Don’t Let Your Plugins Rust
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Don't Let Your Plugins Rust
John's Intro:
It's Episode 626 and we have plugins for Whispering Free with Darkify Options… and WordPress News. It's all coming up on WordPress Plugins A-Z!
– ‘good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you happen to be hiding out there on the globe today! Coming to you LIVE from …'
Amber's Rant:
Welcome to Episode 626 – Don't Let Your Plugins Rust – We've got a couple of great in-depth plugins to cover for you, some recent news in both the WordPress World and the Tech World in general, and some awesome WordPress Tips!
Good to be back for another show! Hope everyone out there is keeping well and healthy – the crazy weather is pretty sneaky with getting people sick this time of year so beware!
A few reminders before we start the show today….
Reminders:
- Reminder that our show is now every other week, and that it starts at 12:30 PM Pacific Time, with a pre-stream starting around 12:15 PM Pacific Time. Pre-stream is where we twiddle with the dials and knobs and really just warm up our voices, so join in for some entertainment value!
- Our show notes for each episode can be found at wppluginsatoz.com – the newest show notes will be up within 24 hours and on our front page!
- Don't forget that this is a value for value show, and that you are a big part of it's creation! You are our producers, and we need you to help us produce! Get out there and hit some like buttons, share an episode or two, and let people know that you help to produce the longest running WordPress Plugins podcast!
That's it for reminders, don't forget to stick around until the end of the show for some possibly life altering advice!
...When you see this in the notes, it means we didn't read this on the show. The only way to find this information out is to read our Show Notes!
…You can send any questions/suggestions or notes saying ‘hi' over to me at amber@wppro.ca, or hit up our site wpppluginsatoz.com/contact – Be creative with the title so that the spammer eater doesn't eat your note though!
Let's start the show with this weeks Featured Artist:
Artist:
Sir Rogue of the Tavern – Barron of the Cowichan Valley
https://theroguesoasis.com/
That is a very old lock – makes me think of a lock found down on titanic at the bottom of the ocean.
We would love some new art from our Producers out there! If you are so inclined, you can send it into us at https://wppluginsatoz.com/artwork/. If you need some inspiration, you can always go to our site wppluginsatoz.com and check out our Art Vaults – you will find the link for it on the left hand side.
…We can NEVER have too much art!
Breaking News in the WordPress World at large!!
…If I missed something, shoot me a link at amber@wppro.ca – it may show up on the next show!
News this week:
WordPress Vulnerability Report – April 24, 2024
(https://solidwp.com/blog/wordpress-vulnerability-report-april-24-2024/) – In this report there are 358 vulnerabilities, though there are so far 312 patches made for the plugins.
The 45 plugins needing patching are up at the top making it easy to figure out what to pay attention to. Be sure to follow the link and have a look through for your own or your clients sites!
WordPress Vulnerability Report from PatchStack
(https://patchstack.com/database/) – These guys always have the latest information on what is going on regarding the latest in vulnerabilities. At the time of writing this, the most recent issue was 3 days ago and it was a cross-site scripting vulnerability on Filterable Portfolio. Be sure to have a look through both of these sites to get as much information as possible!
Researchers highlight ransomware threat in Google Chromium-based browsers
(https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/534283-researchers-highlight-ransomware-threat-in-google-chrome-and-chromium-based-browsers.html) – This is a firsthand account of a fella who went to work with a couple of colleagues to test the browsers safety – he explains that the browsers are essentially Operating Systems in and of themselves these days really, and while that is very useful – it is also easier to use the system against itself.
New Brokewell malware takes over Android devices, steals data
(https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-brokewell-malware-takes-over-android-devices-steals-data/) – New Android banking trojan they named Brokewell – captures every event on the device from touches and information displayed to text input and the applications the user launches. Delivered through a fake Google Chrome update that is shown while using the web browser.
Nespresso Domain hijacked in phishing attack targeting Microsoft logins
(https://www.hackread.com/nespresso-domain-hijacked-microsoft-phishing/) – Cybercriminals are exploiting an open redirect vulnerability for phishing attacks that impersonate Nespresso to steal Microsoft logins. Millions of users are potentially at risk.
Millions of gamers help advance Microbiome Research
(https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/millions-of-gamers-help-advance-microbiome-research-385781) – 4.5 million gamers around the world have advanced medical science by helping to reconstruct microbial evolutionary histories. Really interesting how videogaming can help to create things like this – apparently by playing a popular game called Borderlands 3, they helped to improve on the results produced by the existing programs used to analyze DNA sequences, and to lay the groundwork for improved AI programs that can be used in the future! Definitely worth a read!
The Extras – check out our Facebook, or Twitter page for even more!
