Redirects

What is Redirects in WP Ghost?

The Redirect Feature in WP Ghost is a powerful security and usability tool designed to control traffic flow to protected WordPress site areas.

It allows you to redirect unauthorized visitors or logged-in users to specific pages or trigger error messages when they attempt to access hidden or restricted paths such as /wp-admin or /wp-login.

Using these options, you can safeguard your website from hackers, improve user experience, and create logical navigation flows for different types of users.

Why is Redirects Important for Security?

WordPress websites are common targets for hackers, who often attempt to exploit default login paths such as /wp-admin or /wp-login. The Redirect Feature helps protect these sensitive areas by:

1. Masking Default Paths: Prevents hackers from identifying the actual admin and login URLs.
2. Redirecting Unauthorized Users: Ensures that unauthorized users who try to access protected paths are sent to safe pages or error screens instead.
3. Triggering Error Messages: Allows you to display 404 or 403 HTML error messages, discouraging hacker bots by making it appear that the path doesn’t exist.
4. Minimizing Security Risks: Prevents brute-force attacks by hiding the login entry points.

How To Use Redirects in WP Ghost?

Activate Safe Mode or Ghost Mode

Begin by activating Safe Mode or Ghost Mode to open the path customization process.

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.

Redirect Hidden Paths

You can configure redirects for hidden paths using the Redirect Hidden Paths feature in WP Ghost:

1. Redirect to Another Page: To maintain professionalism, redirect unauthorized visitors to a specific page, such as the homepage or a custom error page.
2. Show 404 Error: Display a 404 error to make it appear as if the path does not exist, discouraging further hacking attempts.
3. Trigger 403 Error: Use a 403 error to indicate forbidden access, reinforcing security.

Tip! If the default redirect options do not meet your needs, you can create a new page and assign it as the redirect destination.

1. Go to WP Ghost > Tweaks > Redirects > Redirect Hidden Paths.
2. Select the redirection page or error for the hidden pages.
3. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

Login Redirect URL & Logout Redirect URL

With WP Ghost, you can set custom login and logout redirects based on user roles. This ensures that users land on relevant pages immediately after logging in or out, enhancing both usability and security.

Why It Matters:

• Improved User Experience: Ensures users access the correct area quickly.
• Role-Specific Content: Guides users to pages designed for their role, avoiding confusion.

Examples:

• Customers: Redirect to their account or order history page.
• Subscribers: Redirect to a subscriber-specific landing page.
• Editors and Authors: Redirect to content creation or management dashboards.

To setup the Login and Logout redirects, follow these steps:

1. Go to WP Ghost > Tweaks > Redirects > Do Login & Logout Redirects.
2. Choose either the Default settings for all users or User Role settings for specific roles.
3. Input the desired URLs for login and logout redirections.
4. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

Redirect Logged Users to Dashboard

WP Ghost also allows you to automatically redirect already logged-in users to the admin dashboard if they revisit the login page. This prevents redundancy and enhances user convenience.

To activate logged users to the dashboard, follow these steps:

1. Go to WP Ghost > Tweaks > Redirect.
2. Switch on the Redirect Logged Users To Dashboard option to open the file select option.
3. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

Why It Matters:

• Efficiency: Saves users from repeatedly entering login details.
• Security: Prevents multiple login attempts and possible security risks.
• Professional Workflow: Streamlines access to the admin area for site managers and editors.

Conclusion

The Redirect Feature in WP Ghost is a critical component for enhancing both security and usability on your WordPress site. Prioritize security while considering usability to ensure your WordPress site remains safe and user-friendly.