Premium Security. Zero Cost.
Vigilant provides enterprise-level WordPress security features completely free. No premium version, no upsells, no hidden features behind paywalls.
Protect your site with a complete security suite: firewall, two-factor authentication, brute force protection, security headers, file integrity monitoring, malware detection, user management, activity logging, under attack mode and much more.
Instant Protection
Once activated, Vigilant immediately applies essential security measures:
- Firewall rules against common attacks (SQL injection, XSS, file inclusion)
- Security headers for browser protection
- Login attempt monitoring
- XML-RPC blocking
- WordPress version hiding
- Sensitive file protection (.htaccess, wp-config.php)
- Automatic backup of your existing configuration files
One-Click Security Presets
Choose a preset and get protected instantly:
Standard – Balanced security suitable for most websites. Enables all modules with sensible defaults that won’t interfere with normal site operation.
Maximum Security – Strictest settings for high-security sites. Tighter rate limits, stronger CSP rules, mandatory admin notifications. May require fine-tuning for some setups.
You can always customize individual settings after applying a preset.
Under Attack Mode
Is your site under active attack? Activate Under Attack mode with one click and stop malicious traffic instantly:
- JavaScript challenge – Every visitor must pass an automatic browser verification before accessing your site. Real browsers solve it in seconds, bots get blocked completely
- Aggressive rate limiting – Requests limited to 30 per minute with 15-minute blocks for offenders
- HTTP method restriction – Only GET, POST, and HEAD allowed. PUT, DELETE, PATCH, OPTIONS, and TRACE are blocked
- Empty user agent blocking – Requests without a user agent header are rejected
- Full XML-RPC lockdown – All XML-RPC access is blocked during the attack
- REST API restriction – Only authenticated users can access the REST API
- Auto-deactivation – Mode automatically turns off after 4 hours so you never forget it’s on
- Email notifications – Get notified when the mode is activated and deactivated
- HMAC-signed cookies – Verified visitors receive a cryptographically signed cookie so they only see the challenge once
Under Attack mode works independently from your preset configuration. Your regular security settings are preserved and restored when the mode deactivates.
Core Security Features
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Add a second verification step to your WordPress login. Choose the method that works best for your team:
- Authenticator app (TOTP) – Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, or any TOTP-compatible app
- Email codes – One-time 6-digit verification codes sent via email
- QR code setup directly in user profiles
- 10 backup codes for emergency access if you lose your device
- Configurable grace period for users to set up their authenticator app
- Trusted devices feature – optionally allow users to skip 2FA on recognized devices for 30 days
- Role-based enforcement – require 2FA for administrators, editors, or any role
- Exclude specific users from 2FA requirements
- Admin tool to reset TOTP for users who lost their authenticator
- Configurable code expiry, attempt limits, and email sender name
- User notification emails when 2FA is enabled or method changes
Firewall Protection
Block malicious requests before they reach WordPress:
- SQL injection blocking
- XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attack prevention
- File inclusion protection (LFI/RFI)
- Directory traversal blocking
- Bad bot detection and blocking
- Rate limiting against DDoS and brute force
- IP whitelist and blacklist management
- User-Agent whitelist and blacklist with partial matching
- HTTP method restriction
Login Security
Stop unauthorized access attempts:
- Limit login attempts with configurable thresholds
- Progressive lockouts – longer blocks for repeat offenders
- Custom login URL – hide wp-login.php from bots
- Login URL change notifications to all admin-area users
- Hide login error messages – don’t reveal valid usernames
- XML-RPC disable – block this common attack vector
- Application passwords control
- Admin login notifications via email
- IP whitelist for trusted locations
User Security
Comprehensive user account protection:
- Block insecure usernames (admin, test, root, etc.)
