WordPress End-User Security

WordPress End-User Security

• 1.
  WordPress End-User Security
• 2.
  @dremeda & @williamsbaDreArmeda@dremedaCo-Founder – CubicTwoCo-Founder – Sucuri SecurityBrad Williams@williamsbaCo-Founder – WebDevStudiosCo-Author – Professional WordPressPlugin Development http://amzn.to/plugindevbook
• 3.
  ItStartsWithYouBefore you showthe world your awesomeness, think long term. An integrated approach to security, beginning to end, will help protect your investment, and your visitor safety.Information security is everyone’s responsibility
• 4.
  Are You SecureLocally?Think of your local environment as if it was a medieval castle and you’re the queen or king. You & your queen/kingdom must be protected.Your MachineKeep your computer up to date Ensure you’re patching or installing updates ASAP
• 5.
  Automatic updatesrock!Install an anti-virus solution Ensure you’re keeping definitions current
• 6.
  Automatic updatesaren’t a bad idea here either!Yes, personal firewalls still apply!
• 7.
  Where Do YouLike To Visit?Just because your website is super ninja like doesn’t mean others are too. Most desktop viruses and malware these days are passed via the internet.Safe Browsing Us NoScript extension for Firefox
• 8.
  It’s OKto be skeptical. Not sure, ask questions!
• 9.
  Disable pop-upsAreyou connecting Securely?It’s your information, but who’s watching & listening? You may be a network geek at home, but what happens at Starbucks?Your Internet ConnectionUse SSL whenever possible, especially on an unverified connection. HTTPS is a great way to ensure your transactions & traffic are traveling with security in mind.Connecting To Your Site(s)Consider using sFTP or SSH vs. FTPStill widely marketed, but did you know your credentials are passed unencrypted when using FTP?
• 10.
  If unavoidable, donot allow anonymous logins, limit connections, practice least privilege.
• 11.
  Don’t store yourcredentials in your FTP client.Do You use “password” For Your Password?Passwords are like toothbrushes, you should keep them to yourself. And discard them, and get a new one, if they have been used by others.Password Management Change passwords often
• 12.
  Don’t shareyour passwords
• 13.
  Avoid writingpasswords down
• 14.
  Use apassword managerZoneAlarm by Check Point
• 15.
  Where Do YouLive? Choose Wisely!At the end of the day, hosting providers market the world. You in turn, should have opportunity to know how they’re going to protect you.Your Lovely Host Cheap doesn’t always mean best, or safe!
• 16.
  How manysites on their network or blacklisted for malware reasons?
• 17.
  What versionof software to they run and how often do they update?
• 18.
  How areaccount credentials stored & who has access?TOP 10 WORDPRESS SECURITY TIPS
• 19.
  1. Update UpdateUpdateKeep WordPress Updated!Minor WordPress versions ( ie 3.0.x ) do NOT add new features. They contain bug fixes and security patches
• 20.
  1 Update UpdateUpdateUpdate Those Plugins!The pluginChangelog tab makes it very easy to view what has changed in a new plugin version
• 21.
  2. Change DBTable Prefix1. Edit wp-config.php before installing WordPress2. Change the prefix wp_ to something unique:/** * WordPress Database Table prefix. * * You can have multiple installations in one database if you give each a unique * prefix. Only numbers, letters, and underscores please! */$table_prefix = ‘dreday_';All database tables will now have a unique prefix (iedreday_posts)
• 22.
  3. Use SecretKeysSome secrets should remain secrets
• 23.
  3. Use SecretKeysA secret key is a hashing salt which makes your site harder to hack by adding random elements to the password.1. Edit wp-config.phpAFTERBEFOREdefine('AUTH_KEY', '*8`:Balq!`,-j.JTl~sP%&>@ON,t(}S6)IG|nG1JIfY(,y=][-3$!N6be]-af|BD');define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY', 'q+i-|3S~d?];6$[$!ZOXbw6c]0 !k/,UxOod>fqV!sWCkvBihF2#hI=CDt_}WaH1');define('LOGGED_IN_KEY', 'D/QoRf{=&OC=CrT/^Zq}M9MPT&49^O}G+m2L{ItpX_jh(-I&-?pkeC_SaF0nw;m+');define('NONCE_KEY', 'oJo8C&sc+ C7Yc,W1v o5}.FR,Zk!J<]vaCa%2D9nj8otj5z8UnJ_q.Q!hgpQ*-H');define('AUTH_SALT', 'r>O/;U|xg~I5v.u(Nq+JMfYHk.*[p8!baAsb1DKa8.0}q/@V5snU1hV2eR!|whmt');define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', '3s1|cIj d7y<?]Z1n# i1^FQ *L(Kax)Y%r(mp[DUX.1a3!jv(;P_H6Q7|y.!7|-');define('LOGGED_IN_SALT', '`@>+QdZhD!|AKk09*mr~-F]/F39Sxjl31FX8uw+wxUYI;U{NWx|y|+bKJ*4`uF`*');define('NONCE_SALT', 'O+#iqcPw#]O4TcC%Kz_DAf:mK!Zy@Zt*Kmm^C25U|T!|?ldOf/l1TZ6Tw$9y[M/6');define('AUTH_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('LOGGED_IN_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('NONCE_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('AUTH_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');define('LOGGED_IN_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');define('NONCE_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');Some secrets should remain secrets2. Visit this URL to get your secret keys: https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt
• 24.
