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

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 log”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 2 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 #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #1 2

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74) wp.org #2 1 too high 4

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #6 2 too low 5

Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #4 1 too high 6

Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1489) wp.org #8 2 too low 7

Debug Log Manager – Conveniently Monitor and Inspect Errors 10K+ · 5.0★ (25) wp.org #5 2 too high 8

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #7 1 too high 9

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #10 1 too low 10

Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too low 11

Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #14 3 too low 12

Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current wp.org #12 ↑1 13

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #24 11 too low 14

WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184) wp.org #17 ↑4 3 too low 15

Stop User Enumeration 60K+ · 4.9★ (132) wp.org #19 4 too low 16

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #23 7 too low 17

Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor 400+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #9 8 too high 18

Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123) wp.org #22 4 too low 19

NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 2 too high 21

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 6 too high 22

Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #20 ↓3 2 too high 23

Stop XML-RPC Attacks 6K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #11 12 too high 24

SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-currenthost-installed base thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.