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You probably already know the obvious security measures to take in protecting your WordPress website.
Possibly you know you have to make your site’s password “strong” (a mix of special characters, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and numbers). You shouldn’t use “admin” as a username, and you should change passwords often. You probably already use two-factor authentication on your WordPress site and have your site backed up. And you never download premium plugins for free or from unknown sources. So what else is there?
Here we’ll discuss a few more WordPress security tips using little known, but profoundly effective methods that you can, and should, use to protect your WordPress site.
1. Rename or relocate your login pageIf you already have Jetpack installed, you can activate its “Brute Force Protection” module. With this module activated, Jetpack will update the Dashboad with the number of malicious login attempt to your website. You also have the option of whitelisting a number of IP addresses. From Jetpack go to “Settings” and then to “Protect,” followed by “Configure,” and you’ll see what looks like the image below.
Cerber Security and Limit Login Attempt is an alternative plugin to Jetpack. If you’d rather not use Jetpack, Limit login is an option. As of the date of writing, the plugin has been installed over 40,000 times and maintains a nearly pristine reputation as 108 out of 111 users rated it five stars.
Limit Login is fairly easy to use, but configuring its “Hardening” section improves your site’s security. All access to the XML-RPC server, which includes trackbacks and pingbacks, are blocked by default. If for any reason you’d be accessing WordPress’ rest API (for example, your blog’s Android or iOS app needs it), then let WP rest API & XML-RPC be accessible.
2. Host where it’s safeSince a whopping forty-one percent of WordPress sites’ security breaches originate from the host’s end and not the site itself, it’s commonsense to make sure that your host is secure. In fact, hosting carries the most weight when it comes to security. Only eight percent of hacks happen due to weak passwords, twenty-nine percent due to theme, and twenty-two percent due to plugins. So about half your site’s safety relies on hosting.
Make sure your account includes account isolation if you use shared hosting. Your account will be protected from whatever happens on other people’s websites. However, it’s best that you use a service that’s designed with WordPress users in mind. Such services would include WordPress firewall, zero-day malware attack protection, updated MySQL and PHP, specialized WordPress servers, and a WordPress-savvy customer service. Hosts like WP Engine, Siteground, and Pagely have strong safety track records.
3. Stay up to date and use only updated softwareYou know that you have to use updated antivirus and other relevant anti-malware protection for your computer. This precaution also goes for plugins and themes. Keep them up to date, and if you have any themes or plugins in your repository that are not in use, remove them. If it’s right for your site, consider setting your plugins and themes to update automatically. To set up automatic updates, put some code into your wp-config.php. The following is the code for plugins:
add_filter(
'auto_update_plugin'
,
'__return_true'
)
;
And for themes, use this code:
add_filter(
'auto_update_theme'
,
'__return_true'
)
;
If you want a hands-off approach to site maintenance, then you may consider automating WordPress updates. Note, however, that setting up an auto-update might break your site, especially if plugins incompatible with the latest WordPress update run on your site. To set up an automatic update for your WordPress site, insert the code below into your chúng tôi file:
# Enable all core updates, including minor and major:
define
(
'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE'
,
true
)
;
4. Remove plugin theme editor and PHP error reportingDisable your built-in editor for plugins and themes if you don’t routinely tweak and change settings (or run any other maintenance on your plugins and themes). This is for the security of your website.
Authorized WordPress users have access to this editor, making your site vulnerable to a security breach if their accounts get hacked. In fact, hackers can take down your site by modifying the code in that editor. To disable the editor, insert the code below into your chúng tôi :
define
(
'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT'
,
true
)
;
Error reporting is good. It helps you with troubleshooting. The only problem (and it’s a big problem) is that error messages also carry with them your server path. Hackers could look at your server path and easily gain a clear understanding of your website’s structure. Although PHP error reporting is good, it’s BEST disabled altogether. Use the code snippet below for your chúng tôi file:
error_reporting
(
0
)
;
@
ini_set
(
‘display_errors’,
0
)
;
5. Use .htaccess to protect special-purpose filesThe .htaccess file is important because it’s the heart of your WordPress website. This file is responsible for your site’s permalinks structure and security. Outside of the #BEGIN WordPress and #END WordPress tags, there is no limit to the number of code snippets that you can add into your .htaccess file to change the visibility of files inside of your website’s directory.
