Tag: security

5G Blacklist 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 in HTAccess, Security by Jeff Starr

[ 5G ] The 5G Blacklist helps reduce the number of malicious URL requests that hit your website. It’s one of many ways to improve the security of your site and protect against evil exploits, bad requests, and other nefarious garbage.

After extensive beta testing, the 5G Blacklist/Firewall is solid and ready to help secure sites hosted on Apache servers. In addition to beta testing for the 5G, this is the 5th major update of my “G”-series blacklists. Here is a quick overview of its evolution:

5G Blacklist for Microsoft IIS

Posted on November 25, 2011 in Security by Jeff Starr

By design the 5G Blacklist works on Apache servers, but thanks to Scott Stawarz, here is a version for Microsoft IIS:

Ajax-Powered Error Logs for WordPress

Posted on July 11, 2011 in Security, WordPress by Jeff Starr

In my previous post, I share my technique for Ajax-Powered Error Logs. That tutorial shows you how to set up dynamic error monitoring on any typical website, but the script requires some tweaking to get it working with WordPress. In this quick post, I explain how to set up Ajax Error Logs specifically for WordPress sites.

Ajax-Powered Error Logs

Posted on July 8, 2011 in Security by Jeff Starr

[ Ajax Error Log - File Structure ] As an obsessive website administrator, I like to keep a keen eye on my error logs. Once a week, I download my PHP, 404, and other error logs, and analyze them as closely as time allows. Monitoring site errors and other traffic patterns leads to many of the security-related articles I post here at Perishable Press, including resources such as the 5G Blacklist, Ultimate HTAccess Blacklist, and the Blacklist Candidate Series. Easily, one of the best ways to protect your site is to understand the different types of errors that are happening behind the scenes. This is why monitoring your error logs is so important. In this article, you’ll learn how to make it a little easier and more dynamic with MySQL, PHP, and the magic of Ajax.

10 Characters for Your WordPress Blacklist

Posted on April 18, 2011 in WordPress by Jeff Starr

Quick WordPress tip for easily and quietly blocking a ton of comment spam. Akismet and other programs are good at catching most spam, but every now and then a bunch of weird, foreign-language spam will sneak past the filters and post live to your site. Here’s a good example of the kind of stuff that’s easy to block: