Daily Archives: May 22, 2012

Password protect WordPress

This is for people who need to protect their blog with username and password that can be easyly set from the WordPress backend.

1. Go to Users → Authors & Users sub-panel.
2. Add a new user in the Add New User section. This login will be used to access your WordPress by other user. Or go to Settings → General → Membership and check “Anyone can register”.
3. Add the following lines to your WordPress Theme’s template functions.php file (For example, functions.php file for a Theme named “default” would probably reside in the directory wp-content/themes/default/functions.php) or create it as a Plugin by filling the additional Standard Plugin Information:

    <?php
    function password_protected() {
    	if ( !is_user_logged_in() )
    		auth_redirect();
    }

    add_action('login_head', 'rsd_link');
    add_action('login_head', 'wlwmanifest_link');
    add_action('template_redirect', 'password_protected');
    add_action('do_feed', 'password_protected');
    ?>

4. Go to Settings → Discussion sub-panel. Under Default article settings, uncheck “Attempt to notify any blogs linked to from the article (slows down posting.)”.
5. Finally, go to Settings → Privacy and set “Blog Visibility to I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors”. Click Save Changes.

Now visitors will be asked to log in using WordPress login form to view your WordPress blog / site. This is very suitable for someone that wanted privacy or owned a private password protected WordPress blog / site.
It can be used with the plugin wassup for visitors tracking.