If you haven’t done so already, hide the chúng tôi file of your site. That file is pivotal to your site’s activities and contains your personal information as well as other important details relevant to your site. You may use the code snippet below to hide it.
order
allow
,deny
deny
fromall
To restrict admin access, simply create a new .htaccess file and upload it to your “wp-admin” directory. Afterward, insert this code:
order
deny
,allow
allow
from 192.168.5.1deny
fromall
Input your IP address in the right spot. To allow access to your wp-admin from multiple IP addresses, list those IP addresses, each of them on a separate line, as allow from IP Address. You may restrict access to your chúng tôi in just about the same way. Just add this code snippet into your .htaccess:
order
deny
,allow
Deny
fromall
# allow access from my IP address
allow
from 192.168.5.1If you’d rather not block all IP addresses, just specific IP addresses that want to gain access to your wp-admin or chúng tôi you may block individual IP addresses using this code:
order
allow
,deny
deny
from 456.123.8.9allow
fromall
You can also block people from viewing your site directory by making it not able to be browsed. You can use this code snippet to do that:
Options
All
-Indexes
ConclusionThis has been an actionable guide to help you improve your WordPress website’s security. The most crucial of these options is one that’s quite simple to implement now – find a host with a pristine reputation for security, as half of your site’s security rests on your host.
Nicholas Godwin
Nicholas Godwin is a technology researcher who helps businesses tell profitable brand stories that their audiences love. He’s worked on projects for Fortune 500 companies, global tech corporations and top consulting firms, from Bloomberg Beta, Accenture, PwC, and Deloitte to HP, Shell, and AT&T. You may follow his work on Twitter or simply say hello. His website is Tech Write Researcher.
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You're reading 5 WordPress Security Tips You Need To Implement Right Now
21 Best Coop Games On Steam You Can Play Right Now
The gaming world has had co-op modes since the early days of gaming. These games have always provided the group of friends and family with a satisfying thrill. Of course, it is not easy to find the ultimate game that everyone can enjoy with such a huge library of games.
Browsing Steam for an hour or two can be as boring as possible. So, here is a list of some of the best co-op games that you can find on Steam.
TerrariaTerraria is one of the most popular co-op games that are out there. It was created by Re-Logic and released on 16 May 2023. The game is 2D survival with a procedurally generated random map that goes on forever.
You will have to explore, craft, build bases, and defend yourselves from the monsters. You can craft thousands of materials, ranging from simple walls to laser blasters. The more complicated tools and weapons you build, the stronger you get.
The game is played in co-op mode with up to 8 players online and a 4-player split-screen. The more hands to build, the better defenses and crafting, and the more enjoyable the gameplay.
Portal 2Portal 2, a product of valve released on 19 April 2011, is a puzzle-solving game built around teleportation. You are a robot in the game that has to get out of an AI-controlled facility that is hell-bent on keeping you inside.
The game’s lore is really interesting and funny, and you will have fun in the campaign mode. What makes this game more fun are the different tools you use, such as a gravity gun. Create portals, go through them, and solve puzzles to open new levels; repeat.
But that is not all; the game allows you to co-op with another player in the story mode, so go crazy with the portal gun and let the robotic love be free.
Stardew ValleyStardew Valley is one of the most popular games on Steam. It has a tilted top-down view with retro-looking visuals.
You start as a farmer who inherited their grandfather’s farm in the game. You will have to explore Stardew valley’s map, talk, bond with the local inhabitants, conquer dungeons and mines to become a master farmer.
The gameplay may sound simple and easy, but you cannot conclude unless you play and explore the contents.
Need a helping hand while farming? Not to worry, the game has a co-op feature that lets you invite up to 3 other friends. So grab your shovels and pickaxes, and find out what Stardew Valley has to offer.
