Hey guys and girls

Long time since I posted some thing. Well I’m working full time through oDesk and BlogLines and just to top it off I have been killing the BIG BotNet Attacks.

Now before I get in to my post let me first tell you what these things are:

1) oDesk is the world’s largest online workplace

oDesk is the world’s largest online workplace, creating opportunities for people to work together without geographic limits, and providing the tools they need to get the job done.

Our online workplace allows businesses to find, hire, manage, and pay talented contractors from around the world, while giving a worldwide community of skilled workers access to jobs that are personally, professionally, and financially rewarding. source odesk

2) BlogLines News / Media Website

We are www.bloglines.co.za The largest blogging websites in South Africa.
Our website strives to make the blogging experience as easy as possible.

3) BotNet Attacks

A botnet is a collection of internet-connected programs communicating with other similar programs in order to perform tasks. This can be as mundane as keeping control of an IRC channel, or it could be used to send spam email or participate in DDoS attacks. The word botnet stems from the two words robot and network. source wikipedia

Now how does BlogLines survive these so called botnet attacks ?

3.1) Server Side TWEAKS

1) FireWall by CSF ConfigServer Firewall

Some Tricks:
Connection Tracking = 65 connections and your blocked
mod_security = 1 you hit me once and your blocked
suhosin = 1 you hit me and your blocked

2) Mod_Securety = Standard Rule Set out the box

3) PHP suhosin = Standard Rule Set out the box

4) cPHulk Brute Force Protection = Standard Rule Set out the box

5) Super Host that is always available WPMU Hosting by AECNU

3.2) WordPress Side TWEAKS

1) Wordfence Security

Wordfence Security is a free enterprise class security plugin that includes a firewall, virus scanning, real-time traffic with geolocation and more. source wordpress

2) .htaccess

<files wp-config.php>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</files>

ServerSignature Off

#custom error docs
ErrorDocument 404 /404.shtml
ErrorDocument 403 /403.shtml
ErrorDocument 500 /500.shtml

3) wp-config.php some great tips from Joe my cool host

define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);
define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);
define(‘WP_POST_REVISIONS’, false);
define(‘AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL’, 3600);
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ’96M’);
define(‘WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ’256M’);

Yes, I know the security is a tad extreme but I’m here to protect my friends and a fellow bloggers, but if you ever get blocked then just drop me a email support (at) BlogLines.co.za with your ip address.

Now time to get to my post WordPress Site Speed on a Budget.

Well, there is a easy way, just book me on oDesk funny you got here and thought I will give it for free.  Well you’re right, here are some easy speed tips that always works.

1) Get a good host like Joe, he is cheap and and there is no BS just super WordPress Hosting
2) Clean up your site by removing all plugins and themes you’re not using.
3) Add Word Fence, it’s a firewall and it’s available from WordPress
4) Add Quick Cache ( Speed Without Compromise )

Now next time you pull up your site, you will see it almost screams speed.

One more trick, open your .htaccess file and add these to the top.

<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html text/xml text/css text/plain
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE image/svg+xml application/xhtml+xml application/xml
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/rdf+xml application/rss+xml application/atom+xml
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/javascript application/javascript application/x-javascript
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-font-ttf application/x-font-otf
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE font/truetype font/opentype
</IfModule>

Now pull up your site it will scream speed.

Now lets do some tests. Here is some of my best tools.

1) http://tools.pingdom.com/fpt
2) http://gtmetrix.com/dashboard.html
3) http://www.webpagetest.org
4) http://ismyblogworking.com
5) http://tool.motoricerca.info/robots-checker.phtml

Well that’s is it from me, your site will be fast and stable all the time, if not give me a buzz on oDesk.

Thank you Kindly
Mark de Scande AKA the WordPress Freak