Melapress File Monitor
by Melapress · Security
Also makes 5 other plugins · 418.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Get email alerts for file and permission changes on your WordPress sites. No false positives!
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 85/100
no flags
Active installs
5K+
≈5.8K estimated
Momentum
-26%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “security” and “file security” for “monitor” and “permission”. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “monitor” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “file security” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “permission” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
85 health vs 66 average across 1,786 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →3.5%
of downloads still active
At least 5K of 141.3K 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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 69 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.1★ over 32 reviews, weighted for review count to 4.1★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →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
-0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
24%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| file changes your tag | #2 | #5 | 0 |
| file monitor your tag | #3 | #7 | up 1 |
| file integrity | #3 | #6 | down 1 |
| monitor | #10 | #17 | down 2 |
| changes | #12 | #17 | down 3 |
| website monitor | #6 | #13 | 0 |
| file | #17 | #23 | up 1 |
| malware detection your tag | #18 | #19 | down 2 |
| file security your tag | #24 | #23 | 0 |
| monitor sites | #9 | #14 | 0 |
| site monitor | #9 | #15 | 0 |
| permission | #24 | #20 | — |
| monitor plugin | #11 | #19 | up 1 |
| plugin monitor | #14 | #19 | 0 |
| wordpress monitor | #14 | #20 | down 1 |
| site changes | #20 | #22 | up 2 |
| security monitor | #21 | #22 | up 2 |
| security your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
86 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 17 listed. 69 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 “security” and “file security” for “monitor” and “permission”. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “monitor” sits at #10 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “file security” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “permission” sits at #24 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 · 1,491 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 7.6K · 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
2mo ago
latest release · v2.4.0 · 26 Aug 2026
27
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 “5K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 4 days ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just under 6K.
Install history since 19 Jul 2019
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Marcos Nakamine7mo ago
Awesome plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ alfy4011mo ago
I’m not expecting / warranting an answer, I just want to state for the record (and for other interested parties) that this plugin is very badly coded and has caused me a lot of problems. First off, it doesn’t purge its Cron jobs and wp_options after being disabled/removed. Second off, those Cron jobs and wp_options have created an absolute BLOAT on my site. After just a couple of week there were MILLIONS of mfm_directory_runner% spam entries in my wp_options. Also the daily mfm_monitor_file_changes cron job was crashing my php-fpm (resource exhaustion). If you want to monitor file changes on the site, it’s much better to write a short bash script and run it through a cron job, than doing anything at the WordPress level. This plugin has been a big mistake, and any plugin like it would very likely also be a big mistake.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Shawn1.1y ago
Melapress is a great plugin but I hate it when plugins doesn’t clean-up their DB table leftover after uninstall. Add an option in the settings to delete db tables on uninstall. If you want to uninstall this completely, drop these 6 tables mfm_eventsmfm_events_metadatamfm_scanned_directoriesmfm_scanned_filesmfm_stored_directoriesmfm_stored_files
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ moholkar1.2y ago
Only just started using it really, but it seems to be doing what we need. Support were very quick in creating a patch for a bug that turned up.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Merge, Inc1.4y ago
We are using it for more than 2 years now with real great results. One of its kind for such a topic (files monitor). Really recommended.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ erchache20001.7y ago
Un must, un imprescindible.Este plugin añade una capa de monitorización a tu instancia WordPress para saber en todo momento si “algo” se ha colado sin permiso. Si no andara escaso de capital me suscribía a la opción Pro.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ David Rychlý2.2y ago
Plugin is great for monitoring, but there are some small issues currently with the settings of the notifications which should be fixed in the next release. it would be great to have option to export and import settings of the plugin (mainly ignored folders), which would be useful if using plugin on multiple websites (you can achieve it in the database, but it’s not very user friendly).
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ echoleaf2.6y ago
On a custom, self-managed VPS this plug brought my server to its knees, resulting in constant 504 gateway timeouts until I deleted it. Glad I only tested this on one site, I will not use it again and will keep my files locked down instead. This topic was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by echoleaf.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2026-08-26 Version 2.4.0 New feature & functionality Added an optional in-plugin survey to help us understand how Melapress File Monitor is used. Functionality & plugin improvement Changed the WP Activity Log integration event ID from 6073 to 60 2.4.0
- 2026-02-26 Version 2.3 New features Added support for wildcards in folder exclusions: you can now use * , ** , and ? wildcards when defining the directories you want to exclude. Plugin improvements Excluded file extensions are now fully skippe 2.3
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 4 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.4.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 4.9 Melapress File Monitor <= 2.0.2 - Authenticated (Admin+) Authenticated SQL Injection ↗2025-03-02 CVE-2024-10009 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 2.0.2 Patched in 2.1.0
- Patched Medium · 4.9 Melapress File Monitor <= 2.1.0 - Authenticated (Admin+) Authenticated SQL Injection ↗2025-03-02 CVE-2024-9879 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 2.1.0 Patched in 2.1.1
- 2022-07-13 CVE-2022-2269 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 1.8.2 Patched in 1.8.3
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 11 languages, 1 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.
This plugin’s searches fall outside the topics measured so far. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 30 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 10 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 10 of 10 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("if you want"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Multisite.
- ✓ Headings and lists 12 headings and 4 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 5,064 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "file security", "malware detection" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-10-30 6K+ → 5K+ down after 176 days in tier
- 2026-05-07 5K+ → 6K+ up after 523 days in tier
- 2024-11-30 6K+ → 5K+ down after 163 days in tier
- 2024-06-20 7K+ → 6K+ down after 115 days in tier
- 2024-02-26 8K+ → 7K+ down after 3 days in tier
- 2024-02-23 9K+ → 8K+ down after 17 days in tier
- 2024-02-06 8K+ → 9K+ up after 210 days in tier
- 2023-07-11 7K+ → 8K+ up after 161 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).
-
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag A -
Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites 40K+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ installs · 4.0★ · 1 shared tag A -
Malcure Malware Shield — Removal, Repair, Monitor 10K+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag A -
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ installs · 4.6★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Melapress File Monitor into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/website-file-changes-monitor" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Melapress File Monitor — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Melapress File Monitor: 5K+ active installs, 4.1★ (32 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-03. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/website-file-changes-monitor
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Report a data issue and we'll check it against the source.