How To Install WordFence Security Plugin (2024)

It’s a horrible situation.

Waking up one morning and not being able to login to your website.

You realize your website is hacked, and it’s being destroyed.

That’s why I recommend install a good security plugin like Wordfence. It will protect your website from hackers and bots trying to access your website.

In this post, I’ll show how you can install Wordfence as a beginner and what settings you need to use.

Let’s take a look.

What is Wordfence?

Wordfence is a security plugin for WordPress that will give you a firewall, malware scanner, and login security features.

It will protect your website from brute force attacks trying to login. And prevent malicious code or content reaching your website.

How much does Wordfence cost?

There is a free version and paid version of Wordfence. I use the free version on my websites as that gives sufficient features.

The cheapest premium version of Wordfence will cost you $119 annual per website. There are costlier plans with premium services, but I don’t think you need them.

The major difference between the free and premium version is that the firewall rules and malware signatures are delayed by 30 days.

How to install Wordfence on your website?

Go to your WordPress dashboard. Then to Plugins -> Add New.

Search for Wordfence in the search box and you’ll find it.

Install and Activate the plugin.

You’ll need to get a free license by registering on the Wordfence website. Click on the Get Your Wordfence License button.

Once you create a Wordfence account and login, you need to Add New Site. Enter your site URL and click Add Site.

Now go to your WordPress Dashboard and click on Get Your Wordfence license button.

Choose the Get a Free license option. Click the “I’m OK waiting 30 days for protection from new threats” link.

Enter your email address and click Register. The free license key will be sent to you to this email.

In the email, click the button to Install My License Key Automatically.

This will open up your WordPress dashboard with the pre-filled email and license key. Click the Install License button.

Wordfence Free is now installed. You need to configure it for your website. Select the Click Here To Configure button.

Download the .HTACCESS and .USER.INI files as backup. Then click Continue.

Now you have the free Wordfence installed and configured on your website.