Lost & Wandering
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It's Episode 488 with plugins for The Big Fake, Preventing Exploits, Snaked, Elementor, Stoping Spam, Sending Mail and ClassicPress Options. It's all coming up on WordPress Plugins A-Z!
Fake Screen, GravityCaptcha, WP PHP Mail Check, Essential Addons for Elementor, WP Fingerprint, Snake and ClassicPress options on Episode 488.
John's Intro:
With great appreciation for the No Agenda Show for their inspiration of ideas and the occasional stolen sound clip.
This is a value for value show and I look forward to everyone providing some value back.
Before I get started, you will want to hang around to the end of the show for our Q & A segment with Amber…. and to those listening on the podcast, you may want to check out the YouTube version which has some great discussions before the show starts…
Producer Credits:
Executive producer:
Show Art:
Angel Lemus — http://www.koadigital.com
All the show notes can be found at: WPPluginsAtoZ.com
Amber's Rant
This is #47 of 53 52 episodes for 2020. Its Episode 488 and things on this show are moving and shaking into a whole new shape. We have reached week 47 of the year 2020, and we are now 37 weeks into the Rona, and back to the ‘simple 2 week lockdown', – which has now been extended to 3 weeks. I wonder if they are going to simply extend it week by week? At least last time they were nice enough to tell us pretty early on that we were simply under lock and key until further notice.
The world appears to have jumped out of the pot and into the frying pan, so now is the perfect time to make yourself a little place where you can TUNE OUT for a while! It can be anywhere and anything – a blanket thrown over your couch to build a fort, in your bed with your door closed and a ‘Do Not Disturb' sign or a sock on your door, or even your car! Get into a space all your own, throw on some music and grab a book, or even throw on a book and grab a drink! Kick back, and breathe. Try to get there at least once a week, more if you can.
If you have kids, let them know that they should only bother you if they are broken, dying, or bleeding for 1 WHOLE hour. Make your area comfy for you, and try to remove all internet AND radio with news hours while zoning out. Try to let go of everything outside of your control, and work on pestering those you know and care about to get their own Zone Out Space's started.
Rinse and repeat as often as needed.
We have some news from the world of WordPress for you today as well as some great plugins.
Let's get to the fun we have today.
WordPress News and Info
Before we jump into the news, ……
There is a new interview out this week….
with Arindo Duque from WP Admin Pages Pro/WP Ultimo (Plugin was reviewed in Episode 484)
News this week:
How To Write an About Us Page That Defines Your Brand and Drives Leads
https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-write-about-us-page/
SEO Scammers Distribute Malware via WordPress Sites: Akamai
https://www.toolbox.com/security/digital-forensics/news/seo-scammers-distribute-malware-via-wordpress-sites-akamai/
What are the best SEO plugins for WordPress?
https://liistudio.com/what-are-the-best-seo-plugins-for-wordpress/46699/
Hackers Love Expired Domains
https://securityboulevard.com/2020/11/hackers-love-expired-domains/
The hall of shame via Automattic:
transparency.automattic.com/tag/hall-of-shame/
Matt's Famous Quotes
https://www.idrlabs.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg.php
Donor – Support
Show Producers
This Show will not work without you, the producers, as it is a Value for Value model, meaning if your'e getting any value out of it then give some value back and help the show out.
Start by subscribing to the newsletter for additional information and get out there round them up and rope them all in, belly up to the bar and enjoy. Spread the word about WP Plugins A to Z and catch it live every Thursday at noon PST on my YouTube Channel.
I'd like to acknowledge all the producers who have supported the show in the various ways over the last week.
This weeks show Art Work comes from:
Angel Lemus — http://www.koadigital.com
This week's Executive Producer/'s are:
From Jez at Jezweb
Thank you for keeping up the good work of reviewing plugins. This donation is on behalf of Coles Air Conditioning at colesrefrigeration.com.au in Australia. It is a WordPress website created by Jezweb https://www.jezweb.com.au built with the always improving Elementor.
Thanks Jez!
A big thank you to all the Producers who came in under $50 and to those who have set up weekly subscriptions they will remain anonymous and I thank you very much.
All these small subscriptions really help the show out.
A big thank you to those who have hired me because of the Podcast, thank you that is as good as donating to the show.
You can Support the Show by:
Yes, I am pimping out my daughter here, if you want to see her very pretty mug in the live stream it is now up to a $200 donation and until it happens that price will continue to go up…
Donating money to help the show Donations of $50 and over are credited with an Executive Producer Credit in the Show Notes, and their note is read out on the show.
Submitting art work at the WP Plugins Art generator,
Submit articles news and information
Submit plugin suggestions for reviews
You can also create a monthly donation at Patreon
Or something I may not have thought of.
