Samuel Aguilera

<p>There’s a lot of WordPress security plugins with many many options and pages to setup. And that is fine if you know what to do.<br />
But most of the times, you don’t need so much or simply you’re not sure about what to set or not.</p>
<p>This plugin adds some extra security to your WordPress with only one click. <strong>No options page, just activate it!</strong></p>
<h4>Features</h4>
<p>Like many other security plugins SAR One Click Security adds well known .htaccess rules, but only the ones probed to be safe to use in almost any type of site (including WooCommerce stores), to protect your WordPress from common attacks. This allows you to have a safer WordPress without worries about what protection you should be using.</p>
<ul>
<li>Turn off ServerSignature directive, that may leak information about your web server.</li>
<li>Turn off directory listing, avoiding bad configured hostings to leak your files.</li>
<li>Blocks public access (from web) to following files that may leak information about your WordPress install: .htaccess, license.txt, readme.html, wp-config.php, wp-config-sample.php, install.php</li>
<li>Blocks access to wp-login.php to dummy bots trying to register in WordPress sites that have registration disabled.</li>
<li>Blocks requests looking for timthumb.php, reducing server load caused by bots trying to find it. (*)</li>
<li>Blocks TRACE and TRACK request methods, preventing XST attacks.</li>
<li>Blocks direct posting to wp-comments-post.php (most spammers do this) and access with blank User Agent, reducing spam comments a lot and also server load.</li>
<li>Blocks direct access to PHP files in wp-content directory (this includes subdirectories like plugins or themes). Protecting you from a huge number of 0day exploits.</li>
<li>Blocks direct POST to wp-login.php and access with blank User Agent, preventing most brute-force attacks and reducing server load.</li>
<li>Blocks access to .txt files under any plugin/theme directory to prevent scans for installed plugins/themes.</li>
<li>Blocks any query string trying to get a copy of the wp-config.php file.</li>
<li>Blocks gf_page=upload query string argument, this was deprecated in Gravity Forms on May 2015, if your copy of Gravity Forms still uses it, update now!</li>
<li>Removes version information from page headers. This includes not only the page header (html or xhtml) but also feed headers (rss, rss2, atom, rdf) and opml comments. Only the version number is removed, not the entire generator information.  </li>
</ul>
<p>(*) If your theme uses TimThumb, you can disable that blocking rule, check FAQ before installing the plugin to see how.</p>
<h4>Requirements</h4>
<ul>
<li>WordPress 3.9.2 or higher. (Works with WordPress network/multisite installation).</li>
<li>Apache 2.4.x web server</li>
</ul>
<p>It has been tested in many servers including large providers like HostGator, Godaddy and 1&1 with optimal results, and it will work fine in any decent hosting service (that allows you to set options from .htaccess files).</p>
<p>Anyway, if you get any problem after activating the plugin, check FAQ for instructions on how to manually uninstall it.</p>
<p>If you’re not sure of which server is your hosting company using or if they allow to use custom .htaccess rules, I would recommend you to contact with your host support <strong>before</strong> installing the plugin.</p>
<h4>Usage</h4>
<p>To apply above mentioned security rules simply install and activate the plugin, no options page, no user setup!</p>
<p>If you need to remove the security rules for some reason, simply deactivate the plugin. If you want to add them again, activate the plugin again, that easy 😉</p>
<p>And remember, <strong>if your theme uses TimThumb, check FAQ before installing the plugin</strong>.</p>


SAR One Click Security

Adds some extra security to your WordPress with only one click.