- Force strong passwords with minimum length
- Password expiration with configurable intervals
- Password history – prevent reusing old passwords
- Force password reset for all users (post-hack recovery)
- Session limits – control concurrent logins per user
- Session management – view and revoke active sessions
- Email verification for new registrations
- Registration approval workflow – manually approve new users
- Admin account monitoring – alerts for new admins, email changes, password changes, privilege escalation
- Display name protection – prevent exposing login username publicly
Security Headers
Achieve Grade A security ratings:
- Content Security Policy (CSP) with visual builder
- HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) with preload option
- X-Frame-Options – prevent clickjacking
- X-Content-Type-Options – prevent MIME sniffing
- Referrer Policy control
- Permissions Policy (camera, microphone, geolocation)
- Cross-Origin policies (COEP, COOP, CORP)
- HTTPS enforcer with automatic mixed content fix
- Built-in header testing tool
File Integrity Monitoring
Detect unauthorized changes to your files:
- WordPress core verification against official checksums
- Plugin and theme file monitoring with WordPress.org checksums
- Suspicious code scanning for plugins and themes without checksums
- Extra file detection in plugins and themes (files not in original distribution)
- Two-level detection: strict obfuscation combos for plugins, broad patterns for uploads
- Uploads directory scanning for PHP files, double extensions, and .htaccess
- Root directory scanning for non-core PHP files (common attack vector)
- Smart .htaccess classification in uploads – distinguishes dangerous rules from protective ones
- String concatenation obfuscation detection
- Configurable notification levels (all issues, suspicious only, or disabled)
- Ignore list to dismiss known files from results
- Excluded paths and file extensions
- Scheduled automatic scans (daily, weekly)
- HTML formatted email alerts with severity sections
Activity Log
Track everything happening on your site:
- Successful and failed login attempts
- Two-factor authentication events
- User account changes (creation, deletion, role changes)
- Content modifications (posts, pages)
- Plugin and theme activations/deactivations
- Security events and blocked threats
- HTTP request method tracking and filtering (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
- Enhanced log detail popup with grouped sections and quick actions
- One-click add IP or User-Agent to firewall whitelist/blacklist from log entries
- Direct IP lookup links to AbuseIPDB
- Configurable retention period
- Export logs to CSV
- Filter by event type, severity, request method, or date
WordPress Hardening
Additional security measures:
- wp-config.php security constants (DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT, etc.)
- WP_DEBUG detection – dashboard warning when debug mode is active in production
- Automatic removal of readme.html, license.txt, and licencia.txt (daily cleanup)
- Database prefix security check and one-click change tool
- Comment spam protection with honeypot fields
- Disable pingbacks and trackbacks
- Close comments on old posts
- WordPress head cleanup (remove version, RSD, WLW links)
- Feed management and security
REST API Security
Control API access to your site:
- Three access modes: public, authenticated only, or selective
- Block user enumeration via REST API
- Protect sensitive endpoints
- Maintain compatibility with popular plugins (WooCommerce, Contact Form 7, Elementor)
Security Tools
Utilities included:
- Database Backup – Download a full or partial database backup as ZIP with table selection
- Database Prefix Change – Change the default wp_ prefix to a random secure prefix
- Export/Import Settings – Transfer your configuration between sites
- Manual Backup – Create backups of .htaccess and wp-config.php on demand
- Reset to Defaults – Start fresh with one click
Safe by Design
Automatic Backup System
Your existing .htaccess, wp-config.php, and robots.txt are automatically backed up before any modifications. Backups include integrity verification (MD5 checksums) and are stored safely in wp-content/vigilante-backups/, persisting through plugin updates.
Clean Rollback
When you deactivate Vigilant, all security rules are automatically removed and your original configuration files are restored. No leftover code, no broken sites.
Why choose Vigilant?
Most WordPress security plugins reserve their best features for paid plans. Vigilant gives you everything upfront — no premium tier, no feature locks, no upsells. Firewall, 2FA with authenticator app, security headers, file integrity scanner, activity log, and more. All free, all maintained, all following WordPress coding standards.
If your current security plugin asks you to pay for features that should be basic, take a look at what Vigilant offers out of the box.
How does Vigilant compare?
We maintain a detailed feature comparison between Vigilant and other popular security plugins (Wordfence, Solid Security, AIOS, Sucuri, SG Security). See what each plugin offers in its free version and where Vigilant fills the gaps.
Support
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About AyudaWP
We are specialists in WordPress security, SEO, and performance optimization plugins. We create tools that solve real problems for WordPress site owners while maintaining the highest coding standards and accessibility requirements.