Classes

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Classes are typically $3,800.00 (USD) and last for 12 weeks. Students are capped to 40 seats per class.

Syllabus: Deep-Level Recovery for Hacked WordPress Sites

1. Introduction to WordPress Security

Overview of common WordPress vulnerabilities
Understanding the anatomy of a WordPress hack
Importance of regular security audits

2. Preliminary Assessment

Identifying signs of a hacked site
Analyzing server logs for unusual activity
Tools and techniques for initial assessment

3. Isolating the Infection

Taking the site offline safely
Creating backups of the compromised site
Setting up a staging environment for analysis

4. Deep-Level Scanning and Detection

Using security plugins (e.g., Wordfence, Sucuri)
Manual file integrity checks
Database integrity checks
Advanced malware detection tools and techniques

5. Cleaning and Recovery

Manual removal of malicious code
Automated malware removal tools
Cleaning infected files and databases
Reinstalling core WordPress files

6. Post-Cleaning Hardening

Updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins
Securing file permissions and ownerships
Disabling unused plugins and themes
Implementing security best practices

7. Advanced Security Configuration

Configuring .htaccess for enhanced security
Setting up security headers
Implementing Content Security Policy (CSP)
Hardening the wp-config.php file

8. Monitoring and Detection Systems

Setting up real-time monitoring tools
Configuring alerts for suspicious activity
Regular security scans and audits
Leveraging server-level security tools

9. User Management and Access Control

Strengthening password policies
Implementing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Regular review and update of user roles and permissions
Secure practices for adding and managing users

10. Database Security

Securing the WordPress database
Regular database backups and encrypted storage
Advanced database security plugins and tools
Best practices for database access and user management

11. Web Application Firewalls (WAF)

Understanding the role of a WAF
Configuring WAF for WordPress
Popular WAF services and their integration (e.g., Cloudflare, Sucuri)

12. Server-Level Security Enhancements

Configuring server firewalls and intrusion detection systems
Setting up fail2ban for brute force protection
Implementing secure SSH practices
Server software updates and patch management

13. Post-Recovery Monitoring and Maintenance

Continuous security monitoring practices
Scheduled security audits and vulnerability assessments
Incident response planning and preparation
Educating users on security best practices

14. Case Studies and Real-World Scenarios

Analysis of recent WordPress hacks
Recovery steps and lessons learned
Group discussions and problem-solving exercises

15. Tools and Resources

Essential security tools for WordPress recovery
Recommended plugins for ongoing protection
Resources for staying updated on WordPress security trends
Building a security toolkit for future incidents

Additional Topics (Optional)

Compliance and Legal Considerations: Understanding GDPR, CCPA, and other regulations
Performance Optimization Post-Recovery: Ensuring site performance isn’t impacted by security measures
Disaster Recovery Planning: Creating and maintaining a robust disaster recovery plan

Practical Labs and Workshops

Hands-on exercises with simulated hack scenarios
Real-time malware detection and removal
Configuring security tools and firewalls
Monitoring and analyzing server logs for anomalies

Deeper Server-Level Classes for WordPress Security and Recovery

1. Server Environments and Configurations

Differences between shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting
Configuring LAMP/LEMP stacks for WordPress
Managing and securing cloud-based environments (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)

2. Advanced Server Backends

Configuring and optimizing Apache, Nginx, and LiteSpeed for security
Using MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL for secure database management
Setting up Redis and Memcached for caching with security considerations

3. Backup Strategies and Disaster Recovery

Implementing automated backup solutions
Secure storage of backups (encrypted, offsite)
Disaster recovery planning and execution

4. Detecting and Mitigating Server Viruses

Common server malware and virus types
Using tools like ClamAV and Maldet for server virus detection
Cleaning and recovering from server-level infections

5. Intrusion Detection and Prevention

Setting up and configuring Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) like Snort and OSSEC
Implementing Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
Real-time log analysis and incident response

6. Server Hardening Techniques

Hardening Linux servers (Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian)
Secure SSH practices (key-based authentication, disabling root login)
Configuring SELinux and AppArmor for enhanced security
Implementing system auditing with tools like auditd

7. Advanced Firewall Configurations

Setting up and managing iptables and firewalld
Configuring and using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall)
Integrating Web Application Firewalls (WAF) at the server level

8. Securing Server Communications

Implementing SSL/TLS for secure communications
Configuring HTTP/2 and HTTPS for improved security
Using Let’s Encrypt for free SSL certificates

9. Monitoring and Logging

Setting up centralized logging with tools like ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
Real-time monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana
Analyzing server logs for security anomalies

10. Vulnerability Management

Regularly updating and patching server software
Using tools like OpenVAS and Nessus for vulnerability scanning
Applying security patches and updates promptly

11. Securing Web Servers

Preventing and mitigating DDoS attacks
Rate limiting and connection throttling
Implementing security headers (CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options)

12. Advanced Configuration Management

Using configuration management tools like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet
Automating server setup and security configurations
Managing secrets and sensitive data with tools like Vault

13. Virtualization and Container Security

Securing virtual machines (VMware, VirtualBox, KVM)
Hardening container environments (Docker, Kubernetes)
Best practices for managing and securing containers

14. Advanced Network Security

Configuring and securing VPNs for remote access
Network segmentation and isolation for improved security
Using tools like Wireshark for network traffic analysis