Recommended WordPress Plugins (Security, SEO, SSL)

This article lists three essential plugins we recommend for most WordPress sites and shows you how to install them quickly from your WordPress Dashboard.

1) Wordfence Security

What it does: Wordfence adds a Web Application Firewall (WAF), malware scanner, brute-force protection, rate-limiting, and login security (including 2FA). It helps block attacks and alerts you to suspicious changes.

Learn more: Wordfence on WordPress.org

Quick install

1. Log in to wp-admin → Plugins ▸ Add New.
2. Search for Wordfence Security.
3. Click Install Now → Activate.

Basic setup checklist

• Go to Wordfence ▸ Dashboard and follow the setup prompts.
• Run a Full Scan to check for malware/changed files.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication under Login Security.
• Under Firewall, complete the Firewall Optimization wizard (recommended).
• Set basic Rate Limiting to throttle abusive crawlers.

2) Yoast SEO

What it does: Yoast helps you optimise titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps, and content readability. It also auto-generates XML sitemaps and integrates with social previews.

Learn more: Yoast SEO on WordPress.org

Quick install

1. In wp-admin go to Plugins ▸ Add New.
2. Search for Yoast SEO.
3. Click Install Now → Activate.

Basic setup checklist

• Go to SEO ▸ Settings and run the First-time configuration (site type, company/person, social profiles).
• Ensure XML Sitemaps are enabled (SEO ▸ Settings ▸ Site features).
• Edit a post/page and use the Yoast panel to set a Focus Keyphrase, SEO title, and Meta description.
• Connect to Google Search Console (optional but recommended).

3) Really Simple SSL

What it does: Detects your SSL certificate and forces HTTPS site-wide. It automatically handles mixed-content fixes so browsers show the secure padlock.

Learn more: Really Simple SSL on WordPress.org

Quick install

1. In wp-admin go to Plugins ▸ Add New.
2. Search for Really Simple SSL.
3. Click Install Now → Activate.

Basic setup checklist

• Open Settings ▸ SSL and click Activate SSL.
• Confirm 301 redirect to HTTPS is enabled.
• Leave the Mixed Content Fixer enabled to rewrite insecure assets.

Alternative install (upload a ZIP)

1. Download the plugin ZIP from WordPress.org.
2. In wp-admin go to Plugins ▸ Add New ▸ Upload Plugin.
3. Choose File → select the ZIP → Install Now → Activate.

Best-practice tips

• Backups: Take a full backup before adding or updating plugins.
• Updates: Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins up-to-date.
• Conflicts: Add plugins one at a time; test your site after each activation.
• Least-needed: Only install what you need to reduce bloat and attack surface.