Title: PressPatrol
Author: Scooter
Published: <strong>August 18, 2026</strong>
Last modified: August 18, 2026

---

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![](https://ps.w.org/presspatrol/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3653227)

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# PressPatrol

 By [Scooter](https://profiles.wordpress.org/tpinkus/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/presspatrol.0.9.12.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/presspatrol/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/presspatrol/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/presspatrol/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/presspatrol/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/presspatrol/)

## Description

PressPatrol gives WordPress administrators a clear, local view of unexpected file
and inventory changes. Run a patrol when you want one, or let WordPress run the 
scheduled weekly patrol.

The plugin compares WordPress core and eligible WordPress.org plugins and themes
with official reference information. It also records administrator, plugin, and 
theme inventory changes and looks for executable file types inside the uploads directory.

Results are presented in a plain-English dashboard with visual health indicators,
a rolling 12-patrol history, recommended next steps, and an exportable JSON report.

#### Included features

 * Manual and scheduled weekly integrity patrols.
 * Official WordPress core checksum comparison.
 * File-by-file comparison for eligible WordPress.org plugins and themes.
 * Clear status when no official comparison copy is available.
 * Unexpected-file inventory for `wp-admin` and `wp-includes`.
 * Administrator, plugin, and theme inventory change tracking.
 * Executable-file detection inside the uploads directory.
 * WordPress Dashboard status widget.
 * Rolling history for the latest 12 patrols.
 * Optional weekly email summaries sent by your own WordPress website.
 * Downloadable JSON reports.
 * No PressPatrol account and no PressPatrol telemetry.

#### What PressPatrol does not do

PressPatrol is an integrity and change-detection tool. A changed or unexpected file
is not automatically malware, and a clean integrity report cannot guarantee that
a website is free from every threat. The plugin does not automatically delete, quarantine,
repair, or replace files. Review findings carefully, make a backup, and ask your
hosting provider or a qualified WordPress professional when you are unsure.

#### External WordPress.org services

PressPatrol uses official WordPress.org services only when an administrator runs
a patrol or when the site’s scheduled weekly patrol runs:

 * The WordPress core checksum API at `api.wordpress.org` supplies official hashes
   for the installed WordPress version and locale.
 * The plugin checksum service at `downloads.wordpress.org` supplies official file
   hashes for eligible WordPress.org plugins.
 * The WordPress.org Themes API and download service supply official theme package
   information and packages for local comparison.

These requests include the installed WordPress version and locale or the relevant
plugin/theme slug and version. As with ordinary web requests, WordPress.org may 
receive the site’s IP address and standard request metadata. PressPatrol does not
send site files, administrator details, scan results, or report contents to WordPress.
org or PressPatrol.

WordPress.org privacy policy: https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/

WordPress.org terms of service: https://wordpress.org/about/terms-of-service/

### Privacy

PressPatrol stores its reports and settings inside the website’s own WordPress database.
It does not create a PressPatrol account or send telemetry to PressPatrol. The plugin
adds suggested disclosure text to the WordPress Privacy Policy Guide and documents
its WordPress.org requests in the External WordPress.org services section above.

PressPatrol privacy information: https://presspatrol.app/privacy/

### Trademark

The GPL license covers the plugin source code. It does not grant permission to use
the PressPatrol name, logo, or product branding for a fork or derivative distribution.
See `trademarks.txt`.

## Screenshots

[⌊The main PressPatrol report summarizes core, administrator, upload, plugin, and
theme integrity in one view.⌉⌊The main PressPatrol report summarizes core, administrator,
upload, plugin, and theme integrity in one view.⌉[

The main PressPatrol report summarizes core, administrator, upload, plugin, and 
theme integrity in one view.

[⌊Visual core-health and patrol-history panels make file states and changes easier
to understand.⌉⌊Visual core-health and patrol-history panels make file states and
changes easier to understand.⌉[

Visual core-health and patrol-history panels make file states and changes easier
to understand.

