Essential Security Plugins for Any Public Minecraft Server: Don't be caught without these!

Thank you for reading and welcome to my guide on essential security plugins for any public Minecraft server. If you are interested in learning to setup a Minecraft server then please check out my guide on essential tips for setting up a Minecraft server. In this guide, I will cover some of my favorite solutions for protecting public Minecraft servers from griefers and cheaters. These plugins are designed to enhance the security of your server, prevent griefing, and ensure a fair gaming experience for all players.
Whether you are running a small community server or a large public server, these plugins will help you maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for your players.
Below, I will provide an overview of each plugin, its features, and how it can benefit your server. I will also include links to the official plugin pages where you can download and learn more about each plugin.
Please reach out to me if you have any of your own recommendations for plugins that you think I should add to this list.

Spartan Anticheat

Spartan Anticheat is a premium plugin that provides comprehensive protection against various types of cheats and exploits in Minecraft. It is designed to be lightweight and efficient, ensuring minimal impact on server performance while effectively detecting and preventing cheating behaviors.
Spartan Anticheat offers a wide range of features, including:

• Advanced cheat detection algorithms
• Highly customizable configuration options
• Real-time alerts and notifications
• Support for multiple Minecraft versions
• Regular updates and support from the developer

Spartan Anticheat is suitable for both small and large servers, providing a robust solution to maintain a fair and enjoyable gaming experience for all players.
Spartan Anticheat for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.

Get Spartan Anticheat

CoreProtect

CoreProtect is a powerful block logging and roll-back plugin for Minecraft servers. It allows server administrators to track changes made to blocks, including who made the change and when it occurred. This is particularly useful for grief prevention, as it enables quick identification and restoration of damaged or destroyed areas.
Key features of CoreProtect include:

• Real-time block logging
• Efficient roll-back capabilities
• Detailed player activity tracking
• Support for multiple Minecraft versions
• Highly configurable settings
• Ability to store changes into a database server such as MySQL
• Integration with other plugins for enhanced functionality

CoreProtect is an essential tool for maintaining the integrity of your Minecraft server and ensuring a safe environment for players.
Remember that CoreProtect is not a replacement for actually backing up your server, but it is a great tool to have in your toolbox for when you need to roll back griefed areas or restore blocks that were accidentally destroyed by players.

Get CoreProtect

WorldGuard

WorldGuard is a powerful plugin that allows server administrators to create and manage protected regions within their Minecraft worlds. It provides a wide range of features for grief prevention, including:

• Region creation and management
• Customizable flags for region behavior (e.g., block breaking, entity spawning)
• Support for multiple regions and nested regions
• Integration with other plugins for enhanced functionality
• Ability to set up safe zones and spawn areas

Get WorldGuard

luckperms

LuckPerms is a powerful permissions management plugin for Minecraft servers. It allows server administrators to create and manage permissions for players, groups, and regions, providing fine-grained control over what players can and cannot do.
Key features of LuckPerms include:

• Support for multiple permission backends (e.g., MySQL, SQLite)
• Real-time permission updates
• Extensive API for integration with other plugins
• Web-based GUI for easy management
• Support for multiple Minecraft versions

LuckPerms is an essential tool for managing player permissions and ensuring that players have the appropriate access to features and commands on your server.

Get LuckPerms

2FA

2FA is a fork of MC2FA, a plugin that adds two-factor authentication to Minecraft servers. It enhances security by requiring players with the 2fa.demand permission to use an authenticator app to provide a time-based one-time password (TOTP) when logging in. This helps prevent players who's accounts have been compromised from accessing the server, as they would need access to the authenticator app on the actual player's device.
This is a perfect requirement for your server moderation and administration team, as it adds an extra layer of security to their accounts.

Get 2FA