Off we go into the meat and potatoes, Into the depths of plugin depravity…..
ClassicPress Options
ClassicPress is a fast growing fork of WordPress that is starting to come into its own. ClassicPress is focused on Business Websites, runs fast and is looking pretty good. There are a few plugins specifically for ClassicPress and all plugins for WordPress 4.9.9 work well on it. I do believe it has a future.
One thing I am looking forward to in the ClassicPress World is the expansion of the number of ClassicPress specific plugins and their own repository. Currently there are not a lot of ClassicPress specific plugins but I do know it is going to grow and I'll have to expand this segment then. Who knows, it could take over the whole show.
This week for ClassicPress I have:
ClassicPress Plugins
Shield Security now tailored for CP
https://forums.classicpress.net/t/shield-security-now-tailored-for-cp/2613
BACKUPBUDDY
https://ithemes.com/backupbuddy/
—————————
Just a note for my ClassicPress listeners please send me info to help keep the ClassicPress section full.
Random Links to ClassicPress supporters
ClassicPress Resources:
For some up to date news on ClassicPress check out the ClassicPress Blog.
“Must Have” Plugins List
https://forums.classicpress.net/t/must-have-plugins-list/1163
To find a listing of ClassicPress specific plugins check out this link https://forums.classicpress.net/t/plugins-built-specifically-for-classicpress/1011?u=codepotent there is currently 37 42 49 50 52 55 57 58 plugins here and growing. I look forward to the day they have their own repository. I can still recall WP when it had a small repository.
CodePotent's plugin directory
https://codepotent.com/classicpress/plugins/
WordPress plugins
Are you looking for some great newly released plugins check this link
https://wordpress.org/plugins/browse/new/
John's plugin
Fake Screen
https://wordpress.org/plugins/fake-screen/
The Lowdown:
Well, this one could be more fun than I had hoped. This is designed to deal with the irritating TROLL on your website when you have a community that people can register for (you could also use it to prank other admins). What it does for you is, well you know, the TROLL type the person who registers on your site and you boot them then they re-register and annoy people.
Well with this plugin just add their email to a black list and when ever they try to log in they get an error page and nothing else.
Looks like a blast.
Rating 5 Dragons
——————————–
Amber's Plugin
Essential Addons for Elementor
https://wordpress.org/plugins/essential-addons-for-elementor-lite/
Description
I found this particular plugin when I was searching for a free version of an Accordion that supported Nested Accordions for a site I am working on.
You don't get to use all the goodies available in the Accordion widget unless you go pro, and you wind up with an added 39 widgets. It's really not a bad deal! I'm finding that there are more than a few useful widgets in this plugin so far.
The Essential Addons claim to have the most useful 39 widgets in this plugin, and so far, I fairly agree with them! Though I don't know why they claim only 39 useful widgets when they give you 40 – trying to figure out which one is totally useless.
If only they didn't demand you go Pro in order to use the most useful bits of each widget…
Do go and check this out though, the free version of everything is actually quite useful – so long as you aren't planning on getting too fancy.
Rating 4 Dragons
——————————–
John's plugin
GravityCaptcha
https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-captcha-gravity-forms/
The Lowdown:
This is yet another attempt to prevent spammers from sending to you, via your site forms. Not as impressive as I thought it would be. It seems it relies on a third party service and I did not see any configuration for it.
It may help but I will continue to use my current methods.
Rating 3 Dragons
——————————–
Amber's plugin
WP Fingerprint
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-fingerprint/#description
Description
So.. I'm not really even sure this plugin is working… I've installed it, but nothing is in the side menu, there are no settings, and I didn't place my email into anything where I can get updates, like with Black Hole for Bad Bots. It was last updated 4 months ago, so it doesn't appear to have been abandoned by it's makers as of yet.
It seems like a really good idea…
This plugin is (supposedly) designed: “to identify if the plugins on your website have been exploited. Every time a plugin or core file changes, our scanner will verify the file”; or so their site says.
They say that this plugin will work on both your premium plugins and your regular plugins, thus keeping your site from being hacked unknowingly.
I am honestly not entirely certain how it will inform you of any issue it finds… perhaps it is supposed to show up on your dashboard?
If anyone has used this in the past and has the answer to my uncertainty here, please let me know what I am missing so that I can better understand. This really does seem like a great idea!
For now though, as this seems like a useless plugin that does nothing, I rate this at 3 until otherwise proven to me that it is better than it seems.
Rating 3 Dragons
——————————–
John's plugin
WP PHP Mail Check
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-manager/
The Lowdown:
Well the only thing more annoying than the search function in WordPress is the mail function. This plugin helps you with that issue in some aspects. While is won't help you do any mailing like I had hoped it does help you discover if your even sending emails from your site.