FactorioFactorio is another top-down visuals game that is hugely popular among survivalists. The game’s theme is building a factory on a new planet, mining ores, and making different materials to make a better running factory.
The loop continues until you have the ultimate, self-functioning factory.
The game also lets you create servers and let other people join in to give you a hand, or you can compete with each other to see who builds a better factory and fend off the creatures.
Oh yes, the natives of the land do not like the pollution you create while industrializing. Whenever your pollution reaches their nest, they will swarm your factory to destroy everything you have built. So build defenses, walls, turrets, anything that lets you kill the violent creatures.
Left 4 Dead 2Run through the hordes of zombies, shoot them down, and do your best not to die. Left 4 Dead 2 puts you amid the post-apocalyptic world filled with the undead. Your job is to kill anything you see and reach the safety point on the other side of the map.
Left 4 Dead 2 is a fast-paced, 4-player co-op game that will leave you clutching your mouse in adrenaline-filled sessions. The game has many weapons and tools that will come in handy for your journey. Furthermore, the game has multiple game modes to test your strength against other players or infinite hordes of zombies.
The game has the AI Director 2.0 that customizes the difficulty to balance the gameplay. It also controls the horde crowd and the effects based on the player’s play style. So if you hit the game hard, it will only hit you harder.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (Author’s Pick)Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is designed for up to 4-player co-op gaming. In the game, you are the force of love and are fighting against the evil force called Anti-Love.
Your mission is to ride your spaceship through the universe and battle evil robots and creatures, saving the love bunnies along the way. Each person mans a particular function of the spacecraft; thrusters, shields, and weapons.
Take control of the ship, communicate and rid the galaxy of the evil Anti-Love.
It Takes TwoIf you are a fan of a good storyline, this game might be the one for you. It Takes Two has a beautiful storyline that starts with the divorce of a couple and their daughter feeling down about it.
Then one day, the couple, Cody and May, magically turn into dolls. You then take over and go through the world of toys to find the source of this magic.
The game has an open-world map and is fully interactive. So if you see any toys around, chances are, it can be a mini-game hidden within.
The game is a 2-player co-op, so you will need another person to play along as one of the characters. You have to communicate and work together to solve the puzzles of this game. Collaboration is the key.
GTFOHead’s up, everyone! GTFO has finally come out of early access, and the full game launched on 10 December 2023. The game was so popular even in its early access that it was awarded multiple titles; Gamer of the Show in E3 2023 by Gamereactors, Best Cooperative Game in E3 2023 by DualShockers, to name a few.
GTFO is a 4-player co-op game where you play as prisoners sent by the Warden to clear out an underground facility and retrieve some items. The game is unforgiving, a mistake may lead to the obliteration of the squad, and stealth is key.
You will have to work together and make sure that each step counts. The game is intended to be played by four players together, but there are bots to fill up the empty slots. However, looking at the communication level needed to survive the hordes, it’s best to have humans by your side.
PhasmophobiaPhasmophobia is one of the best horror games on Steam. Even though the game was released in September 2023, about 30,000 players are playing the game regularly.
Phasmophobia is a 4-player co-op game that puts you in the shoes of paranormal investigators. Your mission is to get to a haunted location with your gadgets, find out evidence of the existence of the entity, and get out.
You can use different gadgets like an EMF reader, parabolic mic, cameras, and more to find out the whereabouts of the entity. But you have to be careful as they can kill you. You can, however, help your friends subtly once you are dead and come back as a ghost.
Unravel TwoUnravel Two is a mesmerizing game with a captivating story surrounding the story of a tiny creature made out of yarn called Yarny. You meet up with another Yarny at the start of the game and go through the side-scrolling, puzzle-solving platformer.
Unravel Two has two characters all the time, so the story demands co-op mode and is best played with another person.
Dead by DaylightYou find yourself in a strange area; you look around only to see three other people around you just as lost and scared as you are. Suddenly something catches your eye, making its way towards you, and before you can process anything, the unknown figure sprints to take your life.
