NinjaFirewall: Lightweight, External Security Layer
What it is:
NinjaFirewall is a stand-alone web application firewall that integrates into WordPress.
NinjaFirewall operates as a true firewall with the ability to intercept HTTP traffic before it reaches the WordPress core.
This makes it effective for blocking threats early and reducing the load on WordPress itself.
From Nintechnet themselves
WordPress plugins to help you protect your website and keep it up & running for both professional business sites and personal blogs.
How it works:
NinjaFirewall works at a slightly higher level than WordPress plugins like Wordfence or Defender, acting as a front-end firewall for PHP applications. By intercepting traffic before it reaches the WordPress application, it provides an extra layer of protection.
It filters out malicious requests, injections, and other attacks before they have a chance to interact with your WordPress code.
My Experience with NinjaFirewall:
NinjaFirewall is a powerful tool that’s often underrated. Because it intercepts traffic earlier, it feels lighter on my server, and I’ve noticed fewer performance slowdowns compared to using an application-level firewall alone.
The interface isn’t quite as polished as other security plugins, but it’s easy enough to use once you get familiar with it. It doesn’t have built-in malware scanning, so if you need that, you’d have to add another plugin, but for straightforward firewall protection, it’s one of the best I’ve tried.
Pros of NinjaFirewall:
- High-level interception: Blocks threats at a higher level, protecting the site before traffic reaches WordPress.
- Efficient resource usage: Feels lightweight and less demanding on server resources, which is great for smaller servers.
- Standalone firewall with extra configuration options: It’s powerful as a standalone firewall and can be paired with other security plugins if needed.
Cons of NinjaFirewall:
- No malware scanning: NinjaFirewall doesn’t include malware scanning, so it’s primarily a firewall without all the extras.
- Learning curve for new users: It has a bit more of a learning curve for setup, especially for users unfamiliar with firewalls.
Cost for NinjaFirewall Pro
The Pro version is per site pricing which starts at $79/year per domain. Having used both, free and premium, my best bet, if you are a multi-million organisation, go for the premium. It has more features like
- Geolocation blocking – Blocks by countries
- IP blocking – Blocks specific IP to specific location
- Rate limiting – number of request per minute