Myth-Busting SOP: 'One Security Plugin Covers Everything'

Myth-Busting SOP: 'One Security Plugin Covers Everything'

A single all-in-one plugin gives a green dashboard and a false sense of done. It can't fix server config, weak hosting, or its own bugs. Verify reality:

— Step 1: List what the plugin actually enforces vs. what it only reports.
— Step 2: Move hard controls out of PHP — file permissions, firewall, fail2ban live at the OS layer.
— Step 3: Confirm headers are set by the server (nginx/Apache), not a plugin that deactivates on crash.
— Step 4: Keep backups independent of the plugin and stored off-box.
— Step 5: Verify by deactivating the plugin and re-scanning — controls that vanish were never real hardening.

If one toggle removes your defenses, you had one defense. Run this every time.