Dead by Daylight features a 4v1 multiplayer mode where one person plays as a killer while the rest as innocents trying to escape the bloodthirsty killer and leave the area. You will have to cooperate with the innocents and make sure you get out alive.
Overcooked! (The series)The Overcooked! saga is a fun, cartoony cooking game that revolves around co-op with up to four players. The series takes place in the Onion Kingdom, where different calamities occur, and your job is to save the kingdom from those perils by cooking.
There are three games in the series, Overcooked!, Overcooked! 2, and Overcooked! All You Can Eat.
In the first game, a giant meatball attacks that land, and you work your way in different parts of the land to learn and cook new recipes to finally face the meatball. In the sequel, you strive in the same manner to save the world from the ‘Unbread.’
However, the third in the series combines both games with never-seen-before levels and chefs. But this version’s selling point is its graphics. Overcooked! All You Can Eat can be played in 4K at 60 fps.
Battleblock TheaterBattlblock Theater is a 2D puzzle-solving platformer game with draw-animation style visuals and comic-style characters. This game has its own story for single-player or co-op mode.
The game also has different arenas to invite your friends and brawl things out. It goes on a step further and provides a level editor, so you can create mayhem of obstacles simply to annoy your friends.
Dying LightMade for those who love exploring open maps and surviving, Dying Light is an award-winning game on Steam.
The game sets you in a fully interactive city swarmed with different zombies. You will have to explore, craft tools and equipment, and build a base to defend yourself. Things seem calm during the day, but the fun begins at night.
The zombies in the game do not like sunlight, so they hide in their nests until dusk. When the night falls, they come out in the open and start hunting for their meal.
The game also forces you to visit the horde nests as such places have better loot. Furthermore, you can parkour your way through the city’s rooftops to run from said hordes, should they ever attack you.
Dying Light is a fun and thrilling co-op game that is best played with up to four players.
ValheimValheim takes place after you, the character, are chosen as the warrior for the Valkyries to save the world tree. The game is also open-world so that you can explore to your heart’s content.
Since the game is survival, you will have to start with nothing and craft your way up. Build defenses to protect you, hunt for food, follow the story, and kill the monsters threatening the world tree.
You can play the game with a total of 10 players in a dedicated server and co-op or race against each other for survival.
Rayman LegendsIf you played games on an Atari Jaguar, you should know about the famous platformer Rayman. Now, the Rayman is on PC, continuing on the legacy.
In Rayman Legends, a run and gun platformer, you go through a series of level, fighting creatures and bosses to return to your home.
In the co-op mode, players who join you will play as the friends of Rayman. It is a 4-player co-op game with beautifully created visuals that leave you with a nostalgic experience.
Deep Rock GalacticDeep Rock Galactic is a fun-filled survival game where you play as dwarves mining deep inside an alien planet. You and your party of three other players’ jobs are to go down, mine different ores, and head back.
You will have to be cautious because the game throws violent alien creatures at you. Each of you will have guns and unique tools that will help you fight and survive these strange monsters,
The game also features a procedurally generated map, so you do not know where you are landing even if you have played the level before. Furthermore, the game also gives you a fully destructible environment, making the gameplay as immersive as possible.
Counter-Strike: Global OffensiveCounter-Strike needs no introduction, a team versus game where you have access to different weapons required to take down the enemy team.
The most played game of Steam, with more than 408 million hours globally, has different game modes where you can get on a shootout with your friends. But that is not all. CS: GO’s highlight is team play. You can add your friends to your team and go against other players worldwide.
If you are confident enough, you can also go on competitive mode and show the other team a better shooter. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive offers various game modes and maps where you can co-op or versus with your friends.
Keep Talking and Nobody ExplodesKeep Talking and Nobody Explodes takes on a different approach towards co-op gaming. One player has a screen where a bomb is slowly ticking. Your job is to diffuse the bomb before the time runs out.
But things are not as simple as they seem. You have no clue about how to diffuse the bomb. Your friend (or friends) have a manual for the bomb. They have to guide you through the whole process, no matter how complicated they are.
