and integrate it into their own applications or websites.

Using the API, developers can check URLs against Google’s lists of known malicious websites and receive a report indicating whether or not the URL is safe to visit.

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Fortunately, iThemes Security provides an easy and effective way to integrate with the Google Safe Browsing API to ensure your website is not present on Google’s blocklist. With built-in Site Scan, you can easily monitor your website’s security status in real-time and receive email notifications if your website is flagged as containing malware.

This way, you can take immediate action to protect your website and ensure it’s safe from malicious attacks.

3. Advanced Brute Force Protection Network

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Brute force protection is a security measure that is designed to protect against brute force attacks, which are a type of cyber-attack where an attacker repeatedly attempts to guess a password or other authentication credential by trying a large number of possible combinations.

iThemes Security provides advanced brute force protection through a global network of WordPress sites that actively monitor for malicious IPs and block them prior to any damage being caused.

By activating the Brute Force Protection Network, you’re joining a larger network of websites (more than 1 million) that are working together to protect each other and keep malicious activity at bay.

This feature is especially useful for websites that are frequently targeted by malicious bots and hackers, as it provides an extra layer of security that can help keep your site safe.

4. Biometric Logins with Passkeys

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If you’re looking for a more secure and convenient way to protect your website from unauthorized access, you’ll be glad to know that iThemes Security Pro recently introduced a unique feature called Passkeys.

Passkeys allow you to log in with biometric authentication, meaning instead of typing in a password, you can use your fingerprint or face recognition on your MacBook, Windows Hello, and many others to securely and quickly access your website.

Not only is this technology more secure, but it is also more convenient, enabling you to log in with just one touch or glance.

This is an incredibly secure and convenient way to protect your website, and it’s one of the many features that make iThemes Security stand out from the rest.

Interesting Fact😲- iThemes Security is the first security plugin available in the market that offers biometric login, a built-in feature that adds an extra layer of security to your website.

5. Trusted Devices Access

Protecting your WordPress site from malicious actors is no easy task. With the ever-evolving threat landscape, it’s important to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.

This is where iThemes Security Pro’s Trusted Devices feature comes in. It helps you identify and protect your WordPress site from unauthorized access by identifying which devices you and other users use to access your WordPress site.

With its advanced security features, iThemes Security can quickly detect and block any unauthorized login attempts to protect your website from malicious activity. Additionally, you will be notified of the attempted breach via a notification email and given the option to confirm the blocking of unrecognized devices.

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This is especially useful for websites that have multiple users logging in from different locations, as it ensures that only trusted devices can access the website.

This feature also helps to protect your website from brute force attacks, as it will block any attempts to log in from an unrecognized device.

6. iThemes Security Magic Links

Have you ever been locked out of your WordPress dashboard due to a brute-force attack? It can be a frustrating experience, but luckily iThemes Security offers an advanced feature called Magic Links that can help you bypass the lockout and regain access to your WordPress dashboard.

With Magic Links, you can request a unique, authorized link to be sent to your email. This link will allow you to log in to your site while preventing brute-force attackers from gaining access.

Quick Note – Regardless of whether you have the magic link, you will still need to enter your username and password to access your WordPress Dashboard. Additionally, if you have activated two-factor authentication, you must also authorize your login using the method you have selected.

7. Protection Against Automated Attacks

Automated attacks are a major threat to any website, and iThemes Security Pro provides powerful protection against them. The software uses advanced algorithms to detect and block automated attacks such as brute force attempts, DDoS attacks, and malicious bots.

It also has an integrated firewall that can be configured to block specific IP addresses or ranges of IP addresses from accessing your website.

This feature is especially useful for websites that are frequently targeted by malicious bots and hackers.

8. Stop WordPress Security Breaches

WordPress security breaches can be devastating for any website, and iThemes Security Pro provides a comprehensive set of features to help you protect your website from malicious actors.

The plugin includes two-factor authentication, which requires users to enter a code sent to their mobile device or email address in order to access the site. This adds an extra layer of security that makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your website.

It also includes a malware scanner that can detect and remove malicious code from your website, as well as a file integrity checker that will alert you if any of your files have been modified without your knowledge.

With these features, you can rest assured that your website is secure and protected from potential threats.

