Top 5 Online Services for Testing WordPress Website Vulnerabilities

WordPress powers approximately 43% of all websites online, making it not only the dominant platform but also the primary target for cyberattacks and vulnerabilities. According to security data from How-To WP, the vast majority of WordPress security issues are related to third-party plugins and themes. Thousands of new vulnerabilities are discovered each year, highlighting the importance of ongoing testing and security measures. Regular scanning is crucial to ensuring your site's security, as it helps detect infections, weaknesses, malware, and insecure links before they can be exploited.

5 Best Online Services for Checking Your WordPress Website

Below are 5 useful online tools that will help you detect the following security issues on your website:

• unauthorized redirects to advertising content
• malware
• hotlinks
• backlinks (external links)
• infected themes or plugins
• and much more
  
  

1. Hacker Target WordPress Security Scan

Hacker Target WordPress Security Scan is a WordPress-focused scanner that scans themes, plugins, and core files for vulnerabilities and outdated components. The scan focuses on detecting insecure or outdated WordPress elements.

2. Sucuri Website Malware and Security Scanner

Sucuri Website Malware and Security Scanner is an external malware scanner that analyzes your website for infections, blacklist warnings from security systems (Google, Norton, etc.), outdated software, and firewall issues. It focuses on detecting malware and security threats. 

3. SiteGuarding.com

SiteGuarding.com is a website security scanner that checks websites for malware, blacklisted statuses, outdated CMS versions, and suspicious scripts. Its primary goal is to ensure that infected files and vulnerabilities are detected and reported.

4. UpGuard

UpGuard is a security assessment tool that evaluates your website's overall security, including SSL settings and vulnerable data, domain name protection, and SPF (Sender Policy Framework) enabled. It focuses on providing security ratings and risk overviews.

5. WPRecon WordPress Uptime & Security Monitoring

WPRecon WordPress Uptime & Security Monitoring is a monitoring tool that scans WordPress sites for security issues, availability status, and hidden links or scripts. The tool focuses on continuous monitoring and analysis of links and scripts.

Below is a summary table describing each scanner and the aspects of website security checking.

How Often Should I Run a WordPress Website Security Scan?

We recommend running a WordPress website security scan at least once a month, and once a week for active sites.

• Conduct the scan as follows if your site:
• Regularly updates content or plugins — weekly.
• Processes payments or sensitive data — weekly or even daily.
• Recently installed new plugins/themes — immediately after installation.
• Detects suspicious activity — immediately.

Regular automatic monitoring combined with periodic manual checks provides the best protection.

Protect Your Site: 8 Tips

1. Update your CMS regularly.
2. Use WordPress site security plugins, such as Wordfence or Sucuri, and keep them up to date.
3. Use a strong, complex password and change it periodically.
4. Change your password if you share it with a third party (e.g., a developer, SEO specialist, etc.).
5. Avoid using themes and plugins from untrusted sources.
6. Connect your site to Yandex.Webmaster to receive information about any issues.
7. Make regular backups, including to your local computer.
8. Install antivirus software on your computer and scan it regularly for viruses.

If you have questions, you can ask them in the online chat in the lower right corner of the site or by ticketing the Techsupport Department.