wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “hacker”
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 “hacker”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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
Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email shows at wp.org #10 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 9K+ 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.
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #1 2 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #2 3 
Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123)
wp.org #3 4 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Stop User Enumeration 60K+ · 4.9★ (132)
wp.org #6 7 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #11 ↑3 1 too low 11 W WP Author Slug 3K+ · 4.8★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Zero Spam for WordPress 20K+ · 4.1★ (143) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Salt Shaker 7K+ · 4.7★ (27)
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 
Disable XML-RPC-API 100K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15 
Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ · 4.8★ (62) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #14 ↑3 2 too high 17 
Protect WP Admin 10K+ · 3.6★ (50)
wp.org #21 ↑1 4 too low 18 Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email 9K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑1 8 too high 19 
Social Rocket – Social Sharing Plugin 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 4 too low 20 
Admin login URL Change 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑2 1 too high 21 
CrowdSec 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 
WP-Cron Status Checker 5K+ · 3.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Anti-Hacker – Security Plugin 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24 
Generate Security.txt 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 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.