Perishable Press
Jeff Starr — Web developer and security specialist
Web Dev + WordPress + Security
perishablepress.comJeff Starr has been writing about web development and security for over two decades, with a particular focus on WordPress hardening and .htaccess techniques. His 7G Firewall has become a widely-used security tool, and his posts on blocking bad bots and protecting login pages are the kind of practical guides that site administrators actually bookmark. The blog is a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and genuine accessibility — you don't need to be a security expert to follow along.
Written by Jeff Starr.
Regular
Publishes weekly or bi-weekly
1
Independent Blog
English
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Micro API for Simple Download Counter WordPress Plugin
Simple Download Counter (SDC) version 2.3 features a very basic API that returns the number of times a specified file has been downloaded. For lack of a better name, I call it the “Micro API”. This tutorial explains how it works, and provides a real-world example showing how to use it. Simple Download Counter – Home Page Simple Download Counter @ WordPress.org Note: This tutorial applies to Simple Download Counter version 2.3 or better. Contents Why? How it works Real-world...
Check 404 URLs in Database
There are many ways to do this. I wanted the quickest and easiest. I run Yourls on several sites to create shortlinks for my books. Each instance of Yourls contains many URLs. I like to keep my books current. URLs tend to change and break over time. It is a chore to check 800+ links in each of my books, page after page. So I wanted a quick way to check for 404 and other broken links. In this post, I share the technique that works best for me; your mileage may vary. Contents Overview Types of e...
Download Blank .htaccess File
Here is a simple blank (empty) .htaccess file, ready for download. Download blank .htaccess fileVersion 1.0 ( 376 bytes ZIP ) 👉 Read notes below. Why? Because .htaccess files by default are hidden on most systems. In some cases it is easier to simply download a blank copy instead of trying to create one manually. As someone who works a lot with Apache/.htaccess, it’s nice to have a “go-to” place for downloading and sharing a blank/empty .htaccess file. Notes The download is...
Google Broke My Heart
For years, I thought of Google as a trustworthy helper on the Web. Especially where it mattered most, removing pirated copies of my books from Google search results. After publishing a new book, I would monitor the search results and file a DMCA notice with Google whenever the inevitable pirated copies of my book were listed. Google always was very helpful in this regard, swiftly removing any pirated books asap. No hassle, no hoops, just immediate and direct relief from Google. Welcome to 2026....
Protect Yourls Login Page with Apache/.htaccess
For those who know, YOURLS makes it super easy to host your own URL shortening service. I use Yourls on several sites and it works great at generating shortlinks for otherwise long and tedious URLs. So they’re easier to share, remember, social media, etc. Yourls is developed by a well-respected developer and is 100% FREE and open source for everyone. It’s a truly great app and highly recommended. Related: Learn how to check for 404 and other broken or redirected links in the Yourls...
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If you run a WordPress site and want to actually understand how to secure it — not just install a plugin and hope for the best — Jeff's been writing the playbook for 20 years.