IP Blocking & Whitelisting

Block malicious IPs and whitelist trusted ones for enhanced security.

IP blocking is a security measure to blacklist specific, malicious IP addresses from accessing a wordpress site, while whitelisting is a security method that permits only a pre-approved list of IP addresses to access the site. Whitelisting uses a “default-deny” approach, blocking all IPs unless specifically listed, making it a very secure method. Blacklisting uses a “default-allow” approach, blocking only those IPs on the blacklist. 

IP Blocking (Blacklisting)

  • What it is: The process of explicitly blocking certain IP addresses from accessing your site.
  • How it works: You add known malicious or problematic IP addresses to a blacklist. The server will deny access to these specific addresses, while allowing all others.
  • Best for: Dealing with a limited number of specific threats. 

IP Whitelisting

  • What it is: The process of only allowing a specific, trusted list of IP addresses to access your site.
  • How it works: You create a list of approved IP addresses. Any IP address not on this list is automatically blocked, regardless of whether it’s considered malicious or not.
  • Best for: Locking down access to sensitive areas, like the WordPress dashboard, to only authorized users. This is a powerful tool for security, as attackers cannot access your site even if they have the correct login credentials.
  • How to use:
    1. Go to the IP blocking/security settings in your WordPress security plugin or hosting panel.
    2. Select the option for “IP Whitelisting” or “IP Allowlist”.
    3. Enter the IP addresses you want to allow.
    4. Save the settings.

Key takeaway

  • Use blacklisting to block a few bad actors, allowing most traffic by default.
  • Use whitelisting to block all traffic except for a select group of trusted IPs, denying access to everyone else by default. This is more secure for protecting sensitive areas.