erratic admin log-in

I upgraded to version 4.2.4 and have encountered log-in problems that appear to be coming from the upgrade in iThemes Security.

It began yesterday when trying to log-in to my dashboard (back end) from my desktop computer, which was the first (or perhaps 2nd, which you will understand in a moment) log-in attempt AFTER the upgrade.

The splash page showed up for WP login as usual but after entering my credentials the web page continued in an attempt to load and after a minute or so, the page returned a 443 server error.

I called my hosting provider and explained the problem. They assured me that the problem wasn’t on the server end. I decided to attempt to log-in via my cell phone, which was Verizon 4G and not Wi-Fi. I was able to log-on as usual with no problem whatsoever.

Later last night I tried to log-on from my laptop computer, which was connected to the network via my router and was able to do so without any problem. This led me to ASSUME that the problem must have been with my desktop computer. I shut down my desktop before retiring to bed and logged off of my laptop.

This morning, I made an attempt to log on from my desktop, only to be faced with the same dilemma. This time, however, I opened my regular website in another tab while the long wait to load the back end continued.

Much to my surprise, the home page opened in the new tab and it was complete with the Word Press navigation bar, but all attempts to access any of the links resulted in a long wait that eventually timed out with the same error. I did it again; only this time I selected the log-out button and was successfully logged out (even though I hadn’t been officially logged in yet).

I tried again to log on via my cell phone and THIS time I encountered the same exact problem, including opening my website in a new tab and getting the WP Nav bar.

I began to think that the problem was in the access portion of the iThemes script because I had been able to access the backend on two occasions using separate machines.

I went to work and decided to check my assumptions. In my attempt to log-on with my cell phone I had the same problem again. BUT, when I used Wi-Fi to connect to a router at work, I was able to log-on easily again.

I tried removing the ip addresses in the white list in the hopes that the problem was in the white list. My cell phone had been registered automatically under the “Don’t get locked out” heading in the dashboard. After logging out at work, I was hoping that the removal of my ip from the whitelist would allow access. I WAS WRONG.

After returning home, I can NOT log-in on either my laptop, desktop or cell phone. I’m willing to bet that I will be unable to log on tomorrow night at work using the same router and connections, which I used today.

It’ important to note that I don’t use the SSL function of iThemes Security. I have another SSL program that ensures back end SSL functioning which hasn’t EVER been a problem since using Better WP Security and the newly developed iThemes that has replaced it.

This should provide adequate information. Please note that I DO NOT want to replace my database with a previous one, because my Database backup program, which is also a separate item has back ups that PRECEDE a tremendous amount of work I did to upgrade my site.

You can visit my website at https://matthewpetti.com.

Please let me know if there is something I can do to restore this to proper working order. MY next attempt will be to find another method of accessing the site and turning off iThemes Security in the hopes of restoring it to normal. If that works and you have no solution, I will have to eliminate it from my list of plug-ins.

I know this is quite lengthy, but the more information you have, the better it will be to solve the problem. Please get back to me with any information you might have.

Thanks very much.

This morning

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