Security Tools (MU Plugin)

A powerful, self‑hiding WordPress MU plugin for security hardening, admin control, and interface cleanup.

Security Tools is built for administrators who want deeper control without editing core files or installing multiple plugins. It runs as a Must‑Use plugin (auto‑loaded by WordPress), stays hidden from other admins, and lets you toggle every feature on or off at any time.

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✨ Why Security Tools?

• Reduce risk: Disable sensitive actions like updates, plugin installs, or theme editing when you don’t want them available.
• Keep the dashboard clean: Hide admin notices, widgets, admin bar items, and more.
• Harden login access: Replace the default login URL with a custom slug and block default login routes.
• Stay invisible: The plugin hides itself from other administrators to avoid discovery.

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🎯 Who It’s For

• Agencies managing client sites who want to lock down risky admin actions.
• Site owners who need a clean, focused admin experience.
• Teams that want security controls without custom code.

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🚀 Quick Start (MU Plugin)

1. Copy the security-tools folder to wp-content/mu-plugins/.
2. Create wp-content/mu-plugins/security-tools-loader.php with:

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: Security Tools Loader
 * Description: Loads the Security Tools MU plugin.
 */

if ( file_exists( __DIR__ . '/security-tools/security-tools.php' ) ) {
    require_once __DIR__ . '/security-tools/security-tools.php';
}

3. Open Security Tools in the WordPress admin sidebar.

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🧰 Feature Highlights

System Controls

• Disable Updates (core, plugins, themes)
• Disable Emails (blocks all outgoing email)
• Disable Email Verification
• Disable Comments (site‑wide)
• Disable Plugin/Theme Controls (install, activate, edit, customize)
• Disable Frontend Admin Bar
• Hide Admin Notices

Login Hardening

• Hide Login Page with a custom slug
• Default login routes return 404 for non‑logged users

Admin UI Hiding

• Admins: hide selected administrator accounts from the Users list
• Plugins / Themes: hide items without disabling them
• Widgets: hide dashboard widgets
• Admin Bar: hide items by ID or CSS ID
• Metaboxes: hide post/page editor panels (Classic + Gutenberg)

Branding

• Custom Login Logo (supports SVG)
• Custom Legend (login message + admin footer text)

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🧠 What Makes It Different

• MU Plugin: auto‑loaded and always on, no activation required.
• Self‑hiding: removes itself from the plugins list and MU tab.
• Non‑destructive: all features are reversible with toggles.
• Designed for admins: UI is clear, fast, and split into focused sections.

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⚠️ Important Safety Notes

• Lockout risk: If you enable Hide Login Page and Disable Emails, you can lock yourself out. Always bookmark your custom login URL.
• Security risk: Disabling updates prevents security patches. Only do this if you manage updates another way.

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📚 Documentation

• Full user guide: user-guide.html
• Changelog: changelog.md

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⚖️ License

GPLv3

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📜 Legal Notice

Disclaimer of Warranty

This software is provided \"as is\" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the program is with you. Should the program prove defective, you assume the cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction.

Limitation of Liability

In no event unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing will any copyright holder, or any other party who may modify and/or redistribute the program as permitted above, be liable to you for damages, including any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the program (including but not limited to loss of data or data being rendered inaccurate or losses sustained by you or third parties or a failure of the program to operate with any other programs), even if such holder or other party has been advised of the possibility of such damages.