However, you do not have access to each other’s screens. If you have the bomb, then your friends will have the manual. Communication is the key to success. You will have to be clear in your instructions and description to stop the bomb successfully.
Minecraft DungeonsThe game throws all the original Minecraft mobs at you. It also gives you the best tools to help you fight. Furthermore, the game showcases new and powerful weapons and armor that help you in your ordeal.
The game has beautiful graphics and all the good elements of the OG Minecraft. Furthermore, you can also play the game with three other friends and conquer the dark dungeons together.
Human: Fall FlatHuman: Fall Flat is one of the funniest co-op games on Steam. It features ragdoll-physics movement that leaves your character shaky and hilarious.
The game is more fun when you play together with your friends. You can co-op with your friends and struggle to go through the puzzles in this platformer.
The game is more fun when you play together with your friends. Whether online or couch, you can co-op with your friends and struggle to go through the puzzles in this platformer.
There are many different levels that can test your controls, cooperation, and patience in the game. Furthermore, the game also features workshops where you can create your levels and skins with the help of Unity. You can even browse all the custom levels that players all around the globe have created.
Totally Reliable Delivery ServiceAnother Ragdoll-physics game that can leave you clutching your stomach. The game features you as a delivery person whose job is to grab the package, get on a vehicle, and deliver the package.
But don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the tasks. The controls are so wonky that you will have difficulty maneuvering the vehicle you are using. Speaking of vehicles, they range from simple cars to spaceships. You can pick whatever you unlock as you play the game.
Since the game is a multiplayer co-op, you can have three of your friends join you on the epic delivery journey, and hit the ground like a noodle, laughing away the pain.
ARK: Survival EvolvedAnother hugely popular survival game on Steam is ARK: Survival Evolved. The game is set on an island named ARK, full of wild and terrifying dinosaurs. You start with nothing near the beach and gather resources and craft materials to survive.
The game has an open-world map with a fully interactive environment, so you can do anything you want. The goal, however, of the game is to explore, tame different creatures of the island, become the apex predator, and finally escape.
ARK: Survival Evolved is a multiplayer game, so you can always invite your friends to lend you a hand with the dinosaurs. You can also play the game online with strangers. While playing with a large group, you can either co-op with everyone or go solo against everyone to see who survives the most.
Latest Artificial Intelligence Jobs At Pepsico You Can Apply For Right Now
Land a career in AI with these top artificial intelligence jobs.
Artificial intelligence job prospects have grown in recent years as industry demand has expanded. The rumor that AI will generate a slew of new jobs is correct. Artificial intelligence appears to provide more opportunities than any other profession now available. We’ve compiled a list of Pepsico Artificial Intelligence Job Openings that you can apply for right now.
Architect, AI/ML DeveloperLocation: Hyderabad, Telangana Responsibilities:
This role will lead technical development within Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning for PBNA Advanced Analytics. This will include design, implement, and maintain digital solutions for the PBNA sector.
Set up and manage the company’s AI development and facilitate production infrastructure.
Help AI product managers and business stakeholders understand the potential and limitations of AI when planning new products.
Know more
Architect – Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Lead EngineerLocation: Hyderabad, Telangana Responsibilities:
As an Automation Lead Engineer, you will be responsible for leading a team to the developer.
You will work closely with teams to develop, test, implement new and existing automation processes.
You will be exposed to a wide array of business applications that get tied together with the company’s robots and will create value for the organization by automating business tasks.
Know more
Architect – Data ScienceLocation: India Responsibilities:
This role will lead technical development within Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning for PBNA Advanced Analytics. This will include design, implement, and maintain digital solutions for the PBNA sector. The role is responsible for:
Set up and manage the company’s AI development and facilitate production infrastructure.
Help AI product managers and business stakeholders understand the potential and limitations of AI when planning new products.
Build data ingest and data transformation infrastructure.
Know more
Architect, Scrum Master, Azure, Data ScienceLocation: Hyderabad, Telangana Responsibilities:
As part of AMESA/APAC Data and Digital Solutions team, the job requires driving the automation, e-commerce, and Data Science, Data Modelling, Data Ingestion agenda.
