Secure Your Site: How to Configure SiteLock and Sucuri Security on Bluehost

A hacked website can cost you traffic, sales, and hard‑earned credibility. Luckily, Bluehost makes it easy to lock down your site with powerful security tools like SiteLock and Sucuri. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to set up both services step‑by‑step, how they differ, and how to use them together for rock‑solid protection—no technical wizardry required. Let’s dive in!

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Table of Contents

1. Why Website Security Matters in 2025
2. Overview: SiteLock vs. Sucuri
3. Step 1: Enabling SiteLock on Bluehost
   • 3.1 Choosing the Right SiteLock Plan
   • 3.2 Activating SiteLock via Bluehost Dashboard
   • 3.3 Configuring Your First Scan
4. Step 2: Installing & Configuring Sucuri
   • 4.1 Signing Up for Sucuri
   • 4.2 Installing the Sucuri Security Plugin
   • 4.3 Setting Up the Sucuri Firewall (WAF)
5. Step 3: Fine‑Tuning Your Protection
   • 5.1 Scheduling Regular Scans
   • 5.2 Configuring Alerts & Notifications
   • 5.3 Custom Rules & Whitelists
6. Step 4: Monitoring & Maintenance
7. Pro Tips for Maximum Security
8. Wrapping Up & Next Steps

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Why Website Security Matters in 2025

• SEO & Rankings: Google penalizes hacked or malware‑infected sites, potentially removing you from search results.
• User Trust: A single security warning can send visitors running—up to 85% of users will abandon a site after a security alert.
• Revenue Protection: E‑commerce and lead‑generation sites lose thousands per hour of downtime or data theft.
• Compliance: Regulations like GDPR require you to protect user data; a breach can lead to hefty fines.

In short, investing in robust security is no longer optional—it’s mission critical. Bluehost offers seamless integrations with both SiteLock and Sucuri to safeguard your site at the server and application layers.

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Overview: SiteLock vs. Sucuri

Feature	SiteLock	Sucuri
Type of Service	Server‑level malware scanning & removal	Plugin‑based security suite + WAF
Primary Strength	Automated malware detection & automatic removal	Web Application Firewall + integrity checks
Pricing Model	Tiered plans (Find, Fix, Prevent)	Flat‑rate subscription
Ease of Setup	One‑click activation in Bluehost dashboard	Plugin install + DNS or proxy configuration
Best For	Continuous server scanning	Real‑time firewall protection & hardening

Tip: Use SiteLock to keep your files clean at the server level, and Sucuri to block malicious traffic before it even hits your site.

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Step 1: Enabling SiteLock on Bluehost

3.1 Choosing the Right SiteLock Plan

SiteLock offers three tiers:

1. Find (Basic)
   • Daily malware scans
2. Fix (Mid‑tier)
   • Daily scans + automatic malware removal
3. Prevent (Premium)
   • All of Fix, plus a basic Web Application Firewall (WAF)

For most small blogs and businesses, the Fix plan strikes the best balance between cost and coverage.

3.2 Activating SiteLock via Bluehost Dashboard

1. Log in to your Bluehost account.
2. Navigate to My Sites → Security.
3. Under SiteLock, click Enable.
4. Choose your desired plan (Find, Fix, or Prevent) and complete the checkout.

Once activated, Bluehost automatically provisions SiteLock on your server—no FTP or manual installs needed.

3.3 Configuring Your First Scan

1. In My Sites → Security, locate SiteLock and click Manage.
2. Review the Scan Schedule—daily is recommended.
3. Whitelist any known external scripts or subdomains you host elsewhere.
4. Save Settings and kick off an initial scan immediately.

After the scan completes (usually under 30 minutes), you’ll receive a report highlighting any issues.

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Step 2: Installing & Configuring Sucuri

4.1 Signing Up for Sucuri

1. Visit Sucuri’s website at https://sucuri.net/ and choose a plan (Basic or Pro).
2. Complete the purchase using your business email.
3. You’ll receive API credentials and a dashboard link via email.