9. Temporary Privilege Escalation

Have you ever needed to provide someone with temporary access to your website? Maybe it’s a developer or a support tech that needs access to debug a problem. You don’t want to create a new user account, but you need to give them access.

With iThemes Security Pro, you can do this easily with the Privilege Escalation feature. This feature allows you to create a universal user and assign it the Subscriber role so that the user only has access to the parts of the website that you want them to have access to.

Then, when you need to provide someone with temporary access, you can bump the user up to an Administrator role. This allows you to keep your website secure while still providing access to those who need it.

The temporary privilege escalation is granted only for a short period of time and will expire within 24 hours. At that point, all access levels associated with the original privilege escalation will be revoked without any further action required from you.

10. Built-in reCAPTCHA Protection

iThemes Security Pro also includes built-in reCAPTCHA protection to help protect your website from spam registration attempts and brute-force login attempts. This feature adds an extra layer of security to your WordPress login page, comments section, and user registration page.

The reCAPTCHA system works by presenting users with a challenge that must be completed before they can access the website. This challenge is usually a simple question or task that requires the user to prove they are human.

This feature helps protect your website from automated attacks and makes it much harder for malicious actors to gain access to your website.

11. iThemes Sync Integration

When it comes to WordPress site management, it’s essential that you have a powerful platform at your fingertips. That’s why iThemes Security Pro includes integration with iThemes Sync, a powerful platform for WordPress websites.

With iThemes Sync, you can not only manage multiple WordPress sites from one centralized dashboard, but also take advantage of enhanced security measures, improved performance, and more.

In this way, you can keep track of the security status of all your websites in real-time and be notified when any changes are made to them. This provides an extra layer of security that helps protect your websites from malicious actors.

This feature is especially useful for website owners who manage multiple WordPress sites, as it allows them to keep track of all their websites in one place.

12. WP-CLI Integration

If you’re looking for a powerful way to manage and maintain your website’s security settings, then you should consider the integration of iThemes Security Pro with WP-CLI.

WP-CLI is a command line interface specifically designed for WordPress, and its integration with iThemes Security Pro allows you to easily automate routine maintenance and security tasks without having to manually log in to the WordPress dashboard.

With this approach, you can quickly and efficiently manage the security of your website without having to navigate through the WordPress dashboard.

Why Choose iThemes Security Pro – 10 Strong Reasons

Website security is a major concern for businesses of all sizes. With the rise of cyber threats, it’s important to have a secure website to protect your data and keep your customers safe.

As you already know, choosing the right security plugin for your WordPress website is an important decision. iThemes Security is an all-in-one security solution for WordPress websites that offers a wide range of features to protect your website from malicious actors.

Here are 10 strong reasons why you should choose iThemes Security Pro over other security plugins available in the market:

1. Brand Trust – iThemes products, including iThemes Security, are part of the StellarWP brand, a subsidiary of the reputable hosting company, Liquid Web. Liquid Web has been in the hosting industry since 1997, and its reputation for reliability is well-established.

This means that if you choose iThemes Security for your business, you can trust that it is a reliable product backed by a reputable company.

2. Easy to Use – iThemes Security WordPress plugin is easy to use and set up. It comes with a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to configure the plugin’s settings and customize them according to your needs.

3. Comprehensive Security Features – iThemes Security Pro provides comprehensive security features that help protect your website from malicious actors.

It includes features like two-factor authentication, password strength enforcement, WP-CLI integration, file change detection, user activity logging, and many more.

4. WordPress Security Grade Report – iThemes Security Pro also provides a WordPress security grade report that shows you how secure your website is and what areas need improvement.

This report helps you identify any security weaknesses on your website and take the necessary steps to fix them.

5. Regular Security Patches & Updates – It is essential to stay abreast of the latest security patches and features to protect against the ever-changing threat landscape.

iThemes Security Pro is an optimal security solution for WordPress websites, as it offers frequent updates with new features and security patches to ensure your website remains secure.

6. Competitive & Affordable Pricing – iThemes Security Pro is a cost-effective security solution for businesses of all sizes, offering a range of pricing plans tailored to suit varying budgets and requirements.

It offers a competitive price compared to other security plugins in the market, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking a comprehensive security solution.

7. Compatibility – iThemes Security plugin is compatible with almost all major popular WordPress themes and plugins and hosting, making it easy to integrate into your existing website setup.

