Quick question:
Do you have a good night’s sleep?
We recognise that this is a strange question. However, if you read the whole article rather than skipping to the end, you’ll understand why we asked.
But for the time being…
Tell us if any of this sounds familiar if you’re searching for a good, juicy article on WordPress Two-Factor Authentication:
- A security plugin alerted you that your WordPress site’s login page was receiving a lot of traffic, and you received a notice that bots were attempting to hack into your site.
- Your security plugin informed you that you needed login protection.
Let’s get started.
What is WordPress 2-Factor Authentication?
Do you believe that a plugin is responsible for your site’s security?
That is only partially right.
In fact, you are responsible for the majority of your site’s security. You must act and put in place defences for your WordPress account.
WordPress Two-Factor Authentication is a great example of this.
You’ll understand why very soon.
WordPress Two-Factor Authentication is a security feature that protects your login page in addition to your password.
Adding 2FA to WordPress makes it almost impossible:
- And if a hacker has your password guessed, it’s not enough for them to take over your account.
- Even if a bot is attempting to brute force their way into your site’s login tab,
When you allow WordPress 2FA, you’ll still need to log in with your username and password. However, you’ll need some additional details to make sure it’s really you.
What extra information is this?
This is usually:
- A one-time password (OTP) sent to a laptop that only you have access to;
- An email with a time-based OTP;
a secondary password or PIN; - A security query that you must enter during the installation phase (NOT RECOMMENDED);
Reality Check: It’s a lot easier to steal your password than you would expect. The majority of your staff and users still use very weak passwords that a hacker using a brute force algorithm and rainbow tables would easily guess (more on this soon).
Installing two-factor authentication on your website is not a replacement for a strong password. To secure your site, you should always use a really strong password.
Let’s help you set up WordPress Two-Factor Authentication for your site now that you know what it is and how it functions.
Simply follow the instructions for the next section.
How do I set up two-factor authentication in WordPress?
Only a third-party plugin can be used to instal WordPress Two-Factor Authentication. The basic WordPress installation does not provide 2FA protection for your login page. A login limiter is the best you can get from a Softaculous installation.
Even so, for an off-the-shelf WordPress installation, this isn’t the best choice.
So, what are your options?
Using a security plugin is the easiest way to add 2FA to your WordPress account.
There are two options for accomplishing this:
- Install a complete security suite with advanced security features.
- Install WordPress 2FA using a specialised plugin.
Both choices will be discussed in this article.
Our Recommendation: Use MalCare’s Full Suite of Security Features
This may seem to be a somewhat skewed recommendation, but it isn’t.
Installing WordPress Two-Factor Authentication is a positive idea, believe us. However, that isn’t nearly strong enough to keep your site secure.
There is no such thing as a completely protected WordPress domain, of course.
That’s how WordPress is built.
MalCare, on the other hand, provides a fully functional Two-Factor Authentication framework as well as robust bot security.
MalCare’s robust login security framework includes features that make your website as secure as cash in a bank.
This is how the learning algorithm works:
- The algorithm begins by determining the IP address of whoever is attempting to log into your site.
- The IP address is then analysed for suspected malicious IPs used by hackers and bots.
- Finally, it employs AI to determine if the login’s IP address is malicious, even if it is unknown.
MalCare will either allow the login page to load or will block the login attempt and mark the IP address as malicious after these three steps. Once an IP address has been flagged for one domain, it can never attack another MalCare-protected WordPress site.
To attempt a login, the user must first enter their username and password.
This eliminates the need for WordPress Two-Factor Authentication entirely.
If you’re a MalCare user, however, MalCare’s dashboard uses 2FA.
If your dashboard credentials are right, MalCare’s WordPress Two-Factor Authentication requires you to verify your identity using an OTP device.
This way, no one can tamper with your account and disable the security features we provide.
To trigger it, go to your MalCare Dashboard and log in:
- Select ‘Account’ from the drop-down menu
- Select ‘My Account’ from the drop-down menu
- Then go to ‘Two Factor Authentication’ and check the box next to ‘Enable’
- On your phone, a QR code should appear
You can do the following:
Scanning it on your phone with Google Authenticator or another two-factor authentication programme; or manually entering the passcode in the Google Authenticator app.
In either case, you’ll receive an OTP to confirm your device.
On MalCare, enter the OTP and press ‘Activate.’
That’s what there is to it!
You will create an OTP any time you need to log in to your MalCare dashboard to check your identity.
Believe us when we say this:
- MalCare has a slew of features to secure, search, and clean your site at all times.