4.2 Installing the Sucuri Security Plugin

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to Plugins → Add New.
3. Search for Sucuri Security (by Sucuri Inc).
4. Click Install Now, then Activate.
5. In the left sidebar, click Sucuri Security → Settings.
6. Enter the API Key provided in your Sucuri welcome email.
7. Save changes—Sucuri will now scan your site’s file integrity and configurations.

Internal Link: For more on getting WordPress set up, see The Bluehost WordPress Setup Guide for Total Beginners.

4.3 Setting Up the Sucuri Firewall (WAF)

The real power of Sucuri lies in its DNS‑level WAF:

1. In your Sucuri dashboard, click Firewall → Set Up Firewall.
2. Choose Generic (CMS) for WordPress.
3. Sucuri will provide new A records and/or CNAME entries.
4. In Bluehost, navigate to Domains → Zone Editor.
5. Replace your existing A record(s) with the ones Sucuri gave you.
6. Save and allow up to 1 hour for DNS propagation.

Once live, all traffic routes through Sucuri’s global network—malicious requests get blocked before reaching your server.

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Step 3: Fine‑Tuning Your Protection

5.1 Scheduling Regular Scans

• SiteLock runs daily by default; in the SiteLock dashboard, you can increase scan frequency to twice daily on Prevent plans.
• Sucuri file‑integrity checks run hourly; you can also trigger manual scans under Sucuri Security → Malware Scan.

5.2 Configuring Alerts & Notifications

• SiteLock will email you for any new malware finds or removals—double‑check your spam folder and whitelist notifications from no-reply@sitelock.com.
• Sucuri alerts appear in your WordPress dashboard and can be forwarded to Slack, email, or PagerDuty via webhooks.

5.3 Custom Rules & Whitelists

Both platforms let you tailor protection:

• SiteLock: In the management panel, whitelist IP ranges for developers or external services (e.g., your payment gateway’s IP).
• Sucuri: Under Sucuri Security → Hardening, enable features like blocking PHP file uploads in the uploads directory or disabling XML‑RPC if you don’t use it.

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Step 4: Monitoring & Maintenance

1. Weekly Review: Log into both dashboards to review scan histories, blocked threats, and system health.
2. Monthly Audit: Compare SiteLock and Sucuri reports—if either flags repeated issues, consider upgrading to a higher plan or consulting a security expert.
3. Backup Before Cleanup: Always run a fresh backup (see our guide on 5 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Bluehost Site which includes backup tips) before applying any bulk removals or hardening rules.

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Pro Tips for Maximum Security

• Keep Everything Updated: WordPress core, plugins, and themes—outdated software is the #1 entry point for hackers.
• Use Strong Passwords & 2FA: Enforce two‑factor authentication on all admin accounts with a plugin like WP 2FA.
• Limit Login Attempts: Combine Sucuri’s WAF with a plugin like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded.
• Disable Directory Listing: Under Sucuri Hardening, turn off directory listing to prevent attackers from browsing your folders.
• Review User Accounts: Periodically remove unused admin accounts—principle of least privilege applies online, too.

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Wrapping Up & Next Steps

By combining SiteLock’s automated malware scanning and removal with Sucuri’s real‑time firewall and integrity monitoring, you create a multi‑layered defense that keeps your Bluehost site secure around the clock.

1. Activate SiteLock in your Bluehost dashboard (Find, Fix, or Prevent).
2. Install the Sucuri Security plugin and configure the WAF via DNS.
3. Fine‑tune scan schedules, alerts, and custom rules.
4. Maintain weekly and monthly reviews to stay ahead of threats.

👉 Ready to lock down your site? Sign up for Bluehost today (affiliate link) and secure your online presence with ease.

This guide was written by Kate at KateFi.com—your resource for smart tech how‑tos and savvy money moves.