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Strengthening WordPress login security with AAM

Vasyl MartyniukOther GoodiesAbout 2 min

In the digital age, website security is of paramount importance, and WordPress, being one of the most popular content management systems, is a prime target for cyberattacks. To safeguard your WordPress website effectively, you need a comprehensive set of tools to manage access and authentication. Advanced Access Manager (AAM) steps in as the guardian of your WordPress resources, offering not only essential access management but also additional features to bolster your website's security without the need for heavy security plugins.

In this article, we'll delve into the additional security features provided by AAM, designed to fortify your WordPress site and provide you with peace of mind.

Brute-Force attack prevention

One of the most common forms of cyberattacks on WordPress websites is the brute-force attack, where malicious actors attempt to gain unauthorized access by repeatedly trying different username and password combinations. AAM comes equipped with a simple yet effective feature to combat this threat.

To enable this feature, navigate to the AAM "Settings" page and head over to the "Security Settings" tab. Once there, you can activate the Brute-Force Lockout option.

Here's how it works: AAM keeps track of the number of login attempts from each IP address. If the number of attempts exceeds the maximum allowed count (which is set at 20 by default), AAM will automatically reject any further login attempts from that IP address for a predefined time-frame (usually 20 minutes by default).

However, for this feature to function seamlessly, your WordPress website must have transientsopen in new window enabled. Transients are a core feature of WordPress used for caching and storing temporary data. It's worth noting that some caching plugins have the ability to disable WordPress core transients, so ensure that they are enabled for the proper functioning of AAM's brute-force attack prevention.

One session per user

Another crucial security measure offered by AAM is the ability to limit a single user to a single active session at any given time. This feature is particularly valuable if you want to prevent users from sharing their login credentials with multiple individuals who might simultaneously access your website's services.

While you can't control whether your users share their credentials with friends and family, enabling the One Session Per User feature ensures that no more than one session can be active for the same user at any given time. This restriction minimizes the risk associated with shared credentials and enhances the security of your website.

Conclusion

Advanced Access Manager (AAM) goes above and beyond its primary function of managing access to WordPress website resources. It empowers website administrators with tools to mitigate common security threats, such as brute-force attacks, and provides an additional layer of protection by restricting users to a single active session. By incorporating AAM into your WordPress security strategy, you can enhance your website's defenses without the need for resource-intensive security plugins, thereby ensuring a safer online experience for both you and your users.