Manually install OpenSSH in Windows Server
How to install OpenSSH Server in Windows Server Core using PowerShell. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to install Microsoft SSH Server in Windows Server 2022
Search Results for: security
Securing privileged access
Securing privileged access is a critical first step to establishing security assurances for business assets in a modern organization. The security of most or all business assets in an IT organization depends on the integrity of the privileged accounts used to administer, manage, and develop. Cyber-attackers often target these accounts and other elements of privileged access to gain access to data and systems using credential theft attacks
Find vulnerable WordPress plugin versions fast using PowerShell
On a daily bases, new vulnerabilities are found in WordPress plugins. And when you host thousands of WordPress sites, you can count on the fact you have some customers using that vulnerable version of that particular plugin. So you need to find those vulnerable versions on your servers fast. On Windows Server, PowerShell is a perfect tool for the job!
Disallow direct access to PHP files in wp-content/uploads/
It’s recommended to disallow access to and execution of PHP files in wp-content/uploads folder. Preferably without the use of a security plugin. Blocking access to PHP files in WordPress wp-content/uploads folder is easily achieved with a .htaccess file on Linux Apache, or web.config accesssPolicy in Windows Server IIS, and here is how.
Basic Authentication module for Windows Server IIS 10
Basic Authentication managed HTTP module for IIS 10 with virtual users support. In my pursuit of a basic authentication alternative in IIS, other than the built-in Basic Authentication module or Helicon Ape, I came across Devbridge AzurePowerTools. It’s apparently one of few HTTP managed modules for IIS that enables HTTP Basic Authentication with support for virtual users.
Reduce Wordfence CPU usage, disable Wordfence “Live Traffic View”
Whenever WordPress is using a lot of CPU and you have Wordfence Security plugin enabled, it is recommended to double check some settings. Unfortunately the Wordfence “Live Traffic Options” (“Traffic logging mode”) feature can cause high CPU usage and load issues for WordPress websites. Therefore, I recommend you disable this feature to improve the performance of your WordPress website.
Install Windows Server Servicing Stack Updates (SSU) using PowerShell
Install Servicing Stack Updates (SSU) for Windows Server 2012R2, 2016 and Windows Server 2019 using PowerShell, without downtime. Because they must be installed prior to your normal Windows Server security updates, you can install them anytime you want to during the day. Here’s a small PowerShell example to do so.
ASP and ASP.NET connection string examples for Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL
This article provides you with a couple of ASP.NET to SQL Server connection string examples for ODBC and OLE DB. And as a bonus for ASP to SQL Server, MySQL, and SSL encrypted connections too.
Important note about Windows Update KB4056892
There is another VERY IMPORTANT THING with Microsoft Meltdown patches like update KB4056892: – Customers will not receive these security updates and will not be protected from security vulnerabilities unless their anti-virus software vendor sets the following registry key:
Protect WordPress from brute-force XML-RPC attacks
The WordPress XML-RPC API has been under attack for many years. Back in August 2014, WordPress released version 3.9.2, fixing a possible denial of service issue in PHP’s XML processing. There are brute-force amplification attacks, reported by Sucuri, and so on. So, how do you protect WordPress from these xmlrpc.php attacks, optionally still being able to use (some of) its functionality like Jetpack? This post gives you some insights.
How to disable SMBv1 in Windows 10 and Windows Server
Disable SMBv1 to prevent prevent Petya / NotPetya, WannaCry / WanaCrypt0r ransomware spreading through your network. These worm viruses exploit a vulnerability in Windows Server Message Block (SMB) version 1 (SMBv1), and spread like wildfire. It is urged you disable SMBv1 in your Windows variant (Windows 10, 8.1, Server 2016, 2012 R2), and here is how if you haven’t done so yet.
Check WordPress Core files integrity
Check and verify WordPress Core files md5 checksums against WordPress’ checksums API, using this standalone PHP file. WordPress integrity matters, therefore I chose to use a standalone PHP script to check the md5sum of WordPress Core files against the API so you’re not dependent on a possibly hacked WordPress installation. This kind of guarantees the result can be trusted, as opposed to using a WordPress plugin. I think this is a better integrity check of WordPress Core files.
Enable NTFS long paths GPO in Windows Server 2022, 2019 and Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016 was finally released last week, meaning we can finally lift the idiotic 260 characters limitation for NTFS paths. In this post I’ll show you how to configure the Enable Win32 long paths setting for the NTFS file system, through Group Policy (a GPO). The NTFS long paths GPO is also still required for Windows Server 2022 and 2019.
Intrusion Detection with Windows Event ID’s
This paper is the best I have ever read on how to build IOC’s with Windows Event ID’s. I highly recommend you to read it, it contains very useful information and some very interesting behavioral examples of attacker activity. If you are looking to enhance your detection in your core network this is the document!
How to optimize your WordPress hosting – 9+ practical tips
9+ Practical tips to optimize WordPress hosting, or any other PHP web application for that matter. Discover how this very blog has optimized its WordPress hosting environment and how you can too by optimizing MySQL, PHP and server configuration.