8. Setting Import & Export – Security Pro also includes a setting import and export feature, which allows you to quickly and easily transfer settings from one website to another. This is especially useful if you manage multiple WordPress websites and need to keep their security settings consistent across all of them.

With this feature, you can quickly and easily transfer settings from one website to another without having to manually configure each site individually.

9. Support & Documentation – The iThemes Security Pro team is committed to providing exceptional customer service, with a knowledgeable staff available to answer all of your questions. They offer private ticket support via email, allowing you to get quick assistance when needed.

In addition, they provide comprehensive documentation and tutorials on their website to facilitate learning and usage of the plugin.

10. 30-Day Refund Policy – iThemes Security Pro also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the plugin risk-free.

This refund policy provides peace of mind that you can get your money back if the plugin does not meet your expectations.

All in all, when it comes to website security, iThemes Security Pro is the leading WordPress plugin for keeping websites safe. It offers a comprehensive suite of security features that can help protect your website from malicious attacks, malware, and other cyber threats.

With its easy-to-use interface and robust security tools, iThemes Security Pro is a must-have for any website owner looking to protect their online presence. But what does iThemes Security Pro cost?

Now let’s take a look at the pricing plans offered by iThemes Security Pro.

iThemes Security Pro Pricing & Plans

iThemes Security Pro offers a range of pricing plans tailored to suit varying budgets and requirements. The plugin is available in three different tiers: Basic, Plus, and Agency.

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1. Basic Plan – ($99/year)

The Basic Plan costs you $99/year and offers you unrestricted, yearly access to all product premium features and updates for one website. If you are a blogger or a small business owner, this plan is ideal for you.

2. Plus Plan – ($199/year)

The Plus Plan costs $199/year and offers unrestricted access to all premium features and updates for up to 5 websites.

3. Agency Plan – ($299/year)

The Agency Plan costs $299/year and provides unrestricted access to all premium features and updates for up to 10 websites. This plan is ideal for agencies or businesses that manage multiple websites.

Now let’s have a look at some of the advanced features you will get with all the plans.

• Ban Bad Users & Bots
• Block Specific IP Addresses and User Agents
• File Change Detection
• Reduce Comment Spam
• Local & Network Brute Force Protection
• Customizable Lockout Messages
• Strong Passwords Enforcement
• Two-factor Authentication
• Import & Export iThemes Security Settings
• WordPress Core Online File Comparison
• WordPress User Security Check
• Magic Links & Password-less Login
• WordPress Security Grade Report
• And Many More

iThemes Security Free vs Pro Plan Comparison

When it comes to website security, iThemes Security Pro is the leading WordPress plugin for keeping websites safe. It offers a comprehensive suite of security features that can help protect your website from malicious attacks, malware, and other cyber threats. But how does it compare to the free version?

However, the free version doesn’t provide the same level of protection as the Pro version, but it comes with some decent security features.

Now, let’s compare the features of the free and Pro versions so you can decide which is best for you.

Features	iThemes Security Free	iThemes Security Pro
Ban Bad Users & Bots	✅	✅
Block Specific IP and User Agents	✅	✅
Database Backups	✅	✅
File Change Detection	✅	✅
Reduce Comment Spam	✅	✅
Local & Network Brute Force Protection	✅	✅
Customizable Lockout Messages	✅	✅
Strong Password Enforcement	✅	✅
iThemes Sync Integration	✅	✅
Two-factor Authentication	✅	✅
Settings Import & Export	❌	✅
WordPress Core File Comparison	❌	✅
User Activity Logging	❌	✅
Temporary Privilege Escalation	❌	✅
WordPress User Security Check	❌	✅
Magic Links & Password-less Login	❌	✅
WP-CLI Integration	❌	✅
Real-time WordPress Security Dashboard	❌	✅
Version Management	❌	✅
WordPress Security Grade Report	❌	✅
Built-in reCAPTCHA	❌	✅
Trusted Devices	❌	✅
Refuse Compromised Passwords	❌	✅
Private, Ticketed Support	❌	✅

How to Configure the iThemes Security Pro Plugin?

Getting started with iThemes Security Pro is quite a simple and straightforward process. To begin, purchase a pro license and then install the iThemes Security WordPress plugin on your website.

