Salt Shaker enhances WordPress security by changing WordPress security keys and salts manually and automatically.
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 89/100
no flags
Active installs
7K+
≈7.2K estimated
Momentum
+16%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “security” and “security keys” for “keys” and “encrypt”. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “keys” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “security keys” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “encrypt” sits at #13 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
89 health vs 66 average across 1,778 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.8%
of downloads still active
At least 7K of 251.1K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,061 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 3 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 12 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.7★ over 27 reviews, smoothed to 4.31★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
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.
49
Momentum
Holding steady
+0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
42%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+0.7
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| salt keys your tag | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| salts your tag | #1 | #2 | up 1 |
| authentication keys your tag | #13 | #16 | up 2 |
| keys | #12 | #18 | down 2 |
| encrypt | #13 | #15 | up 1 |
| security your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| security keys your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
20 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 5 listed. 15 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “security” and “security keys” for “keys” and “encrypt”. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “keys” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “security keys” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “encrypt” sits at #13 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 “authentication keys”. #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 · 1,490 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 15.7K · 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
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
3
releases in the last 12 months
12d ago
latest release · v2.1.2 · 21 Oct 2026
35
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 60% run the current release. 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 “7K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2 months ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just over 7K.
At the current install trend, crossing 8K+ in roughly 136 days.
Install history since 14 Jul 2017
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ muhammedhamed2.4y ago
good and valid
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Jimmy Lee3.5y ago
Reviewed the changelog before installing, glad file permissions are now left alone, confirmed, all working as expected. Great plugin, thanks! 5-Stars!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ now4dw3.7y ago
This is a simple, elegant and yet powerful addition to any security you might already have on your site/sites. I have been the victim of cookie hijacking. It wasn’t a pleasant experience! This plugin ensures you and your team log out according to a fixed schedule resulting in a fresh cookie when you log back in. Indispensable!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ gopalb1233.7y ago
This plugin (Salt Shaker) is amazing, and every WP website needs it. Use this plugin to keep your website secure.<gwmw style=”display:none;”></gwmw>
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Tawfiq Makhamreh3.8y ago
this is great plugin, each site should have it. you will not have it with other plugins, keep your site safe
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ saadezz4.4y ago
The plugin works fine
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Breinbrouwsels5.1y ago
This plugin left me with a white screen
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Md. Redwan Hossain5.4y ago
Great plugin. This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by Md. Redwan Hossain. This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by Md. Redwan Hossain. This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by Md. Redwan Hossain.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.1.1 Fixed an issue with 2.1.0 not working because of a missing Freemius SDK file. 2.1.1
- — Version 2.1.0 Added comprehensive audit trail logging for all salt rotations Automatic cleanup of old logs with configurable retention periods Performance improvements and better error handling WordPress 6.9 compatibility 2.1.0
- — Version 2.0.1 Improved salt generation and replacement WordPress 6.8 compatibility Read the full changelog here 2.0.1
- — Version 2.1.2 Updated Freemius SDK to the latest version 2.1.2
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (2.1.2). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2023-07-18 CVE-2023-33999 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects 1.4.1 Patched in 1.4.2
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.
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 8 languages, 0 at 90% or more
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.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
4 of 8 pass · checked 28 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 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 1 list; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,266 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "authentication keys" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-09-03 6K+ → 7K+ up after 177 days in tier
- 2026-03-10 5K+ → 6K+ up after 3 days in tier
- 2026-03-07 6K+ → 5K+ down after 5 days in tier
- 2026-03-02 5K+ → 6K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-03-01 6K+ → 5K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2026-02-27 5K+ → 6K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-02-26 6K+ → 5K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-02-25 5K+ → 6K+ up after 3 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).
-
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Hostinger Tools 3M+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag B -
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ installs · 3.7★ · 1 shared tag B -
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
Loginizer 1M+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Salt Shaker into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/salt-shaker" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Salt Shaker — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Salt Shaker: 7K+ active installs, 4.7★ (27 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-02. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/salt-shaker
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