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

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 “xss”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

RD Station shows at wp.org #12 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 7 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 wp.org
1 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #1 ↑2 2 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #4 2 too low 3 Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146) wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.8★ (80) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 HTTP Headers 40K+ · 4.3★ (70) wp.org #6 ↑2 1 too high 8 Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too low 10 Prevent XSS Vulnerability 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #3 ↓2 7 too high 11 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #18 7 too low 12 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #9 ↓2 3 too high 13 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #22 9 too low 14 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #15 ↑2 1 too low 15 OneClick Chat to Order 30K+ · 4.8★ (84) wp.org #19 ↓5 4 too low 16 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #20 4 too low 17 Featured Image with URL 2K+ · 4.9★ (9) wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Logo Manager For Enamad – لوگوی نماد الکترونیکی 5K+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #13 ↓1 5 too high 19 GD Security Headers 1K+ · 4.0★ (8) wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too high 20 AntiSpam for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.2★ (13) wp.org #23 ↓3 3 too low 21 Virusdie | One-click website security 2K+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #24 ↓2 3 too low 22 HTTP Security Header 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23 RD Station 20K+ · 3.0★ (7) wp.org #12 ↓1 11 too high 24 Basic Security: Prevent Cross Site Scripting 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓2 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.