Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening
by Sucuri · Security
The Sucuri WordPress Security plugin is a security toolset for security integrity monitoring, malware detection and security hardening.
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 87/100
no flags
Active installs
600K+
≈650K estimated
Momentum
-1%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “spam” and “firewall” for “security scanner” and “threat”. “spam” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “security scanner” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “firewall” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “threat” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 66 average across 1,776 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.6%
of downloads still active
At least 600K of 37.6M lifetime downloads are still running, in line with its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,060 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 8 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
Recent review vibe
read from the latest 12 reviews to 2026-07-07Older reviews cite a run of hacks, poor support, and firewall lockouts, while the newest reviews report the scanner catching malware early with responsive support.
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 18 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.2★ over 386 reviews, smoothed to 4.19★
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.
39
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
21%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardening | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| sucuri | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| auditing | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| toolset | #2 | #1 | 0 |
| website hardening | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| scanner | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| malware scanner | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| sucuri scanner | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| integrity | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| malware detection | #3 | #6 | 0 |
| malware your tag | #4 | #7 | 0 |
| scan your tag | #5 | #7 | up 1 |
| vulnerability scanner | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| ddos | #3 | #4 | up 1 |
| site hardening | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| threat | #4 | #7 | down 1 |
| security scanner | #4 | #8 | 0 |
| detection | #6 | #9 | down 1 |
| monitoring | #6 | #9 | up 6 |
| vulnerability | #5 | #8 | up 1 |
| spam your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
342 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 275 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “spam” and “firewall” for “security scanner” and “threat”. “spam” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “security scanner” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “firewall” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “threat” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 1.8M · 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.
8
releases in the last 12 months
18d ago
latest release · v2.8.1 · 14 Oct 2026
117
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 “600K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 9 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Oct 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ grome324mo ago
Had a malware scare on an old site last year and Sucuri’s scanner caught it before it spread further. Support was responsive too. Recommend it for anyone managing multiple client sites.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ealfred8810mo ago
Solve my security problem cloaking, malicious database injections, that the Wordfence wasn’t able to remove.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ bogdantd2.6y ago
No hack since Sucuri. Before hacked.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ dsitechmktg2.8y ago
I’m really glad I set up this plugin because I was able to track suspicious logins and other security threats
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ irinasaratov22.8y ago
Плагин сразу нашел вирус, который был у меня на сайте, чем очень мне помог, т.к. другие плагины его не видели. Но плагин сломал мне админку Вордпресса, я теперь по сути не могу управлять своим сайтом, т.к. кнопки в админке не работают, все плагины отображаются косо и криво (слетели CSS стили). Что мне делать, чтобы восcтановить CSS?
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ richinberlin993.4y ago
Does not protectDoes not detect.Paid service, does nothing, and does not fix.Absolute waste of time and money.Look elsewhere
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ helen_wpd3.5y ago
Absolutely rubbish support, couldn’t even help me with a relatively simple set up issue. Don’t even bother downloading this plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ sgogroup423.7y ago
i am here to warn you not join sucuri .its all an advertisments of them but in the real world my site got blocked fro, all anti viruses and tons of ssl problems on there system.there support very pooor they only answer when you want to buy somthing but when you have a real problem with there product that its not working and caousing tons of problems they tellign you open a ticket.so i did open a ticket and for few monthes still 0 HELP and 0 solver problems ON SSL that they provide.Be aware. This topic was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by sgogroup42.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.7.4 Improve the Two-Factor Authentication page to load the users list in pages, so it stays fast and reliable on sites with hundreds or thousands of users (for example, WooCommerce stores). Add a search box to the Two-Factor 2.7.4
- — Version 2.7.3 Refactor AJAX handler to an explicit dispatch map for improved security and efficiency. Improve 2FA section with more UI clarity. Make light-mode default when no preference is defined. Correct inverted dark/light mode ic 2.7.3
- — Version 2.7.2 Fix salt bug in the wp-config file. 2.7.2
- — Version 2.7.1 Update on the encryption process for the WAF API key due to problems reported on some users. 2.7.1
- — Version 2.7 Fixes a lot of readiness warning/errors from PCP. Updates how the plugin stores WAF API key. 2.7
- — Version 2.6 Create new permissions library. Fix error causing deletion of WAF API key on clearing cache. 2.6
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (2.8.1). Sites still on an older version should update.
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
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 30 languages, 7 at 90% or more
Plus 6 more locales with partial translations.
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 Sucuri Security 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 27 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 20 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 20 of 20 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("if you want", "designed for").
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 1 list.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,852 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "spam" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-02-12 700K+ → 600K+ down after 69 days in tier
- 2025-12-05 600K+ → 700K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2025-12-03 700K+ → 600K+ down after 406 days in tier
- 2024-10-23 800K+ → 700K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2024-10-22 700K+ → 800K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2024-10-21 800K+ → 700K+ down after 348 days in tier
- 2023-11-08 900K+ → 800K+ down after 168 days in tier
- 2023-05-24 800K+ → 900K+ up after 26 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★ · 3 shared tags A -
Jetpack Protect 100K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
SecuPress with Simple SSL – Simple and Performant Security 40K+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags A -
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ installs · 4.7★ · 3 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/sucuri-scanner" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening: 600K+ active installs, 4.2★ (386 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/sucuri-scanner
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