MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall
by malcare · Security
Get Bulletproof Security for your WordPress site. WordPress security plugin packed with comprehensive Firewall, malware scanner, cleaner & more.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 86/100
no flags
Active installs
100K+
≈190K estimated
Momentum
-46%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “firewall” and “vulnerabilities” for “block hackers” and “malware detection”. “firewall” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #14. “block hackers” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “vulnerabilities” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “malware detection” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
86 health vs 66 average across 1,776 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →0.5%
of downloads still active
At least 100K of 18.9M lifetime downloads are still running, below its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,059 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Security plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 12 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 1 day ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.4★ over 559 reviews, smoothed to 4.38★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
2 of 2 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
58
Momentum
Gaining ground
+1.3
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
57%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+1.3
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| bulletproof | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| wordpress security plugin | #5 | #4 | up 1 |
| hack | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| malware removal your tag | #5 | #4 | 0 |
| geo blocking | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| hacked | #3 | #2 | up 1 |
| security plugin | #6 | #4 | up 1 |
| wordpress security your tag | #6 | #5 | up 2 |
| malware | #6 | #6 | 0 |
| malware scanner your tag | #6 | #4 | down 1 |
| scanner | #7 | #5 | down 1 |
| cleaner | #8 | #6 | up 1 |
| block hackers | #5 | #5 | 0 |
| malware detection | #5 | #3 | up 2 |
| uptime | #6 | #4 | up 4 |
| security | #11 | #10 | up 1 |
| content security policy | #7 | #7 | up 4 |
| web security | #7 | #6 | up 3 |
| wordpress malware removal | #4 | #3 | up 2 |
| malware scan | #7 | #5 | up 1 |
330 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 273 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Swap “firewall” and “vulnerabilities” for “block hackers” and “malware detection”. “firewall” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #14. “block hackers” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “vulnerabilities” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “malware detection” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “firewall”. #14 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
- One page off on “vulnerabilities”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2M · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
12
releases in the last 12 months
yesterday
latest release · v6.81 · 30 Oct 2026
89
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “100K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 45 days ago and the previous band took 21 months to cross, so the real count is still just under 200K.
Install history since 12 May 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ kenswinton4mo ago
I completely messed my login up and was unable to change my password. I raised a ticket which was answered within an hour. I followed the provided link with a temporary password, was able to log in and change the password to my own.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ doug452084mo ago
MalCare noticed a vulnerable plug-in. At first glance it looked okay on my end (was up-to-date and supported). So I submitted a ticket to ask for help on figuring out why it was flagged as vulnerable, and they responded very quickly and answered my question. This topic was modified 6 days, 20 hours ago by doug45208.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ debiemer4mo ago
I originally tried it when my host’s security couldn’t identify the source of a repeated compromise and malcare found the offending plugin. Support has been fantastic.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Anonymous4mo ago
MalCare is not only effective, the product service and support is timely, reliable and effective.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ casefixedwebdesign4mo ago
Great support from the team
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lucaswap4mo ago
Excellent support team, useful features, A+ experience and value.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ webmanonline5mo ago
The support team are very responsive indeed.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jamie13575mo ago
I was very happy and satisfied with the results of Bharath handling the hidden content on my site. Professional and very efficient. Thank you
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 6.48 Fix: Preserve default PHP error handling after PHP Error Monitoring processes an error. Tweak: Reduce repeated firewall IP whitelist lookups. 6.48
- — Version 6.47 Fix: Prevent stale WordPress core update cleanup rules from deleting files added by newer WordPress core packages. 6.47
- — Version 6.44 Tweak: Improved the WP core updates flow. Tweak: Improved the plugin auto-install flow. 6.44
- — Version 6.39 Tweak: Code Restructuring New: Added Connection key support 6.39
- — Version 6.36 New: Added deactivation feedback form to collect user feedback when deactivating the plugin Tweak: Improvements in Auto-login and File System Tweak: Code Restructuring 6.36
- — Version 6.02 Tweak: Improved Authentication 6.02
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (6.81). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Critical · 9.8 The WP Remote WordPress Plugin, Malcare Security, and BlogVault Backup & Staging < 6.65 - Unauthenticated Site Takeover via Brute Force ↗2026-08-24 CVE-2026-19718 Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) Affects < 6.65 Patched in 6.65
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Share of voice
How often each assistant names MalCare WordPress Security Plugin when asked about this topic, where it comes in the answer, and how that compares with its wp.org search position. Latest run 25 Oct 2026.
- Assistants
- ChatGPT, Claude
- Topics tracked
- Security
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 25 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ✓ Has a FAQ 30 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 30 of 30 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("perfect for"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Slack, Facebook.
- ✓ Headings and lists 37 headings and 26 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 8,479 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "vulnerabilities" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-09-16 200K+ → 100K+ down after 627 days in tier
- 2024-12-28 300K+ → 200K+ down after 11 days in tier
- 2024-12-17 400K+ → 300K+ down after 43 days in tier
- 2024-11-04 500K+ → 400K+ down after 110 days in tier
- 2024-07-17 400K+ → 500K+ up after 314 days in tier
- 2023-09-07 300K+ → 400K+ up after 262 days in tier
- 2022-12-19 200K+ → 300K+ up after 286 days in tier
- 2022-03-08 100K+ → 200K+ up after 164 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ installs · 3.9★ · 3 shared tags A -
Site Lockdown Security 700+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags A -
Watchdog Security Lite — Powered by Lumiverse Nexus 60+ installs · 4.0★ · 3 shared tags B -
Nexura Security — Malware Scanner, Firewall, 2FA & WordPress Security 10+ installs · 3.8★ · 3 shared tags B -
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A -
Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/malcare-security" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall: 100K+ active installs, 4.4★ (559 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/malcare-security
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