  4. Lock DownWP Login & WP AdminYes, it happens. #FAIL
• 25.
  4. Lock DownWP Login & WP AdminAdd the code below to wp-config.php to force SSL (https) on logindefine('FORCE_SSL_LOGIN', true);Add the code below to wp-config.php to force SSL (https) on all admin pagesdefine('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);Using SSL (https) on all admin screens in WordPress will encrypt all data transmitted with the same encryption as online shopping
• 26.
  4. Lock DownWP Login & WP Admin1. Create an .htaccess file in your wp-admin directory2. Add the following lines of code:AuthUserFile /dev/nullAuthGroupFile /dev/nullAuthName "Access Control"AuthType Basicorder deny,allowdeny from all#IP address to Whitelistallow from 67.123.83.59allow from 123.123.123.123Only a user with the IP 67.123.83.59 or 123.123.123.123 can access wp-admin
• 27.
  5. Move wp-config.phpWordPressfeatures the ability to move the wp-config.phpfile one directory above your WordPress rootIf WordPress is located here:public_html/wordpress/wp-config.phpYou can move your wp-config.php file to here public_html/wp-config.phpWordPress automatically checks the parent directory if a wp-config.php file is not found in your root directoryThis makes it nearly impossible for anyone to access your wp-config.php file from a browser as it now resides outside of your website’s root directory
• 28.
  6. Disable WPGenerator TagViewing source on most WP sites will reveal the version they are running<meta name="generator" content="WordPress 3.0" /> <!-- leave this for stats -->This helps hackers find vulnerable WP blogs running older versionsTo remove find the code below in your header.php file of your theme and remove it<meta name="generator" content="WordPress <?php bloginfo('version'); ?>" /><!-- leave this for stats -->The wp_head() function also includes the WP version in your header.To remove add this line of code in your themes functions.php fileremove_action( 'wp_head', 'wp_generator' );
• 29.
  6. Disable WPGenerator TagThemes and plugins might also display versions in your header.
• 30.
  7. Use TrustedSources for Themes & PluginsWPMU.org reviewed the top 10 results for “free wordpress themes” on Google. Out of the ten sites reviewed Safe: 1 Iffy: 1 Avoid: 8
• 31.
  7. Use TrustedSources for Themes & PluginsThe only safe site reviewed was WordPress.orgMost themes included base64() encoded text links to promote various servieshttp://wpmu.org/why-you-should-never-search-for-free-wordpress-themes-in-google-or-anywhere-else/
• 32.
  7. Use TrustedSources for Themes & PluginsTrusted Sources for Free WordPress ThemesWordPress.org Theme Directoryhttp://wordpress.org/extend/themes/WooThemeshttp://www.woothemes.com/themes/free/Themelabhttp://www.themelab.com/free-wordpress-themesTheme Hybridhttp://themehybrid.com/ThemeShaper(Thematic)http://themeshaper.com/ More themes: http://wpmu.org/when-is-a-free-wordpress-theme-really-free-some-thoughts-and-some-places-to-find-them/
• 33.
  Do you Loginwith username admin?
• 35.
  8. Delete theAdmin UserChange the admin username in MySQL:UPDATE wp_users SET user_login='hulkster' WHERE user_login='admin';Or create a new account with administrator privileges. Create a new account. Make the username very unique Assign account to Administrator role Log out and log back in with new account Delete admin accountWordPress will allow you to reassign all content written by admin to an account of your choice.
• 36.
  WordPress 3.0 letsyou setthe administrator username during the installation process!DON'T USE ADMIN!