Hidden Link Not Working

  • Resolved MrsJessicaSimpson

    (@mrsjessicasimpson)


    2 years, 12 months ago

    Hello Support.

    As usual, not tactically updated my site for a while: except for a few new pages.

    I closed down my machine after leaving it (on) and running very well for a few weeks: as I’m wont to do with Windows 10.

    When it came to relogging back into my website, the hidden link didn’t work, and nor did using (wp-login.php), and that’s also using several browsers, with all of them showing me my 404 webpage.

    I eventually logged back in using an old Security Shield email link: which I think forced WordPress to acknowledge me.

    Many reboots and the flushing of browser caches later, and wp-login.php seems to work again, but my hidden login URL does not, and nor can I get SheildPro to change it back to what it was either.
    Pressing [Save Setting] does nothing.

    Open the image link to see the offending screen.
    Screen Shot Example

    All that’s happened in the past few weeks, is that my hosing provider has move my website to one of their super fast servers, with my old URL working just fine.

    More worrying, is this ShieldPro report stat.

    Over that last year I’ve caught 32,006
    Bot Detection: Link Cheese offenses.

    Over that last month, I caught none.

    Over the last month, my Hosing Provider only now informs me that my site has had malware installed on it. The offending numbered folders found off of my WP root directory have now been removed via my FTP programme.

    That sorted – I then began searching for a solution of the hidden URL not working, and finding none: I now find that I’m at the stage of asking if anyone else has had this issue, (and or), has SUPPORT got any recommendations or suggestions?

    Keep the faith folks, ..

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Plugin Support Jelena

    (@jmisic)

    Hi Jessica,

    As always, we are very thankful to you for such detailed problem explanation. This helps us a lot to understand the problem better and provide best possible solution for you.

    Here are the reasons why hiding login might not have any effect (or not work):

    1) Page cache: disable and test
    2) Another plugin is interfering: Disable the all plugins and test. If the problem is gone then enable other plugins 1 by 1 and test to see which one is interfering.
    3) A forceoff method is in place – remove a “forceoff” file and test
    4) Plugin disabled: Option under the General settings, ensure it’s enabled.
    5) Whitelisted IP: Remove your IP from the whitelist and test

    I tried to load your site login URL (wp-login.php) and I’m getting 404 – not found. This tells me that the hiding login URL feature is working normally and I suspect in your case it’s about #5 – you have your IP whitelisted in Shield.

    If your IP is whitelisted, that doesn’t mean that the hide login URL feature doesn’t work. It just means that this type of login protection (including settings page – your screenshot) does not apply to you – to your whitelisted IP.

    This is how this feature works:

    Non-whitelisted IPs

    If the not logged in users…

    1) try to access the ‘wp-login.php’ page of this site, they will receive a 404 Not Found error page.

    2) try to access any page within the ‘wp-admin’ section of this site, they will receive a 404 Not Found error page.

    Whitelisted IPs

    It’ll work the opposite. User with whitelisted IP will

    1) be able to login via ‘wp-login-php’

    2) get 404 when they load hidden URL (including if they are logged in)

    3) admins will have a feeling that changing login URL in settings (your screenshot) can’t be done nor saved.

    All the above means that the hide login URL works correctly on that site.

    You may test this by removing your IP from the whitelist and you’ll see that:

    1) your current login URL will show your renamed login URL in the settings

    2) if you use another browser and try to access the old wp-login.php URL you’ll get 404 Not Found

    3) if you use your renamed login URL it’ll load normally

    Regarding Bot Detection: Link Cheese offenses report, may I ask you to go to the Block Bad IPs/Visitors module > Probing Bots > and ensure that ‘Link Cheese’ is set to at least ‘Increment Offense Counter, please?

    And then in the next few days monitor your audit trail logs for this type of offense. You’ll see entries in your logs, like “Link cheese access detected at xxxxxxx”.

    Hope these answers were helpful but please do let us know how you get on sure.

    Jelena

    Plugin Support Jelena

    (@jmisic)

    Hi Jessica,

    I’m closing this thread.

    Since you are a premium client and if you need any further help and support, please feel free to reach out to us directly here.

    Thanks,

    Jelena

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
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