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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “attack”

wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →

For “attack”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 3 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

wp.org search ranks on

Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.

We add

A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Stop XML-RPC Attacks shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Stop User Enumeration places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 132 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #1 2 Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1488) wp.org #2 3 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #3 ↑3 1 too high 5 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too low 6 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too low 7 Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) wp.org #6 ↑3 1 too high 8 Advanced Google reCAPTCHA 200K+ · 4.8★ (430) wp.org #10 ↑2 2 too low 9 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #13 ↑3 4 too low 10 Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #9 ↓5 1 too high 11 Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123) wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too low 12 Stop User Enumeration 60K+ · 4.9★ (132) wp.org #17 5 too low 13 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #23 ↓2 10 too low 14 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #22 ↓3 8 too low 15 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16 The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) wp.org #19 3 too low 17 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #11 ↓1 6 too high 18 WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184) wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Stop XML-RPC Attacks 6K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #4 ↓1 15 too high 20 Login Lockdown & Protection 100K+ · 4.3★ (61) wp.org #15 ↓4 5 too high 21 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #14 ↑4 7 too high 22 NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) wp.org #18 ↓3 4 too high 23 WP fail2ban – Advanced Security 60K+ · 4.2★ (71) wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24 SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) wp.org #16 ↓2 8 too high

Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.