News Flash: The FBI doesn’t want you to encrypt your data.

So, yesterday FBI Director James B. Comey criticized Google and Apple for deploying encryption on smartphone operating systems that they wouldn’t be able to bypass, even when presented with a valid warrant by police. (source)

Does he not grasp that the reason people want this extra security is because of government surveillance overreach and secret warrants?  They’ve literally brought this upon themselves.  When you deny people their privacy in everyday things, they feel it necessary to go to further extents to maintain it.  Were it not for NSA overreach, lying before congress, secret FISA courts and the like, this recent push to encryption likely would never have happened.

So, well done. I’m personally delighted that folks are opting to encrypt things.  Thanks for giving them that push towards it by being something of an overly attached significant other.

Create New Admin Account in WordPress via FTP

Another handy little snippet for WordPress …

Have you ever had a client need help on their WordPress site, and have FTP access, but not actually give you a WordPress account to use? Just paste this snippet into their current theme’s functions.php file, or add it to a new file in their ~/wp-content/mu-plugins/ folder, and WordPress will automatically create an admin account for you to use!

Oh — and don’t forget to change the credentials that are included to your own. If there is already an account with the username or email address specified, it will fail and not do diddly squat.

function add_admin_acct(){
	$login = 'myacct1';
	$passw = 'mypass1';
	$email = 'myacct1@mydomain.com';

	if ( !username_exists( $login )  && !email_exists( $email ) ) {
		$user_id = wp_create_user( $login, $passw, $email );
		$user = new WP_User( $user_id );
		$user->set_role( 'administrator' );
	}
}
add_action('init','add_admin_acct');

Remember … with great power comes great responsibility. Don’t abuse it.