- If you haven’t already done so, we strongly advise you to instal MalCare today to get full WordPress security right away.
A Few Other Options: Other WordPress 2FA Plugins
A number of WordPress Two-Factor Authentication plugins are available. The majority of these businesses specialise in one thing and do it well. On the surface, this seems to be a good idea.
But it’s not the case.
WordPress 2FA plugins only add another layer of protection to your web.
Naturally, if you already own a plugin for:
- Malware removal; WordPress security; Malware scanning;
- Malware removal; Malware removal; Malware removal; Malware removal; Malware removal; Malware
If all you need is WordPress two-factor authentication, then go ahead and instal a separate plugin for that.
Alternatively, you should start using MalCare right now to avoid having to instal six separate plugins.
As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the best WordPress plugins for login security and two-factor authentication that you can rely on:
MalCare
This alternative has already been discussed in this article.
To be honest, listing MalCare alongside other WordPress two-factor authentication plugins is a little unfair.
MalCare is, in fact, a comprehensive WordPress security suite.
If you’re new to WordPress security and just want an easy solution you can trust, MalCare is a great option.
“We aim to make WordPress easy to use so that our customers can focus on what really matters – their business. The philosophy behind MalCare is to provide simple, one-click security for ALL WordPress site owners. We do it by constantly developing better and more reliable security measures for your site.” – Akshat Choudhary, CEO of MalCare
Two-Factor
Two-Factor is a useful free plugin that does its job. The 2FA settings in your WordPress user profile page are easy to set up and use. You can do the following:
- Get a one-time password (OTP) via email.
- Using Google Authenticator, generate an OTP.
What’s the best part?
In the event that you are unable to log in using the second factor, you can also create a backup code.
The only disadvantage is that Two-Factor lacks a global environment. As the administrator, you’ll have to allow 2FA for each user individually.
WP 2FA
WP 2FA is another free WordPress two-factor authentication plugin. WPWhiteSecurity, our friends at WPWhiteSecurity, developed WP 2FA. WPWhiteSecurity, by the way, is MalCare-protected.
This is one of the most straightforward two-factor authentication plugins ever devised.
A special focus is placed on keeping the user experience as easy as possible. As a result, you get a setup wizard to walk each user through the process of installing two-factor authentication on their accounts. There is no requirement for any technical knowledge (just like MalCare).
From the admin account, you can choose from a variety of OTP options and make 2FA mandatory for all users.
If you want to instal this one, you will not be disappointed.
Google Authenticator
We first used Google Authenticator as a two-factor authentication plugin.
This plugin is also free, and it is the most basic and straightforward 2FA WordPress plugin available. Visit your profile page after installing the plugin and allow the Google Authenticator Settings. Then, using the Google Authenticator app on your mobile, check the QR code that appears.
There are many reasons why you should not use this one.
For starters, it is only compatible with Google Authenticator and not with any other authentication app.
There are no global settings in this plugin, either. As a result, you’ll have to set up 2FA for each of your users manually.
There are also no backup codes. As a result, if you misplace your smartphone, you’ll have to manually uninstall the plugin using FTP or SSH.
Unloq Two Factor Authentication
Another strong choice is Unloq’s WordPress Two-Factor Authentication plugin.
When you instal Two-Factor Authentication, you have access to all of the regular options. From a single dashboard, you can also submit an invitation to all of your users to set up 2FA. Instead of using OTP every time, you get Push Notifications to validate your account.
You can get OTPs for both your mobile device and your email account, which is a useful feature.
The only snag?
You’ll need to use the Unloq smartphone app for all.
That’s not cool.
So, what’s next?
Now that you’ve learned everything there is to know about WordPress Two-Factor Authentication and how to implement it on your blog, here’s what you should do next:
Recognize that it is insufficient.
Seriously, don’t depend solely on a two-factor authentication plugin to keep your site safe.
It’s not the case.
So, what are your options?
Simple: use a malware scanner to check your site for malware on a regular basis. Install a dependable malware cleaner so that you can disinfect your site immediately if it becomes infected.
Yes, a good firewall is needed to protect your login page.
But, most importantly, you can use WordPress security hardening plugins to strengthen your security measures.
Here’s a fact that most of you aren’t aware of:
Hackers profit from your illiteracy. The majority of hacks happen because WordPress users don’t take the time to learn about the risks they face on a daily basis.
So, please take a moment to sign up for our newsletter. Make an effort to educate yourself. Our emails are succinct, juicy, and always informative.
You might also just instal MalCare and get a better night’s sleep.
Until next time, take care!