Studio by WordPress.com launched today (April 24, 2024)
https://poststatus.com/studio-by-wordpress-com-launched-today/
Dutch Cybersecurity Experts warning companies about global ransomware attack
(https://nltimes.nl/2024/04/28/dutch-cybersecurity-experts-warning-companies-global-ransomware-attack)
Cisco raises alarm for ‘ArcaneDoor' Zero-Days hitting ASA firewall platforms
(https://www.securityweek.com/cisco-raises-alarm-for-arcanedoor-zero-days-hitting-asa-firewall-platforms/)
More than 800 vulnerabilities resolved through CISA ransomware notification pilot
(https://therecord.media/vulnerabilities-resolved-through-cisa-pilot)
China-linked PlugX malware infections found in more than 170 countries
(https://therecord.media/plugx-malware-infections-more-than-170-countries)
Hackers infect users of antivirus service that delivered updates over HTTP
(https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/04/hackers-infect-users-of-antivirus-service-that-delivered-updates-over-http/)
Windows vulnerability reported by the NSA exploited to install Russian malware
(https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/04/kremlin-backed-hackers-exploit-critical-windows-vulnerability-reported-by-the-nsa/)
5 web browsers you should use instead of Google Chrome or Edge
(https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/5-web-browser-alternatives-to-chrome-edge/) – Worth having a look through these – one of the ones listed here, FireFox – I use this constantly as it has some truly amazing developer tools.
The top programming languages to learn if you want to get into AI
(https://thenextweb.com/news/top-programming-languages-learn-ai)
World-first satellites for commercial science set for launch in 2025
(https://thenextweb.com/news/blue-skies-space-science-satellites-launch-2025)
‘Just like meaty sausages!' Europe hosts first cultivated meat tasting
(https://thenextweb.com/news/just-like-meaty-sausages-europe-hosts-first-cultivated-meat-tasting)
YouthCamp Kozhikode Merge Proposal: Rollback auto-update do_action Mumbai Plugin Directory Playground previews WordPress 6.5 Performance Improvements
(https://poststatus.com/%f0%9f%8f%95%ef%b8%8f-youthcamp-kozhikode-%f0%9f%94%84-merge-proposal-rollback-auto-update-%f0%9f%8c%9f-do_action-mumbai-%f0%9f%94%8c-plugin-directory-playground-previews-%e2%9a%a1-wordpress-6-5-perf/)
Hello! It's me! It's the imposter Syndrome!
(https://poststatus.com/hello-its-me-its-the-imposter-syndrome/)
Community Roundup Week ending April 10 (by Post Status)
https://poststatus.com/community-roundup-week-ending-april-19/
How WordPress is helping beginner Developers
(https://thewpminute.com/how-wordpress-is-helping-beginner-developers/)
8 best places to hire WordPress Developers
(https://wplift.com/best-platforms-to-hire-wordpress-developers/)
Nospace is a new nostalgia-filled social media app for Gen Z that's already got a 500,000-person waiting list
(https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-new-social-media-app-nospace-nostalgic-less-curated-2024)
Dragon Rating Time!
John's Plugin
Link Whisper Free
https://wordpress.org/plugins/link-whisper/
The lowdown
If you are looking for an easier way to do internal linking this may be a plugin for you. Easy to get setup and install. Link Whisper is a tool that can help you gain the value of powerful internal links without having to manually build them.
Link Whisper quietly and quickly “whispers” contextual internal link suggestions that can both help your readers better find content on your site and helps Google rank your site better due to the improved link structure.
Google, Moz, Search Engine Land, and even Bing knows that internal links are important. Link Whisper helps you take what was once a time-intensive chore (that gets even bigger as your site grows) and turns it into an opportunity for you to have a better-optimized site than your competitors.
Links Whisper is smart. Powered by artificial intelligence, Link Whisper starts suggesting relevant internal links when you start writing your article… right within the WordPress editor.
Depending on how many articles you have on your site and the relevance of your existing content, Link Whisper will suggest dozens or more internal links from the content you are editing.
Just copy the link suggestion and then paste where suggested. Internal links done.
Rating 5 Dragons
WordPress Tips
We would love to hear some tid bit tips from some of our producers out there – what did you figure out by breaking something? Or what did you need to learn in order to help someone? You can send these tid bits into me at amber@wppro.ca
Making Sites
If your chosen profession is to make sites, and you don't have any clients – take the suddenly free time you have and go all nit picky on your own site.
Go play with those different things on your site you have been thinking about, maybe update that one page that still has the wrong date and time and cost of everything….
Beginners Tips
If you are working on busy work, don't despair! Enjoy the slower moving time you are experiencing, maybe start a hobby site – 'cause before you know it, you will be working your behind off again!
…Some random entertainment in the World of WordPress!