Once setup it runs a regular test of the ‘phpmail' function to see if it is even working and sending out emails. I would recommend using a useless account like your Gmail account to send tests to.
Rating 4 Dragons
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Amber's Plugin
Snake
https://wordpress.org/plugins/snake/
Description
Yup. Snake. That awesome, old school game.
Once you download and activate the plugin, you put the shortcode [snake] onto any post, and thus have that game!
It is honestly awesome! Press the start button and off you go! The thing even gives you little encouraging statements!
When you die, it just says ‘You're dead.'
It's great! And totally free!
Highly recommend you add this to your site – it's a great distraction!
Rating 5 Dragons
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This show is brought to you by:
John Overall.com WordPress & Web Services
Finding quality WordPress and ClassicPress hosting and support can be a challenge, well you can drop that stress by contacting JohnOverall.com web services. I can help you eliminate your WordPress stress and ClassicPress needs. Solving your ClassicPress or WordPress Emergency issues or doing the more day to day items such as finding that perfect plugin, helping you move to a new hosting provider or even providing Quality WordPress hosting.
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Visit my website JohnOverall.com, Call 818-850-7729 or send an email to john@wppro.ca
Enter The Contest to Win!!:
Contests Powered by Simple Giveaways who kindly provides us with the premium version for our contests.
I do want to thank Charlie for coming to the aid of the show and getting our contests all organized.
We have a winner from the last contest where we gave away a license for Cart Lift for Woocommerce License The Winner is : Jes S., Congratulations.
Seems we have an unclaimed prize from the contest where we gave away a license for WP Admin Pages Pro: we will recycle the prize in due course.
There is a new interview out with Arindo Duque, from WP Admin Pages Pro/WP Ultimo, (Plugin was reviewed in Episode 484)
We have a new contest!
We have a new giveaway contest for you starting today. You have a chance to win an Unlimited Lifetime license for wpultimo
Enter for your chance to win an UNLIMITED LIFETIME License of
https://wpultimo.com
Easily create your fully-automated Website as a Service business!
With WP Ultimo you can create your own Website as a Service platform – like Wix.com, Squarespace, WordPress.com, and more – in hours, not months!
Revolutionize your business model now with WP Ultimo!
This giveaway is for an UNLIMITED LIFETIME license valued at $499.
Listen to the great interview with Arindo Duque, the founder of NextPress and the creator of WP Ultimo & WP Admin Pages Pro.
Let your friends know about the giveaway!
This contest will run from December 3rd until December 16th, winner announced December 17th
Enter to win and remember to share this contest with friends to earn extra entries to the contest.
Visit http://WPPluginsAtoZ.com/contests for more info.
For all developers who would like to support the show. You can donate a premium license to be used in a future contest please go to WPPluginsAtoZ.com/PluginContest
The plugins we covered were:
John’s Plugins: Fake Screen – 5, GravityCaptcha – 3, WP PHP Mail Check – 4
Amber's Plugins: Essential Addons for Elementor – 4, WP Fingerprint – 3, Snake – 5
Trivia:
Matt's Famous Quotes
https://www.idrlabs.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg.php
Reminders / Commercial / Promotions:
Next Week:
No meetup planned at the moment but you can keep tabs on this at https://wppluginsatoz.com/meetup .
Would you like to be on an interview show? Simply connect at https://wppluginsatoz.com/interview
Follow my Journey at TheRoguesTavern.com check out my adventures into the wild searching for gold, hiking, camping, out on the gun range and more.
If you have suggestions on plugins you would like to have reviewed please submit them on the website at https://wppluginsatoz.com/submit-plugin-review/
****Show segment Q & A Time ——– Catch this info on our YouTube Channel*****
Questions and Answers –
*** Note if you have questions you would like asked, send them to Amber at WPPro.ca she will get them into this segment. ****
What is a webID Key? A plugin I found required it to get going.
How often are these used? What are they generally used for?
Do you know if there is a way to securely log into an open WiFi?
For instance – I know that a good VPN would help a little in that idea, though do you know what else I would need to do?
Do you know if phones have firewalls like computers?
Closing out this Episode
For all developers who would like to support the show. You can donate a premium license to be used in a future contest, please go to WPPluginsAtoZ.com/PluginContest
Be sure and subscribe to our Newsletter.
Just some reminders:
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How to Contact Us:
John can be contacted at:
- on my website @ http://www.johnoverall.com/
- WordPress Emergency Support http://wppro.ca/wpemergency
- email: john@wppro.ca
Amber can be contacted at:
- email: amber@wppro.ca
