If you find yourself locked out of your WordPress site due to the Defender plugin, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Follow this step-by-step guide to regain access and resolve the issue.
1. Accessing Your Site via FTP:
Start by connecting to your site using an FTP client. If you don’t have one, you can use FileZilla or any other preferred FTP client. Enter your FTP credentials to connect to your site.
2. Locate the Plugin Folder:
Navigate to the “wp-content” directory of your WordPress installation. Inside, find the “plugins” folder.
3. Identify and Delete the Defender Plugin:
Look for the “wp-defender” folder within the “plugins” directory. Right-click on the folder and select “Delete” to remove the Defender plugin.
4. Verify Removal:
After deleting the plugin, try accessing your site again. The lockout issue should be resolved. If you still encounter problems, proceed to the next steps.
5. Clearing Browser Cache:
Sometimes, browser caches can store the lockout information. Clear your browser cache or try accessing your site from an incognito/private window to ensure that the lockout is not cached.
6. Review Functions.php Modifications:
Ensure that you’ve correctly modified the “functions.php” file according to the fix suggested in the WPMU DEV forum.
7. Running Defender Cleanup:
Access your site using the URL: https://www.YOURDOMAIN.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=wp-defender&defender_clean=1. This should trigger the Defender cleanup process.
8. Check IP Blocking:
Review the IP blocking settings within the Defender plugin before deletion. Make sure your current IP is not unintentionally blocked.
9. Contacting Support:
If all else fails, consider reaching out to the plugin developer or community support for further assistance. Share the steps you’ve taken and any error messages you’ve encountered for a more targeted solution.
By following these steps, you should successfully regain access to your WordPress site and resolve the lockout caused by the Defender plugin.
Remember, always backup your site before making any significant changes, and proceed with caution to avoid any data loss.