My Presentation at WordCamp Atlanta on WordPress Security
So if you haven’t notice, I was not blogging at Balkhis for a while. Yeah, I keep saying that I will blog and I barely do it anymore here. The sole reason for that is lack of balance. I am still trying to find balance between school, clients, social media profiles, and sites. I didn’t even get a chance to update you guys about the presentation that I gave earlier this month at WordCamp Atlanta 2010.
WordCamps are just events for WordPress users. I have been attending a lot of WordCamps lately. Since Novemeber, I have been to three WordCamps and I spoke at Atlanta. I will be attending WordCamp Miami and I am a confirmed speaker there as well.
So you guys are probably wondering how was my speaking experience. First thing I will say is that it was pretty cool. I consulted with many clients, talked with some known names, but I have never really stood in front a lot of people at a conference and gave a presentation. I was giving a presentation on WordCamp Security and as soon as I looked up, I saw one of the lead developers of WordPress sitting in front of me. Yup, it was Mark Jacquith.
Have you ever had a feeling when you are trying to explain something to somebody and all of the sudden you see the person who actually built that something. Well its not very comfortable when you see someone in front of you who probably knows a lot more about this script than you do because he is the lead developer. Anyways, I have talked with Mark on my past events so it was not that big of a deal. I stood there and gave a pretty decent presentation.
You can check out the presentation slides below:
Now till that day there was something I was doing wrong. Removing WordPress version number. I knew many security tricks but I didn’t know that WordPress also sends out the version number in the feeds. So now if you remove it in the header its ok, but if someone really wants to get it they can just go to the feeds and get it.
After talking with Mark, I wrote an article on WPBeginner how to correctly remove WordPress Version Number.
I hope you guys like the presentation. It was scaled for a beginner session, but there are a lot of stuff that you can use, so definitely go through this presentation.
Hey, I am Syed Balkhi, The guy who is behind Balkhis Inc. I entered the industry back in 2002 not knowing a single thing. I barely spoke English at that time. In the past six years, my language barrier has been eliminated. Aside from English, now I also speak html, and php. Along with the languages I have also managed to master a few arts. Art of web-designing started when I first entered. Messing around with photoshop, I learned how to create my first web design. Now I founded a web designing firm Uzzz Productions. After running numerous amount of websites in various niche, I have mastered the art of web-development. Now I am compiling a resource of what I already know, and what I am learning on this blog. This resource is to help me if I ever need a guide to look back to, and it is help my fellow webmasters.
Good luck on your next one. The more you do, the more you become better at public speaking.
Kai Lo
Twitter @lomak1985
I had visited your video. The way you have presented your self is absolutely brilliant. I liked your post.
Syed another feather in your cap. I am not all that cued up on the tech side, but I like the way you present yourself. I am very happy for you.
This is just brilliant!
I haven’t had many problems with wordpress security but I only run a personal blog so I don’t think most hackers are after someone like me.
good presentation, I was watch your video and make a motivation for me
Wordpress is now the de facto standard for blogs and so it is of the utmost importance to protect our database from intrusions and hackers… hacking is becoming the organized crime of the XXI century!
Congrats on your new-found public speaking skills. Not everyone is cut out for giving a professional presentation in front of a large group of people. Personally it is not something I have any interest in pursuing. I simply get too nervous with public speaking.
By the way, the wordpress condom graphic is awesome.
I know all too well how nerve wracking public speaking can be, with everyone microanalyzing everything you say and not having a chance to correct mistakes without embarassing yourself. I can’t imagine how much extra scary it must be with one of your idols in the audience. Glad it went well.
Till then,
Jean
You don’t come here lately, it’s truth, but when you come and write something that is really astonishing
. This one is indeed essential security guide and maybe the ultimate one for the WordPress. Also nice presentation. Keep up the great work!
I try my best, but sometimes other projects, clients get the better of me and I just don’t have enough time to update my personal blog. If you want to stay updated with me I am on twitter @syedbalkhi and @wpbeginner where you will find plenty of useful reads.
Congrats on having the courage to get up there. I’ve tried public speaking and I just can’t do it… It kills me, every time. I can’t imagine how much harder it would’ve been with people you look up t in the audience!
Well done on speaking in front of people. You have highlighted security for me though. Until now I just took it for granted. It was not until the other day when i realized I have never done a back up on my blog.
Great slides. I would have loved to hear the actual presentation. I appreciate the content of the slides also. I am definitely going to implement many of your suggestions. Thanks.