…Matt's Famous Quotes
https://www.idrlabs.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg.php
…The hall of shame via Automattic:
transparency.automattic.com/tag/hall-of-shame/
Amber's Plugin
Darkify: WordPress Dark Mode Plugin – Enhance Your Website's Visibility in Low Light
https://wordpress.org/plugins/darkify/
The Lowdown:
I have found my new favourite dark mode plugin!
Darkify is pretty awesome – it allows for dark mode in both the back and front end! Although unlike many others, they have a variety of colour setups to choose from, AND they let you personalize what colours you actually want to use for the front end!!
This plugin seems pretty new still what with the new plugin smell still lingering around a little – but it works beautifully with current version of WordPress, and slightly out of date WordPress both just fine!
Once you install and activate this, you will find ‘Darkify' on your left-hand menu area. Clicking on that will take you to your plugin's dashboard, where you can choose your colour palette, whether you want to set a toggle on the front page to give the option of flipping back and forth between dark mode – or you can just set it to a timer.
And for the backend, it does not seem like there is a colour palette option for the backend, though you can turn the dark mode on in the back end by flipping the toggle up in the upper right hand corner.
The biggest issue I have found with working in DarkMode in the back-end, is going to do something like plugin updates – and not being able to properly read the information on the plugin area. With this dark mode though, there is no issue at all! It's as easy to see which plugins are activated, which ones need an update, so on and so forth – this plugin is pretty amazing!
There is an option to darken the images – and it does not destroy your images. It lowers the intensity of the images, and that is all – I have seen some plugin's that offer a darkening of images do this odd thing where the colours get inverted, or they drop a haze over the images that make the images unable to be seen – not so with this plugin!
I highly recommend you go and check this plugin out, it's totally free at the moment, and it's a lot of fun to play with! Some of the colour palettes you can choose from, well, they don't exactly seem like a dark mode to me being so green…
Worth checking out – just type in ‘darkify'!
Rating: 5 Dragon
Join in and be part of your own production and support the show at the same time!
Earn yourself a Producership Credit!
There are a lot of ways that you as our Producers can utilize us as your tool to help yourself out, and help us at the same time – get a producership credit, do an interview, donate some time to get your name up here, all kinds of things! You can look further into the Producership credits options by going to our site wppluginsatoz.com and clicking on Time, Talent, or Treasure in our main menu.
Miscellaneous Announcements from us and Producers:
Have an announcement like a meetup, or to announce you'll be on stage at a WordCamp? Let us know and we will add it here and help get your news out to the world!
WordCamp Buffalo, NY, USA – May 4-5
WordCamp Sylhet, Bangladesh – May 10-11
WordCamp Porto, Portugal – May 17-18
WordCamp Vigo, Galicia, Spain – May 25-26
WordCamp Montclair New Jersey – June 1
To see the entire list you can follow the link here in the show notes, then click on ‘More WordCamps' right below the list of the next 5. https://central.wordcamp.org/
If you are interested in finding a WordPress Meetup somewhere around the world you can go check out the places here: https://www.meetup.com/pro/wordpress/
Keep checking back every week to find out what else is going on!
And remember, the show notes found at wppluginsatoz.com have a whole lot of extra information to grab up that we don't read on air so be sure to check them out!
How to reach us:
We have a real brick and mortar address where you can send in art and/or notes – you can find the address in our show notes!
WP Plugins A to Z
C/O John Overall
20-754 E Fairview Rd.
Victoria, BC V9A 5T9
Canada
We also have virtual addresses too!
John:
- My website: http://www.johnoverall.com/
- WordPress Emergency Support: http://wppro.ca/wpemergency
- email: john@wppro.ca
Amber:
- email: amber@wppro.ca
Today's Plugins we covered were:
John’s Plugin:
Link Whisper Free By Link Whisper
- Automatic link suggestions as you write
- Internal links reporting
- Help with creating contextual internal link suggestions
Rating: 5 Dragons
Amber's Plugin:
Darkify: WordPress Dark Mode Plugin – Enhance Your Website's Visibility in Low Light By ThemeAtelier
- Frontend and admin panel darkmode
- Darkmode can be controlled with keyboard shortcuts
- Toggle switcher available for both ends
Rating: 5 Dragons
Q & A Time with Amber – Catch this info on our YouTube Channel
If you have questions you would like to have asked on the show, send them in to me at Amber@WPPro.ca – let's see if we can stump my dad!
- Why do you think social media is so important for SEO?
- If the most important thing for SEO rankings is to have a site made by humans for humans – should we be worried that the AI generated sites are starting to get more rankings?
Questions asked after closing credits:
- I remember a few years ago we first started using the AI generated posts and everything – and they were HORRIBLE! But now, we can even get some decent humor out of the AI writers! Do you think the writers might need to start worrying a little regarding the AI taking their gigs?
- Do you think the Google Bots will start giving preferential rankings to the sites that have AI writing for them, like in a solidarity kind of gesture?
