Plugin Pulse
← Rankings

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

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 “virus”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Virus Finder shows at wp.org #4 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 90+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall places #8 on merit, 4.7★ from 100 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 NinjaScanner – Virus & Malware scan 30K+ · 4.0★ (36) wp.org #1 2 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (391) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 My Sticky Bar – Floating Notification Bar & Sticky Header (formerly myStickymenu) 100K+ · 4.9★ (1198) wp.org #8 ↑1 4 too low 5 Malcure Malware Shield — Removal, Repair, Monitor 10K+ · 4.4★ (73) wp.org #5 6 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (552) wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 Jetpack VaultPress 10K+ · 3.8★ (72) wp.org #7 ↓1 8 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (100) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Corona Virus Data 1K+ · 4.7★ (13) wp.org #10 1 too low 10 WebDefender Security – Protection & AntiSpam 1K+ · 4.0★ (18) wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too low 11 attachmentAV – Virus Scan & Malware Protection for form plugins like Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↑1 5 too high 12 Virus Finder 90+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 8 too high 13 Segurium – Free Malware Removal & Auto Cleanup for Hacked Websites, Antivirus Scanner, Vulnerability Alerts 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #11 ↑1 2 too high 14 Simple Website Banner 600+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #24 ↓1 10 too low 15 Monetag Official Plugin 5K+ · 2.5★ (13) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 Coronavirus Spread Prediction Tools Free Version 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↓1 4 too low 17 DevDome Malware Scanner: Virus Scanner, Malware Removal & Quarantine 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 3 too high 18 A Aabcore Security Malware & Virus Scan — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 Covid-19 Corona Virus Report 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too high 20 SeCWurity WP Login 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 5 too high 21 Nova Scan Lite – Malware Scanner, Backdoor & File Integrity — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓1 2 too low 22 ANON::form embedded secure form 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 Wieczo's Virus Scanner 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24 T Threat Scan Plugin 400+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.