Here’s how it’s done.

Step 1: Click on this exclusive link that will take you to the official website of iThemes Security. Once there click on the “Buy iThemes Security Pro” button.

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Step 2: Next, Choose the plan that best suits your needs and click on the “Buy Now” button.

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Step 3: After that, you will be taken to the checkout page where you can enter your account information and payment details. Once all is done, click on the “Submit Payment” button.

Step 4: As soon as you finish your purchase, you will receive an email confirmation with your order details. Then, log in to your iThemes Security account where you can download the zip file of the plugin. After that install the plugin on your WordPress website.

Step 5: Once the plugin is installed, you can start configuring it to secure your website. To do this, go to the iThemes Security dashboard and click on the “Security” tab. Here you will find all the settings that you can configure according to your needs.

Pros & Cons – iThemes Security Plugin

All in all, iThemes Security is one of the most popular WordPress security plugins available today. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that can help protect your website from malicious attacks, malware, and other cyber threats. But like any other plugin, it has its pros and cons.

So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of iThemes Security.

Pros:

• Comprehensive suite of security features.

• Easy to configure and use.

• Biometric logins with passkeys which allows you to log in with biometric authentication.

• Offers two-factor authentication for added security.

• Includes a WordPress Security Grade Report to help you identify weak points in your website’s security.

• Offers password-less login and magic links for added security.

Cons:

• The free version does not offer the same level of protection as the Pro version.

• Some of the advanced settings may be hard to configure.

• Beginners can be overwhelmed by the number of customization options available.

iThemes Security vs Wordfence Security

If you search for WordPress Security plugins then you will find multiple options available. But two of the most popular plugins are iThemes Security and Wordfence Security. Both of these plugins offer a comprehensive suite of features to help protect your website from malicious attacks, malware, and other cyber threats.

But which one is better?

In this section, we will compare the features of iThemes Security and Wordfence Security to help you decide which one is right for your website.

So, let’s get started!

Features	iThemes Security	Wordfence Security
Free Plan	✅	✅
Pro Plan	✅	✅
Pricing Starts at	$99/Year	$119/Year
Two-Factor Authentication	✅	✅
Leaked Password Protection	✅	✅
File Change Detection	✅	✅
Vulnerability Scanner	✅	✅
Monitor Live Traffic	❌	✅
Change WP-Content Path	✅	❌
Database Backups	✅	❌
404 Detection	✅	❌
Magic Login Links	✅	❌
Passwordless Logins	✅	❌
Online File Comparison	✅	✅
Hide WP Login/URL	✅	❌
Site Blacklist Checks	✅	✅
Web Application Firewall	❌	✅
Content Safety Checks	❌	✅
Biometric Login	✅	❌
Security Grade Report	✅	❌
Network IP Blocking	✅	✅
File Permission Check	✅	❌
Force SSL	✅	❌
Country Blocking	❌	✅
Hack Repair	✅	✅
Password Expiration	✅	❌

Well, both plugins offer a great set of features and it really depends on your needs. But if we compare both sides by side, then iThemes Security offers a more reliable, feature-rich, and affordable security solution for your website.

So, if you are looking for a comprehensive security solution for your WordPress website, iThemes Security is the way to go.

FAQs – iThemes Security Review 2024

Recommended Read: WP Rocket Review 2024 | MonsterInsights Review 2024

Final Thoughts on iThemes Security Plugin

In this iThemes Security review post, we have covered everything that you should know about the plugin so that you can take an informed decision.

Overall, iThemes Security is a great choice for WordPress users who want to protect their websites from malicious attacks and other cyber threats.

It offers a comprehensive suite of features that are easy to configure and use. Plus, it includes two-factor authentication, password-less login, biometric logins with passkeys, and a WordPress Security Grade Report to help you identify weak points in your website’s security.

The free version of iThemes Security is a great way to get started, but if you need more advanced features and better protection, then the Pro version is worth considering.

And with its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try out the plugin risk-free and see if it meets your needs.

So if you’re looking for a reliable WordPress security plugin, then iThemes Security is definitely worth checking out.

We hope our iThemes security review provided you with the information you were looking for. If you have any additional questions or would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to reach out to us in the comments section. We would be happy to assist you.