Quick answer: Want a free WordPress security check? Check off what you already have in place below. You’ll get an instant score out of 100. This shows exactly where your site is vulnerable.

How This Security Score Is Calculated

Each checklist item carries a different weight. That’s because each measure has a different real-world impact on attack prevention. Two-factor authentication and a WordPress-specific firewall carry the heaviest weight. Together, they stop the largest share of common automated attacks.

Backups and automatic updates carry moderate weight. They’re critical for recovery, but they don’t stop an active attack the way a firewall does. Smaller items, like avoiding “admin” as a username, carry lighter weight individually. But they still add up. Together, they shrink your attack surface meaningfully.

Who Should Use This Security Checker

Have you never audited your WordPress security setup? This takes under a minute. It immediately shows your biggest gaps. Most site owners have never walked through this list item by item.

Do you manage multiple WordPress sites? Run this checklist against each one. It’s a fast way to standardize a security baseline across your whole portfolio.

Are you about to launch a new site? Treat 80+ as your pre-launch minimum. It’s far easier to configure these settings before launch than to fix them afterward.

A Mistake Worth Avoiding

Don’t rely entirely on your host’s “we handle security” marketing. Generic hosting protection misses many WordPress-specific attack patterns. Most WordPress hacks exploit plugin vulnerabilities and weak passwords, not server weaknesses. A WordPress-specific firewall and good login hygiene still matter, no matter which host you use.

Why This Actually Matters

A hacked WordPress site rarely looks broken. Many hacks quietly inject spam links or redirect some visitors. Meanwhile, the homepage looks completely normal. This is exactly why the fundamentals in this checklist matter. Visual inspection alone won’t catch most real compromises.

Want the full data behind each recommendation? Read our WordPress security guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a score below 50 an emergency?
It means real gaps exist, but it’s fixable. Most protections take under an hour to set up.

Is this checker self-reported, or does it scan my site?
It’s self-reported by design. It takes 30 seconds and surfaces what you’re missing right away.

What’s the single highest-impact item on this list?
A WordPress-specific firewall combined with two-factor authentication together cover the largest share of attacks.

I have a security plugin installed. Does that mean I’m covered?
Not entirely. The plugin needs proper configuration, like an enabled firewall and active scanning. It also doesn’t replace good passwords or backups.

How often should I re-run this check?
Re-run it whenever you change hosting or add plugins in bulk. Otherwise, check every few months.