robertoiacono

<p><strong>RIACO Content Protector</strong> allows you to protect <em>any part</em> of your WordPress content using a shortcode.<br />
Unlike the built-in post password protection, this plugin protects only what you wrap, <em>not the whole post</em>.</p>
<p>Perfect for:</p>
<ul>
<li>Protecting premium blocks of content  </li>
<li>Protecting guides, downloads, links, or sensitive sections   </li>
<li>Paywall-style snippets</li>
</ul>
<h3>Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Protect <strong>only specific content</strong> inside posts/pages  </li>
<li>Uses a minimal shortcode:<br />
  [riaco_content_protector] Hidden text here [/riaco_content_protector]</li>
<li><strong>Global password</strong> stored in plain text, like WordPress page passwords.</li>
<li>AJAX-based form — no page reload  </li>
<li>Unlocks <strong>all protected sections</strong> on the site after correct password  </li>
<li>Optional cookie persistence (remember unlocked content for a configurable number of days)   </li>
<li>Secure implementation using nonces, hashed tokens, and transients   </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Important:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The global password is stored in plain text, just like WordPress page passwords. It can be read by user with ‘manage_options’ ability.</li>
<li>If the global password or “Remember Unlocked” duration is changed in settings, all existing unlock cookies are invalidated. Users will need to re-enter the new password to access protected content.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How It Works</h3>
<p>Wrap content you want to protect:</p>
<pre><code>[riaco_content_protector]
This text will be hidden until the visitor enters the password.
[/riaco_content_protector]
</code></pre>
<p>Set the global password under:</p>
<p><strong>Settings > Content Protector</strong></p>
<p>Visitors will see a modern, styled form.<br />
After entering the correct password:</p>
<ul>
<li>The content unlocks immediately  </li>
<li>All other protected areas unlock automatically  </li>
<li>An optional cookie can keep everything unlocked for a chosen number of days  </li>
</ul>
<h3>Security</h3>
<ul>
<li>Nonces on every request  </li>
<li>Secure HMAC token for cookie authentication  </li>
<li>Sanitized shortcode attributes  </li>
<li>Escaped output  </li>
<li>No sensitive data stored in cookies  </li>
<li>Global password stored in plain text, like WordPress page passwords. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Cookie</h3>
<p>We use this cookie to understand if user unlocked the content: <code>riaco_cp_unlocked_global</code>.</p>
<h3>Style</h3>
<p>You can style the content protector box.</p>
<p>It has this class: <code>.riaco-cp--container</code>, so you can add in your <code>style.css</code>:</p>
<pre><code>.riaco-cp--container {
    background: #f8f9fa;
    padding: 20px;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
    border-radius: 6px;
}
</code></pre>
<p>You can replace button classes using:</p>
<pre><code>add_filter( 'riaco_cp_button_classes', function( $classes ) {
    return 'button my-custom-button-class';
});
</code></pre>
<p>Or you can remove button classes:</p>
<pre><code>add_filter( 'riaco_cp_button_classes', function( $classes ) {
    // Remove wp-element-button
    return str_replace( 'wp-element-button', '', $classes );
});
</code></pre>
<h3>License</h3>
<p>This plugin is licensed under GPLv2 or later.</p>


RIACO Content Protector

Protect any portion of your WordPress content using a simple shortcode. Includes global password, AJAX unlock, and site-wide instant access.