The person will deliver and lead development for EDW, Data Lake, Business Intelligence, Azure, and Advanced Analytics.
One will be playing the role of scrum master across multiple projects.
Know more
Associate Director, SAP Cloud InfrastructureLocation: Hyderabad, Telangana Responsibilities: The Associate Director, Cloud Acceleration & Value Office will be responsible for the design, build, and deployment of infrastructure and environments required on private/public cloud for PepsiCo global SAP program – PepsiCo Global Template (PGT). This role is part of PepsiCo’s Acceleration & Cloud Office – a multi-discipline team responsible for architecting and delivering secure, robust, and innovative solutions which would enable the development teams to build and deploy new applications as well as migrate selected existing applications into the public cloud. The candidate will work alongside SAP solution architecture, Basis and Environment, Cloud Operations teams to design, build, deploy and sustain the systems and landscape. Know more
Sr. ML EngineerLocation: Plano, TX Responsibilities:
Partner with a data scientist working on discovery, prototypes, and pilot. Focus on experiment tracking
Partner with data engineers regarding data pipelines and data versioning.
Coordinate work activities with IT services and as required.
Drive the use of the Platform toolset.
Build, deploy or publish machine learning models that run efficiently in cloud pipelines.
Help drive optimization, testing, and tooling to improve quality (unit tests).
Know more
R&D Ana Tech Director (Director, Data Science – AI & ML)Location: Valhalla, NY Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and strategy for AI/ML platforms to support R&D innovations and internal partners.
Contribute to R&D digital strategy and be a liaison between AI/ML COE, the R&D stakeholders, IT, and vendors.
Translate business needs and requirements into technical concepts and solutions.
Work with Business as the AI/ML COE leader to understand the digital technology requirements, define the business problems and deliver solutions.
Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team to build and scale solutions for R&D innovations.
Know more
ML EngineerLocation: Cornellà de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain Responsibilities:
Partner with a data scientist working on discovery, prototypes, and pilot. Focus on experiment tracking.
Work with data engineers regarding data pipelines and data versioning.
Adopt the best MLOps standards to design and develop scalable end-to-end machine learning pipelines.
Build and deploy machine learning models that run in cloud pipelines.
Artificial intelligence job prospects have grown in recent years as industry demand has expanded. The rumor that AI will generate a slew of new jobs is correct. Artificial intelligence appears to provide more opportunities than any other profession now available. We’ve compiled a list of Pepsico Artificial Intelligence Job Openings that you can apply for right now.Hyderabad, TelanganaKnow more here Hyderabad, TelanganaKnow more here Know more here Hyderabad, TelanganaKnow more here Hyderabad, TelanganaThe Associate Director, Cloud Acceleration & Value Office will be responsible for the design, build, and deployment of infrastructure and environments required on private/public cloud for PepsiCo global SAP program – PepsiCo Global Template (PGT). This role is part of PepsiCo’s Acceleration & Cloud Office – a multi-discipline team responsible for architecting and delivering secure, robust, and innovative solutions which would enable the development teams to build and deploy new applications as well as migrate selected existing applications into the public cloud. The candidate will work alongside SAP solution architecture, Basis and Environment, Cloud Operations teams to design, build, deploy and sustain the systems and landscape. Know more here Plano, TXKnow more here Valhalla, NYKnow more here Cornellà de Llobregat, Catalonia, SpainKnow more here
Top Tips For Android Security
Whenever someone asks me if a smartphone is truly secure, I find myself feeling vexed. On the one hand, anything that connects to the Internet could become a security concern. By the same token, if someone is aware of commonsense practices for avoiding data leakage and exploitation, then today’s smartphones are very safe to use.
In this article, we’re going to be talking about Android security. I’ll share my top tips for avoiding data leakage and doing everything possible to protect yourself against threats like identity theft, hacked accounts and your contact list being spammed.
Difficult to avoid security exploits can range from provider backdoors to exploits affecting firmware. Realistically, these issues aren’t going to be something the casual users are able to protect themselves against. Therefore, this article is going to focus on completely avoidable security issues instead.
