wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “vulnerability scanning”

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 “vulnerability scanning”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

SiteCare – Vulnerability Scanner shows at wp.org #12 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 334 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

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

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ · 4.8★ (1039) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4

Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #2 2 too high 5

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #4 ↑2 1 too high 6

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #6 ↓1 7

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #7 8

WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #8 1 too high 10

Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123) wp.org #9 1 too high 11

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #18 ↓1 7 too low 12

Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #14 ↑2 2 too low 13

Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too high 14

MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #21 ↑3 7 too low 15

Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites 40K+ · 5.0★ (133) wp.org #24 9 too low 16

Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17

NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #23 ↓1 6 too low 18

Web Accessibility (formally known as Ally) – WCAG Scanning, Guided Fixes, Usability Widget 500K+ · 2.9★ (162) wp.org #13 5 too high 19

Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20

Plugin Compatibility Checker 9K+ · 4.2★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #20 21

WebTotem Security 700+ · 4.2★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22

SiteCare – Vulnerability Scanner 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #12 10 too high 23

VulnTitan – Malware Scanner, Vulnerability Scanner & Security 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #19 4 too high 24

OOPVulns: Vulnerability Scanner 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑1 7 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.