Activating Better WP Security plugin makes site inaccessible

It sounds you have enabled certain feature in the plugin that is not compatible with your site (or webhost). You need to perform a clean installation of the plugin.

This plugin may leave some things in your:
– .htaccess file
– wp-config.php
– database

Here has more information:
https://bit51.com/what-is-changed-by-better-wp-security/

And here (my last post):
https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/uninstalling-and-reinstalling-1

Handoko,
Thank you very much for your prompt and very helpful response.

I have seen the .htaccess file and the wp-config.php.
But I’m not certain which database “database” refers to and where I would locate it.
John

Do your webhost use cPanel? I guess yes.

1. Login to your cPanel. On the right panel, find an icon called phpMyAdmin. Click it.

2. On the left panel, click your database name.

3. Then again on the left panel, click the things: ??_options.

4. On the top menu, click Search.

5. On the right panel > option_name > LIKE > put this value: %bwps%

6. Click the Go button (right most bottom).

7. Delete all the things associated with bit51_bwps. Usually there has 2 or 3 items.

Warning:
Thing may get worse if done something wrong. So please be careful and make backup.

Good luck.

Hi i had the same problem and after restoring my store from c panel i was able to login but my site is messed up because i made the mistake to change the directory folder (wp-content to LRMD content. How do i change back the directory name? Better word press security does not give me that option.

please help!

Many options you may choose:

1. If you restore your website to the time before you install this Better WP Security, it should be okay to simply rename the wp-content directory back to its original name “wp-content”.

2. Or you can reinstal this plugin, deactivate and reactivate it and set the wp-content directory to the one you previously use. It might be okay, but some plugins may not work correctly with non-default wp-content directory. I personally experience to have plugins (at least 3) not working correctly with non-default wp-content directory. It easy to fix this non-compatible plugin issue by copy/paste the plugin folder to the a folder named “wp-content”.

3. If you have some database knowledge, you can manually search and change all the text that link to “wp-content” to your new directory name.

4. Perhaps not the best, but the easiest. Simply copy/paste your new wp-content directory to “wp-content”. So you have 2 wp-content: the original name and your with the new name.

Good luck.

i changed back the name and know my site is showing a blank page and all the plugins are gone.

any suggestions?

There are 2 names: the original “wp-content” and the new one “LRMD”.

Try to rename it to the original or the new one (use File Manager -cPanel or FTP). Test it and see which one work best.

Use the one work best and then reinstall the Better WP Security and all other plugins. If all the things fail, you can consider to use solution no. 4.

If you did read my other of posts, you will know I often said this plugin is risky especially the feature of changing wp-content directory. Sorry to say, but yes, you’re the victim.

There is no a single way to fix it. The success depends on many things. You can only try and try, perhaps restore and try again.

There are 2 names: the original “wp-content” and the new one “LRMD”.

Try to rename it to the original or the new one (use File Manager -cPanel or FTP). Test it and see which one work best. I can’t guess which one is the best because I don’t have enough information.

Use the one work best and then reinstall the Better WP Security and all other plugins. If all the things fail, you can consider to use solution no. 4.

If you did read my other posts, you will know I often said this plugin is risky especially the feature of changing wp-content directory. Sorry to say, but yes, you’re now one of the victims.

There is no a single way to fix it. The success depends on many things. You can only try and try, perhaps restore and try again.

Some things to pay attention:
– Use any solutions, test to find which one works best
– You may need to re-restore and test again
– One your website works again, reinstall all the plugins
– If you have good database knowledge, try to read the database data
– Also wp-config.php and .htaccess file may have some useful information
– You may need to manually edit wp-config.php, .htaccess or database

Once your website is live again, remember to keep a copy of wp-config.php and .htaccess file as backup. Most problems caused by this plugin can easily fix if you have a copy of the files. Also backup your database and files every a certain of time.