My recommendation is doing this with the apps that will never need to connect to the Internet when not at home. This includes file managers and apps that you would never think to connect to the Internet in the first place. While it doesn’t prevent malware or data leaks specifically, this practice can help you to troubleshoot potentially bad apps.
I’d love to tell you that every single application on the Google Play Store is well vetted. The truth is that isn’t true – period. This means it’s easier to get applications with more features than you might find on other platforms, but it also means you need to be careful about what you’re installing.
The first rule of installing Android applications is to only do so from trusted sources. I’m not talking about installing apk packages vs Google Play. You need to know the source and company behind the application before trusting it completely. Like many of you, I’ve been known to make exceptions…but even then I’m careful about the permissions I grant the software.
To be clear, I would trust an apk package from a vendor’s website I trust more than I would some random Google Play app that I know nothing about. Why? Because Google Play on its own merit doesn’t promise security. There is still some user responsibility for maintaining a secure Android experience. That said, I would suggest you’re safer downloading random apps on Google Play than some mysterious forum page’s listed apk packages.
I suggest looking into a reliable VPN service. There are some good ones, but I suggest doing your own research. Some might question how a VPN tunnel secures your Android device. I would submit that it provides an added layer of encryption to your online web browsing activities. And while the encryption ends on the other end of the tunnel, at least your activity isn’t broadcasted to other users sharing the same public wifi access point.
There was a time when the idea of running anti-malware software on your Android device might have seemed unnecessary. And even in 2023, there are Android users who may still feel this way. Personally, I happen to be in the “better safe than sorry” camp. The software I’ve had the most success with is called Lookout. Using Lookout has proven to be low on resource usage and big on making sure my installed applications aren’t doing anything nefarious.
I also like the fact that Lookout provides me with the ability to remotely locate my phone if it were lost or stolen, and can also remotely wipe the data if I choose. It’s a solid application and it works properly across all of my Android devices. I’ve also never had any issues with software being missed that contained something dangerous.
The last security tip I want to share is about rooting your phone. On the surface, rooting your Android phone has a lot of benefits. You can remove pre-installed bloatware, install applications that only work when a device is rooted, plus be in full control of the device to its core. It’s a powerful experience, no question about it. The downside of running as root is that any layer of protection from Android has been removed. This is a root device – if code is executed, it’s going to run. Period.
On the flipside, rooting also allows you to take control of your device and setup your own security best practices. The key factor is since you’ve rooted, you’re in charge. Don’t expect your mobile carrier to bail you out if you screw up. If you’re someone who has rooted a phone before, has a rock-solid plan for restoring their device if they need to, then rooting can indeed make a lot of sense.
So what say you? Do you feel a rooted phone is a secure option? Perhaps you believe security software on your Android device is just silly? Hit the Comments and share your thoughts!
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
Privacy Officers: Security Types Need Convincing
Last week in Washington, DC., (good news never starts out like this) a panel of security executives and technologists sat down to explore the challenges awaiting a new crop of chief privacy officers who will be appointed to federal agencies in response to new law.
Unfortunately, from the tone of some of the discussion, the first challenge for these CPOs will be to explain why they are relevant in the first place.
The reason for the sudden interest? A new federal appropriations law requires all government agencies to hire privacy officers, as well as engaging third-party auditors to watch over the shoulders of these new CPOs.
According to a recent report, the NIST committee’s task is to summarize current ”best practices” for federal CPOs. But, reportedly, the committee is considering recommending against the implementation of mandatory outside audits. Why? Due to the odd wording of the law, the auditors would be evaluating the work of the CPO, not the practices of the department.
Rebecca Leng, deputy assistant inspector general for information technology and computer security at the U.S. Transportation Department, was quoted as saying the appropriations language does not outline the criteria for such audits. The law simply says inspectors general must hire auditors to check the CPOs’ activities.
”At this point in time, nobody knows what good practices are in the [privacy] field,” she reportedly said.