Brendigo

<p>BrenWP Client Safe Mode helps you troubleshoot safely and reduce risk when handing a WordPress site to clients or non-technical users.</p>
<p>Safe Mode is <em>per-user</em>: it applies only to the currently logged-in user who enabled it. Visitors and other users are not affected.</p>
<h4>Safe Mode (per-user) can optionally</h4>
<ul>
<li>Block access to risky wp-admin screens (plugin/theme management, core updates, Site Health, and update actions)</li>
<li>Disable file modifications (plugin/theme installs, updates, editors)</li>
<li>Optionally block update/install capabilities (prevents running updates/installs even via alternative flows)</li>
<li>Optionally block destructive capabilities (prevents deleting plugins/themes while Safe Mode is enabled)</li>
<li>Optionally disable the built-in plugin/theme editors (capability-based) while Safe Mode is enabled</li>
<li>Hide update notices</li>
<li>Trim selected admin bar nodes (Updates / Comments / New Content)</li>
<li>Auto-disable after a configurable number of minutes (optional)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Client restrictions (role-based + optional user targeting) can</h4>
<ul>
<li>Optionally target a specific user account (in addition to roles)</li>
<li>Hide risky menus</li>
<li>Block direct access to sensitive wp-admin screens</li>
<li>Disable file modifications</li>
<li>Hide update notices</li>
<li>Optionally limit the Media Library to a user’s own uploads (privacy on multi-author sites)</li>
<li>Optionally hide common Dashboard widgets for restricted roles (UI cleanup)</li>
<li>Optionally hide the Screen Options dropdown (independent toggle)</li>
<li>Optionally hide the Admin Bar on the front end for restricted roles</li>
<li>Optionally block Customizer access (customize.php)</li>
<li>Optionally block Users screens (Users list/Add/Edit) even if the broader screen blocklist is disabled</li>
<li>Optionally block Tools screens (Tools/Import/Export) even if the broader screen blocklist is disabled</li>
<li>Optionally lock profile email/password changes for restricted roles (prevents self-service account takeover)</li>
<li>Optionally show a dismissible 2FA security reminder notice (notice only)</li>
<li>Optionally hide the Admin Bar on the front end for restricted roles</li>
</ul>
<h4>General hardening (site-wide, optional)</h4>
<ul>
<li>Disable XML-RPC</li>
<li>Disable the built-in plugin/theme editors for all users (capability-based)</li>
<li>Optional settings export download (admin-only) via a nonce-protected endpoint (default OFF)</li>
</ul>
<p>Administrators are never restricted by client restrictions. On multisite, super-admins are also excluded.</p>
<h4>Privacy</h4>
<p>This plugin does not send data to external services. It performs <strong>no tracking, telemetry, analytics, or “phone-home” requests</strong>.</p>
<h4>Data stored on your site</h4>
<p>The plugin stores the minimum required data to provide Safe Mode and optional auditing:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Options (Settings)</strong>: stored in the <code>brenwp_csm_options</code> option (site option). This contains your configured settings.</li>
<li><strong>Activity log (optional)</strong>: stored in the <code>brenwp_csm_activity_log</code> option <strong>only if Activity logging is enabled</strong>. This log is bounded by <strong>Max entries</strong> and can optionally be pruned by age (Retention days).</li>
<li><strong>Operational options</strong>: internal housekeeping options such as <code>brenwp_csm_last_settings_change</code> and a short-lived lock key used to avoid concurrent log writes.</li>
<li><strong>User meta (Safe Mode)</strong>:
<ul>
<li><code>brenwp_csm_safe_mode</code> (on/off flag for a user)</li>
<li><code>brenwp_csm_safe_mode_until</code> (optional expiry timestamp if auto-off is enabled)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>Data minimization and retention</h4>
<ul>
<li>Activity logging is <strong>disabled by default</strong>.</li>
<li>The activity log does <strong>not</strong> store IP addresses and attempts to redact likely secrets from context values.</li>
<li>Retention controls:
<ul>
<li><strong>Max entries</strong> caps log size.</li>
<li><strong>Retention days</strong> can automatically prune older entries (0 = disabled).</li>
<li>The <strong>Clear log</strong> action removes all log entries immediately (admin-only, nonce protected).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>Privacy tools</h4>
<p>The plugin:<br />
* Adds suggested text to the Privacy Policy Guide (Settings <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Privacy)<br />
* Registers a personal data exporter and eraser for the Safe Mode user meta</p>
<h4>Data deletion</h4>
<p>On uninstall (delete), the plugin removes its options, optional log option, Safe Mode user meta, and (best-effort) the optional <code>bren_client</code> role if it was created by the plugin.</p>
<h3>Security</h3>
<p>This plugin follows WordPress hardening best practices:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>CSRF protection</strong>: all state-changing actions use <strong>POST</strong> and require a <strong>WordPress nonce</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Authorization</strong>: privileged admin actions are gated by <strong>capability checks</strong> (<code>manage_options</code> by default, filterable).</li>
<li><strong>XSS defense</strong>: user-controlled data is sanitized on input and escaped on output.</li>
<li><strong>No remote requests</strong>: the plugin does not make outbound HTTP requests.</li>
<li><strong>Data minimization</strong>: the activity log is bounded, does not store IP addresses, and redacts likely secrets in log context values.</li>
</ul>
<p>Assumptions and scope:</p>
<ul>
<li>The plugin enforces policies inside WordPress; it does not replace server/WAF hardening.</li>
<li>Safe Mode is <strong>per-user</strong> and does not modify the site’s active plugins/themes list.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Troubleshooting</h3>
<h4>I don’t see the Safe Mode toggle in the admin bar</h4>
<ul>
<li>Confirm the WordPress admin bar is enabled for your account.</li>
<li>Confirm <strong>Enforcement</strong> is enabled in the plugin settings.</li>
<li>Confirm your role is included in <strong>Who can toggle Safe Mode</strong> (or you are an administrator / multisite super-admin).</li>
</ul>
<h4>My profile email/password cannot be changed</h4>
<p>If <strong>Restrictions <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Lock profile email/password</strong> is enabled and your account is restricted, you will not be able to change your own email or password. Contact an administrator.</p>
<h4>XML-RPC stopped working</h4>
<p>If you rely on legacy services that require XML-RPC (some old mobile apps / integrations), disable <strong>General <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Disable XML-RPC</strong>.</p>
<h4>I get redirected with an “Access blocked” notice</h4>
<p>A configured policy blocked a sensitive admin screen. Review:<br />
* <strong>Restrictions <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Block direct screen access</strong> (for restricted roles)<br />
* <strong>Safe Mode <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Block risky admin screens</strong> (for your account if Safe Mode is enabled)</p>
<h4>Safe Mode is enabled but I want to turn it off</h4>
<ul>
<li>Use the <strong>Safe Mode</strong> tab to toggle it off.</li>
<li>If auto-off is enabled, it will disable automatically after the configured time window.</li>
<li>If Enforcement is OFF, the UI provides a <strong>Clear stored Safe Mode</strong> button to remove the stored flag.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Developer Hooks</h3>
<p>Filters:<br />
* <code>brenwp_csm_required_cap</code> — change the capability required to manage this plugin (default: <code>manage_options</code>).<br />
* <code>brenwp_csm_presets</code> — customize Dashboard presets (label/description/patch arrays).<br />
* <code>brenwp_csm_create_client_role</code> — return <code>false</code> to prevent creating the <code>bren_client</code> role on activation.<br />
* <code>brenwp_csm_client_role_caps</code> — customize capabilities assigned to the <code>bren_client</code> role on activation.<br />
* <code>brenwp_csm_remove_client_role_on_uninstall</code> — return <code>false</code> to keep the <code>bren_client</code> role during uninstall cleanup.</p>


BrenWP Client Safe Mode

Per-user Safe Mode plus role-based client restrictions for safer troubleshooting and cleaner client handoff.

SAR One Click Security vs BrenWP Client Safe Mode