It can be challenging to manually stay on top of WordPress security when you run a large website. However, your WordPress log files can provide valuable information on changes made to your site. Therefore, it’s in your best interests to track your WordPress activity log and look for suspicious activities.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of monitoring your WordPress activity logs. Then, we’ll review some plugins that can help you streamline the process. Let’s get started!
What and Why You Should Track Using WordPress Activity Logs
WordPress activity logs are records that show all changes made on your website. These logs can be helpful if you have many people working on your site. This is especially important if those users have administrator permission levels:
Essentially, WordPress activity logs can be handy if you suspect suspicious activity. You’ll be able to see who has made certain changes. Furthermore, these logs can identify hacking attempts.
Types of WordPress Activity Logs
There are different actions you can track in your activity logs, including:
It might sound overwhelming to keep track of all these changes. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it manually. A WordPress activity log plugin can handle the heavy lifting for you.
5 Best WordPress Activity Log Plugins
Here are five of the best WordPress activity log plugins to help you identify and monitor suspicious activity on your website.
1. WP Activity Log
WP Activity Log is one of the best WordPress activity log plugins. It shines with the level of detail it provides in your WordPress dashboard. For example, you can see post and page changes, user notifications, and updates to your core files from a single report center.
Furthermore, WP Activity Log is very precise. It logs the user name and role, IP address, and exact second for each event. Plus, if you upgrade to the Pro version, you can sign up for email and SMS alerts.
Key Features for WP Activity Log:
WP Activity Log is for you if…
WP Activity Log Pricing: Free. Upgrading to a Premium plan will cost at least $99 per year. The premium version includes email notifications, search filters, and more. | Learn More About WP Activity Log.
2. Sucuri
Sucuri is a WordPress security solution that includes malware scanning, security auditing, and activity log monitoring. For instance, Sucuri can track plugin and theme changes to identify malicious scripts. Also, the plugin monitors user sessions and logs specific actions in detailed reports.
Sucuri is one of the only activity log plugins that will send you email notifications with the free version. You’ll receive instant alerts, enabling you to act against suspicious activity immediately. Plus, you can export your logs to study them further.
Key Features for Sucuri:
Sucuri is for you if…
Sucuri Pricing: Free. Alternatively, you can purchase a paid plan, which starts from $199.99 per year. This includes malware removals, among other security benefits. | Learn More About Sucuri.
3. Activity Log
Activity Log is a simple but effective activity log plugin. It can track changes to your core WordPress software, plugins, themes, posts, and pages. Additionally, Activity Log can monitor media files, comments, and widgets. Then, you can view all the data from your WordPress dashboard or export it.
Unlike some other monitoring plugins, Activity Log is optimized for WooCommerce stores. It can log changes to your online shop’s settings. Therefore, it can help you stay on top of your e-commerce security.
Key Features for Activity Log:
Activity Log is for you if…
Activity Log Pricing: Free | Learn More About Activity Log.
4. Simple History
If you’re looking for a user-friendly WordPress activity log plugin, you might consider using Simple History. Like many other tools on this list, Simple History logs important changes to your site, including failed login attempts, content updates, and reconfigurations of key WordPress settings.
Furthermore, Simple History is an excellent option for GDPR compliance. The plugin identifies data removal requests and logs when they’ve been completed. Moreover, it has native compatibility with various plugins, including Jetpack.
Key Features for Simple History:
Simple History is for you if…
Simple History Pricing: Free. | Learn More About Simple History.
5. Error Log Monitor
Finally, if you’d like to keep track of technical problems on your site, Error Log Monitor is a simple but effective plugin. It creates a summary page with messages from your PHP error log. Furthermore, you can opt into email notifications.
Additionally, Error Log Monitor can identify the exact location of PHP errors. Therefore, it can help you save time on troubleshooting. Plus, you can choose how many errors you’d like to log and clear the file as needed.
Key Features for Error Log Monitor:
Error Log Monitor is for you if…
Error Log Monitor Pricing: Free. Additionally, upgrading to Error Log Monitor Pro costs $19 per year or $59 for an annual license. This plan includes summary reports, stack traces, and contextual information. | Learn More About Error Log Monitor.
Final Thoughts on WordPress Activity Log Plugins
An activity log and monitoring plugin can identify changes across your WordPress website. Therefore, it can help you keep track of content updates, user actions, and hacks. Using one of these plugins can be essential for protecting your site against security threats.
Overall, if you’re looking for an effective WordPress activity log plugin, we recommend WP Activity Log. The tool collects precise data on various incidents across your website. Alternatively, Sucuri can be a great option if you’re looking for a complete security solution with in-built activity logging.
Do you have any questions about WordPress activity log plugins? Let us know in the comments section below!
Featured image via Vektor illustration / shutterstock.com
This content was originally published here.