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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “checksum security”

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 “checksum security”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

HT Security shows at wp.org #13 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP phpMyAdmin places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 58 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #1 2 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too high 4 UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706) wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too low 5 Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ · 4.8★ (1039) wp.org #12 ↓2 7 too low 6 Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) wp.org #8 ↑4 2 too low 7 Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) wp.org #5 ↓3 2 too high 8 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too high 9 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #16 ↓1 7 too low 10 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #4 ↓1 6 too high 11 Malcure Malware Shield — Removal, Repair, Monitor 10K+ · 4.4★ (74) wp.org #17 6 too low 12 WP phpMyAdmin 40K+ · 4.6★ (58) wp.org #21 9 too low 13 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #23 10 too low 14 Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #9 ↓2 5 too high 15 Lockora Security Audit 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #10 ↓2 5 too high 16 Site Lockdown Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 CMS ADMINS Security Check Report 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #11 ↓2 6 too high 18 Loyal Security – Firewall & Malware Scanner 10+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #19 1 too low 19 DevDome Malware Scanner – WordPress Malware Removal & Security Scanner 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 ↑2 1 too high 20 Malcure Security Suite 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 All in One Content Protector & Security 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too high 22 HT Security 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↓2 9 too high 23 Open24 Security 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Nexura Security — Malware Scanner, Firewall, 2FA & WordPress Security 20+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↓4 4 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.