Perhaps nobody she knows in the security field knows what good privacy practices are these days, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to appreciate that security audits might have an analog over in the privacy side of an organization.
First, let me state for the record that I am not opposed to clarifying badly written laws. If the committee’s point was to question the wording of the appropriations bill, then they have raised a valid point. But if they are questioning the more fundamental need for privacy audits — or even the need for privacy officers in general — then they are barking up the wrong tree.
I’ve spent much of the last six or seven years promoting the importance of privacy officers. Much to my dismay, over the course of the years, some of the greatest skepticism I’ve met has come from security professionals.
Much of the skepticism boils down to some basic misconceptions about the relationship between privacy and security, and fears that privacy officers are just going to be competing for the same organizational ”turf”. But as I have sat with security professionals to explain why the role of the privacy officer is complimentary, but fundamentally different, the concerns and misconceptions are easily dispelled.
Indeed, many security executives quickly realize that privacy officers get to deal with many of the murkier, subjective, and often politically-charged issues that many security officers try to avoid being drawn into — such as marketing strategies or legal and regulatory compliance.
But let’s not miss the bigger point here.
Assuming Congress could fix the law so it would require the auditing of privacy practices, instead of the day-to-day work of the privacy officer, this is something that should be encouraged. A critical element of the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement actions in the realm of privacy has been the requirement that companies bring in outside auditors to oversee their privacy fixes and ongoing practices.
If this panel believes you should only audit after a problem is discovered, then they don’t appear to have a good grasp on the reality of today’s privacy methodology in use at the most enlightened organizations the world over.
The four elements of a coherent privacy program are:
Know your current privacy-related practices;
Articulate those practices in a privacy policy;
Implement those practices through training and oversight, and
How To Quickly Change WordPress Login Url For Added Security
If you are a WordPress user, you will know that the default login URL is at “/wp-login.php”. This default login URL is very convenient, but there are times when you’d be better changing it. There are a few good reasons to change the default login URL and there are some easy ways to do it. Read more about this in this article.
Why Would I Change the Default Login URLThe main reason to want to change the default login URL for your WordPress site is security. First, it tells hackers you are using WordPress (not that they can’t find this in other ways, but you are making it too easy for them). When hackers know your site is “Powered by WordPress” and know common WP vulnerabilities, you become an easy target.
Second, the default administrator’s username is “admin.” Not many WordPress sitemasters bother to change it. And hackers know this. The only thing left is to figure out your password. This isn’t easy, especially if you have done your homework and have chosen a harder-to-guess password, but just think of the load on your server while hackers are trying to brute-force-guess your password. Of course, if you change your default login, there is still no guarantee hackers won’t touch your site. But you are making their task much harder, and chances are they will simply move on to easier victims.
How to Change the Default Login URLBefore you begin with the actual steps of changing the default login URL, you really need to make a backup. I can’t stress how important a backup is! The default login change is usually painless, but if there are compatibility issues and other problems, without a backup you are simply lost. So, back up your site before you go on.
These are the default URLs, and you can change them as you please. For instance, you can change “/wp-login.php” to “/user/login/,” “/wp-login.php?action=register” to “/user/register/,” “/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword” to “/user/remind/,” and “/wp-login.php?action=logout” to “/user/logout/.”
Of course, these are just suggestions – you can change the URLs to anything you like. It’s even better to change them to something less logical – e.g. “/go,” “/enter,” or even something absurd (“/cucumber” or “/hahaha” come to my mind) because this makes it nearly impossible for hackers to guess. You can even change them to non-English URLs – this will make it even more difficult for hackers to guess.
Before you log out of the dashboard, do not forget to write down the changed URLs because if you forget them, even Google won’t be able to help you!
This is probably the easiest way to change the default login URL. It doesn’t involve any coding or messing with the installation files. There are other plugins you can use, too, such as Move Login or WPS Hide Login, so if for some reason you don’t like Custom Login URL, you are not stuck with it.
Ada Ivanova
I am a fulltime freelancer who loves technology. Linux and Web technologies are my main interests and two of the topics I most frequently write about.
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