Change Lost Password Path with WP Ghost

WP Ghost is a powerful WordPress hack-prevention security plugin that helps protect your website from potential threats and attacks.

One of its key features is the ability to change the lost-password path, which adds an extra layer of security to prevent spam emails and unauthorized password reset requests.

What is the Lost Password Path in WordPress?

In WordPress, the lost password path refers to the URL or endpoint that users can access to reset their passwords if they have forgotten them. When a user forgets their password and needs to regain access to their account, they can initiate the password reset process by visiting the lost password path.

By default, the WordPress lost password path follows a specific URL pattern: wp-login.php?action=lostpassword. This means that the lost password page can be accessed by appending wp-login.php?action=lostpassword to the base URL of a WordPress website.

For example, if a WordPress site’s base URL is https://domain.com, the default register path would be https://domain.com/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword.

On the lost password page, users are usually prompted to enter their account’s username or email address. WordPress then sends an email with a password reset link to the user’s registered email address. Users can create a new password and regain access to their accounts by clicking on the link provided in the email.

It’s important to note that the default lost password path, similar to the default login path (e.g., wp-login.php), is well-known to both legitimate users and potential attackers. This makes WordPress websites vulnerable to potential brute-force attacks or targeted password reset attacks.

To enhance security and protect against such attacks, it’s recommended that the lost password path be customized and secured using hack-prevention security plugins like WP Ghost. By doing so, you can obscure the path and add an extra layer of protection to your WordPress website.

Why Is it Essential to Secure Lost Password Path?

Securing the lost password path is crucial for several reasons:

• Preventing Brute-Force attacks: The default WordPress lost-password path is predictable (e.g., wp-login.php?action=lostpassword), making it an easy target for attackers attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts through brute-force attacks. Customizing the lost password path makes it harder for attackers to guess the login URL, thus reducing the risk of brute-force attacks.
• Enhancing website security: By securing the lost password path, you improve your website’s overall security posture. Hacker bots often target vulnerable WordPress sites, and any measure you take to prevent hacks on potential points of entry can significantly decrease the likelihood of successful attacks.
• Protecting user account: Genuine users who have forgotten their passwords could initiate password reset requests. By securing the lost password path, you ensure that only legitimate users can access the password reset functionality, preventing hacker bots from attempting to take control of user accounts.
• Staying ahead of hackers: As the internet evolves, so do hacking techniques. Customizing the lost password path is a proactive measure to stay ahead of potential future threats. By implementing this security measure, you add an extra line of defense that helps prevent hacks on your website.

How to Secure Lost Password Path with WP Ghost

Activate Safe Mode or Ghost Mode

Before changing the lost-password path, you need to ensure that either Safe Mode or Ghost Mode is activated.

1. Access your WordPress dashboard after installing and activating the WP Ghost plugin.
2. Go to WP Ghost > Change Paths > Level of Security.
3. Select Safe Mode or Ghost Mode. Safe Mode provides basic protection, while Ghost Mode offers more advanced security features.

Change Lost Password Path

Once you have activated Safe Mode or Ghost Mode, you can proceed to change the lost password path.

1. Go to WP Ghost > Change Paths > Login Security.
2. Next to the Custom Lost Password Path, you’ll see the predefined custom name for the wp-login.php?action=lostpassword path.
3. Enter a different name for the lost password path like “my-secure-lostpassword” or keep the predefined custom name.
4. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

Run a Security Check

After saving the new settings, it is essential to run a security check to ensure that the lost password path is successfully changed.

Follow these steps to perform a security check:

1. Go to WP Ghost > Security Check.
2. Click the Run Full Security Check button to initiate a new security scan.
3. The plugin will verify that the lost password path has been successfully changed.
4. If the path is hidden as intended, the security task will be marked as complete.

Conclusion

By utilizing the “Change Lost Password Path” option from the WP Ghost plugin, you can increase the security of your WordPress website by an additional layer of protection.

This valuable feature actively combats unapproved password reset attempts, effectively fortifying your site’s defenses against potential vulnerabilities and threats.

Troubleshooting

Users Can't Reset the Password After Changing the Lost Password Path

If you encounter any problems after customizing the lost password path, here are some troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issues:

Clear all cache

If you have a cache plugin or use server caching, clear all the cache, as the change of paths has significantly changed the website’s structure.

Run a Frontend Test

Go to WP Ghost > Change Paths, click the Frontend Test button, and follow the server configuration instructions, if any.

Permalink settings

Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes to refresh the permalinks. This action can sometimes help resolve issues related to URL structures.

Incorrect custom path

Double-check the custom lost password path you entered to ensure there are no typos, misspellings, or special characters that might be causing the problem.

Revert to Default Path

If the issues persist, consider restoring WordPress’s default lost password path. Go to WP Ghost > Change Paths > Login Security, remove the custom path from the Custom Lost Password Path, and save the settings.

Plugin/Theme conflicts

Temporarily deactivate other plugins related to login functionality. If the problem disappears, a conflicting plugin or theme might be the culprit.