[⌊Plugin and theme findings explain why a file needs review and recommend a practical
next step.⌉⌊Plugin and theme findings explain why a file needs review and recommend
a practical next step.⌉[

Plugin and theme findings explain why a file needs review and recommend a practical
next step.

[⌊The WordPress Dashboard widget provides current status and a direct link to the
complete report.⌉⌊The WordPress Dashboard widget provides current status and a direct
link to the complete report.⌉[

The WordPress Dashboard widget provides current status and a direct link to the 
complete report.

## Installation

 1. Install PressPatrol from the WordPress Plugin Directory, or upload the plugin ZIP
    through Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
 2. Activate PressPatrol.
 3. Open PressPatrol from the main WordPress admin menu.
 4. Select **Run patrol now** to create the first baseline and report.
 5. Optionally enable weekly email summaries at the bottom of the report.

The first patrol is never started automatically. Some patrols take longer on sites
with many plugins, themes, or files.

## FAQ

### Does PressPatrol upload my website files?

No. File comparison happens on your WordPress server. PressPatrol does not receive
your files, administrator inventory, or patrol results.

### Does a finding mean my site has malware?

No. A finding means something differs from an official reference or changed since
a previous patrol. Normal updates, hosting modifications, incomplete installations,
and intentional customization can also create findings.

### Why can some plugins and themes not be compared?

PressPatrol needs a matching official WordPress.org copy. Plugins and themes supplied
by a host, developer, or another website may not have one, so PressPatrol labels
them clearly instead of guessing.

### Will PressPatrol repair or delete files?

No. PressPatrol is report-only. It provides the evidence and recommended next steps
without changing the files it reviews.

### Where are reports stored?

Reports, baselines, patrol history, inventory, and optional email settings are stored
in this site’s WordPress database. Deactivating the plugin preserves them. Deleting
the plugin removes its saved options.

### How are weekly emails sent?

Your own WordPress installation sends the message using its configured email system.
PressPatrol does not receive it. WordPress scheduled events depend on site traffic
unless your host provides a system cron service.

### Is this a replacement for backups or professional incident response?

No. Maintain current backups and a secure hosting configuration. If PressPatrol 
reports an unexplained change, back up the site before replacing anything and ask
your host or a qualified WordPress professional for help.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“PressPatrol” is open source software. The following people have contributed to 
this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ Scooter ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/tpinkus/)

[Translate “PressPatrol” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/presspatrol)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/presspatrol/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/presspatrol/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/presspatrol/) by
[RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/presspatrol/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 0.9.12

 * Changed the directory display name to PressPatrol.
 * Replaced short manifest-cache identifiers with unique PressPatrol transient keys.

#### 0.9.11

 * Prepared the first WordPress.org submission candidate.
 * Made the first patrol explicitly user-initiated.
 * Added Privacy Policy Guide text and deletion cleanup.
 * Documented external WordPress.org services, limitations, installation, and support
   information.
 * Aligned release metadata with the permanent `presspatrol` directory slug.

#### 0.9.10

 * Added support for official checksum manifests that provide more than one acceptable
   hash for a file.

#### 0.9.9

 * Completed WordPress.org release metadata and automated Plugin Check compatibility.

#### 0.9.8

 * Added a semantic page heading for assistive technology on the PressPatrol report
   screen.

#### 0.9.7

 * Preserved the current report and baseline when the plugin is reactivated.

#### 0.9.6

 * Added the WordPress Dashboard widget and opt-in weekly email summaries.

## Meta

 *  Version **0.9.12**
 *  Last updated **2 days ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.5 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.0.4**
 *  PHP version ** 8.0 or higher **
 * Tags
 * [File Integrity](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/file-integrity/)[integrity](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/integrity/)
   [malware](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/malware/)[monitoring](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/monitoring/)
   [security](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/security/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/presspatrol/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/presspatrol/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/presspatrol/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Scooter ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/tpinkus/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/presspatrol/)