Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback?
Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback is a focused security plugin that blocks XML-RPC functionality on WordPress sites. Developed by cleverplugins, this tool has been available for 12 years. It aims to stop pingback denial of service attacks automatically. The plugin currently shows 8K+ active installs. It holds a 3.0/5 rating from 6 reviews. That rating splits evenly: 50% 50% one-star. The latest version is 1.6, last updated on Jul 24, 2023.
The plugin requires no configuration after activation. It disables XML-RPC entirely to prevent your site from being used in DDOS attacks. The developer references security research from Sucuri and WPTavern to explain the threat. This approach reduces server CPU usage and blocks malicious scripts. However, the one-star ratings suggest some users experienced issues with compatibility.
Key Features of Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback
- One-Click Disable: Activate the plugin, and it automatically disables XML-RPC without any settings page.
- Pingback Attack Prevention: Stops your site from participating in pingback denial of service attacks against other websites.
- CPU Usage Reduction: Blocks unnecessary XML-RPC requests, which lowers server load and CPU consumption.
- DDOS Protection: Prevents malicious scripts from using your site to launch distributed denial of service attacks.
- No Configuration Required: Beginners can install and activate the plugin without touching any technical settings.
- Lightweight Codebase: The plugin adds minimal overhead, as it only hooks into WordPress to disable XML-RPC.
- External Threat Scanner: The description links to Sucuri’s WordPress DDOS Scanner to check if your site is attacking others.
- 12 Years of Maintenance: Despite a long update gap, the plugin has been available since the early days of WordPress security plugins.
Who Should Use Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback?
This plugin suits site owners who want a simple way to disable XML-RPC without touching code. It works best for basic WordPress sites that do not rely on XML-RPC-dependent services. Users with 8K+ installs include bloggers, small business owners, and administrators running standard content sites. The plugin requires no technical skill, making it ideal for beginners who need a quick security fix.
However, the plugin is not suitable for sites using Jetpack, the WordPress Mobile App, or remote publishing tools. Those services require XML-RPC to function. The developer explicitly warns about this conflict in the plugin description. If your site needs those features, you should look for a more selective solution. The 50% one-star ratings likely come from users who lost functionality after activation.
Installation & Setup
Installing Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback takes less than two minutes. From the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for "Remove XMLRPC Pingback Ping," then click Install Now and Activate. There are zero configuration steps after activation. The plugin works immediately upon activation, which makes it beginner-friendly. No file editing or technical knowledge is required.
Support & Community
Support data for this plugin raises concerns. Over the last two months, there were 0 open support threads and 0 resolved threads, resulting in a 0% resolution rate. This suggests either very few users seek help or the developer is not actively monitoring the forum. The last plugin update was Jul 24, 2023, which is over two years ago. Combined with the 3.0/5 rating from 6 reviews, the support situation is a red flag.
The even split between five-star and one-star ratings indicates a polarizing user experience. Half the users praise the simplicity and effectiveness. The other half likely encountered problems, possibly with site functionality breaking. If you choose this plugin, test it on a staging site first. For those asking how to disable XML-RPC pingback in WordPress, this plugin offers the simplest method. But for a best disable ping plugin WordPress solution, you may want a more actively maintained alternative.
Pros & Cons
- With 8K+ active installs and a 50% 5-star rating, the plugin offers a simple, one-click solution to disable XML-RPC and prevent pingback-based DDoS attacks.
- It automatically lowers server CPU usage by blocking unnecessary XML-RPC requests, which can reduce load on shared hosting environments.
- The plugin requires zero configuration after activation, making it accessible for non-technical users who want immediate protection.
- It specifically preserves compatibility with plugins like JetPack that rely on XML-RPC, unlike a full XML-RPC disable.
- The plugin addresses a documented security risk: over 162,000 WordPress sites were previously used in pingback DDoS attacks, as cited in its description.
- With only 6 total ratings and a 3.0/5 average, user feedback is extremely limited and split evenly between 5-star and 1-star reviews, indicating inconsistent experiences.
- The plugin has zero support threads resolved, meaning there is no community or developer support available for troubleshooting issues.
- It provides no granular control—users cannot selectively disable pingbacks while keeping other XML-RPC functions active, which may break legitimate features like remote publishing.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 5.2+
- Requires PHP
- 5.6+
- Tested up to WP
- 6.3.8
- First Released
- 2014 (12+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 0 threads
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Remove & Disable XML-RPC Pingback is completely free and available on WordPress.org. It was first released in 2014 and requires no payment to use.
The plugin has 8K+ active installs, making it a moderately popular security tool. It has received 6 ratings with an average rating of 3.0/5.
The plugin requires WordPress 5.2 or higher and has been tested up to WordPress 6.3.8. This ensures compatibility with most modern WordPress installations.
The plugin was last updated on Jul 24, 2023 and is currently at version 1.6. It has been maintained since its first release in 2014, though updates are not extremely frequent.
The plugin requires PHP 5.6 or higher, which covers the vast majority of hosting environments. Most users will meet this requirement without any issues.
Support threads over the past 2 months show 0 total and 0 resolved, indicating very low support activity. The plugin is simple enough that most users do not need assistance.
Yes, it is ideal for beginners because after activation it automatically disables XML-RPC with no configuration needed. You simply install and activate the plugin to protect your site from pingback denial of service attacks.
The plugin automatically disables XML-RPC pingback to lower server CPU usage and prevent your site from being used in DDOS attacks. It also works alongside popular plugins like JetPack by allowing you to choose whether to disable XML-RPC entirely.