New WordPress Core Online File Comparison in iThemes Security Pro

File change detection in iThemes Security Pro just added a new feature: online file comparisons. This new setting works to compare changes made to any WordPress core file on your system with the version on WordPress.org to determine if the change was malicious. Currently, this feature only works with WordPress core files and plugins. WordPress.org themes will be added when checksum support is available. The online file comparisons will compare changes made to iThemes plugins and themes to versions in the iThemes repository.

The Importance of File Change Detection for your WordPress Site

If someone manages to get into your site, they’ll probably add, remove or change a file. File change detection in iThemes Security allows you to know if files have changed in your WordPress installation so you can verify if the changes were actually made by you. If changes were made to any of your site’s files, iTheme Security will email you. File change history is also available from the Logs Page in the plugin menu.

Benefits of Online File Comparison

Comparing file changes against the current WordPress core source files creates more accurate file change detection. For example, if you upgrade to WordPress core, you’ll no longer see file change notifications from iThemes Security, so it greatly prevents false positives. Now, you’ll only get a file change notification if your files differ from the WordPress core version on WordPress.org.

Enable Online File Comparison with One Click

To start using the new Online File Comparison setting, make sure you’re running iThemes Security Pro v1.10.3+. The latest version update is available as an automatic update from the WordPress dashboard for licensed Pro customers or as a manual download from the iThemes Member Panel. 1. Navigate to the Settings tab in the iThemes Security Pro menu. In the drop-down navigation, select File Change Detection. 2. Make sure you have enabled file change detection to expand this section. Scroll to the bottom of this section and click Enable online file comparison.  iThemes Security will handle the rest, giving you added peace of mind and a new component to your WordPress security strategy.

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