Freemius

WP Chill

Silkalns

patrickposner

<h3>Password Protect Pages, Posts & Content in WordPress</h3>
<p>Passster is an all-in-one plugin to password protect pages, content, or your entire site in seconds—quick, secure, and easy to use.<br />
Passster offers three protection modes to cover every use case you may think of when it comes to password protecting your WordPress website.</p>
<p><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe loading="lazy" class="youtube-player" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjYklVLVFD8?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&listType=playlist&list=PLM2tOjfhVrZdo_H26CV2I-UfdqpDWxo3D" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe></span></p>
<h3>Passster Pro – Even more protection features when making a purchase</h3>
<p><strong>Multiple Passwords & Password Lists</strong><br />
– Assign multiple passwords for different users.<br />
– Create and manage large password lists for easy control.</p>
<p><strong>Quick & Bulk Edit for Password Protection</strong><br />
– Use WordPress <strong>Quick Edit</strong> and <strong>Bulk Edit</strong> to protect multiple pages instantly.</p>
<p><strong>Unlock Content by User Role or Email</strong><br />
– Automatically grant access to specific users or email addresses.</p>
<p><strong>Password Expiration & Usage Limits</strong><br />
– Set passwords to expire after a number of uses, first use, or by a time limit (hours, days, weeks).<br />
– Track which passwords were used and when they will expire.</p>
<p><strong>Generate Unlock Links</strong><br />
– Create encrypted unlock links so users can access content without entering a password.<br />
– Automatically shorten links with <strong>Bit.ly</strong> for easy sharing.</p>
<p><strong>WooCommerce Protection & Sales</strong><br />
– Protect WooCommerce pages, products, and checkout with a password.<br />
– Sell access to protected content—generate and email passwords automatically after purchase.</p>
<p><strong>Detailed Password Usage Statistics</strong><br />
– Track when and how often passwords are used.<br />
– View first usage date, IP (optional), and browser details.</p>
<h3>Quick Comparison (Free vs. Pro)</h3>
<h3>Free Version:</h3>
<p>✔ Protect sections of pages using shortcodes or blocks.<br />
✔ Secure entire pages and posts.<br />
✔ Automatically protect child pages with a single click.<br />
✔ Lock down your entire site with a password.<br />
✔ Unlock protected content without refreshing the page.<br />
✔ Customize the design, labels, and descriptions of the password form.<br />
✔ Use cookies to grant access across multiple protected areas.</p>
<h3>Pro Version:</h3>
<p>✔ Everything in the free version, plus:<br />
✔ Protect content with <strong>multiple passwords</strong> or password lists.<br />
✔ Quickly set up password protection via Quick Edit or Bulk Edit.<br />
✔ Protect content using <strong>Google reCAPTCHA or hCAPTCHA</strong>.<br />
✔ Unlock protected content by <strong>user role or email</strong>.<br />
✔ Set passwords to <strong>expire</strong> based on usage limits or time intervals.<br />
✔ Generate encrypted <strong>unlock links</strong> for seamless access.<br />
✔ Track and prevent <strong>concurrent password sharing</strong>.<br />
✔ Secure <strong>WooCommerce products and store pages</strong>.<br />
✔ Sell access to protected content via <strong>WooCommerce integration</strong>.<br />
✔ Detailed statistics on password usage and lists.</p>
<p>Get it now on <a href="https://passster.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">passster.com/</a></p>
<h3>Documentation</h3>
<p>Learn more about this plugin <a href="https://passster.com/kb/" rel="nofollow ugc">in our official documentation</a></p>
<h3>Support</h3>
<ul>
<li>Free users: <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/content-protector/" rel="ugc">Ask in our forum</a></li>
<li>Pro users: <a href="https://passster.com/contact-us/?utm_source=wordpress.org&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=description&utm_term=contact+us" rel="nofollow ugc">Get priority help</a></li>
</ul>


Passster – Password Protect Pages and Content


I'm not sure that updating the plugin is the only cause, but it is a cause of this problem: the correct password ceases to unlock the content after an update and says "security check failed" or something when attempting to authenticate.  This causes a periodic freak-out of my customer.  To fix it I have to add and take away the whole-page lock...I think...  It's hard to pinpoint what I actually do that makes it start working again.


Periodically doesn't unlock. Buggy

Password Protect Pages, Posts & Content in WordPress

RIACO Content Protector vs Passster – Password Protect Pages and Content