# Maintenance & Tools ## Comments Management ### Global Comments This section lets you decide where people are allowed to leave comments. ![maintanace tool](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/maintainace-tool.png) - **What it does:** You can turn off comments for your whole website or just for specific types of pages. - **How to use it:** Use the dropdown menu to choose if you want to disable comments everywhere or only on certain parts of your site. ### 2. Select Post Types If you chose to turn off comments on “certain post types,” this is where you pick them. - **What it does:** You can flip the switch for **Posts**, **Pages**, **Media** (like images), or **Products**. - **Why use it:** Sometimes you want people to comment on your blog posts, but not on your “Contact Us” page or product images. ### 3. Comment Settings (The Spam Blockers) Spammers love to leave links to other websites. These settings stop them. ![comment settings](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/comment-settings.png) - **Remove “url” in the comment form:** This hides the box where people normally type their website address. If they can’t put their link, they usually won’t leave a spam comment. - **Remove external links in the comments:** If a spammer does leave a link, this tool will strip it out. - **Replace external links from author bio:** This stops people from using their profile name to advertise other websites. ### 4. Cleaning Up Old Comments The bottom sections are for deleting comments that are already there. ![remove all comment](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/remove-all-comment.png) ![remove all](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/remove-all.png) - **Remove All Comments:** Use this to wipe the slate clean and delete every single comment on your site. - **Remove Spam Comments:** This deletes comments that WordPress has already flagged as “Spam.” - **Remove Unapproved Comments:** This clears out comments waiting for you to say “Yes” or “No” to them. - **Remove Trashed Comments:** This empties the “Trash” bin for your comments, like taking the garbage out to the curb. > **💡**Always click the purple **Save Changes** button at the very bottom left after you make a choice. If you don’t, the plugin won’t remember what you picked! ## Backup & Restore ### Backup Settings This section lets you save your current settings into a file that lives on your computer. - **What it does:** It turns all your switches and buttons into a special file (called a JSON file). - **Select sections to export:** You can choose exactly what to save. You can check boxes for things like **Login Settings**, **Security Settings**, or **Access Restrictions**. - **Download Backup:** When you click this purple button, the file downloads to your computer. - **Copy:** This button lets you copy the settings as text if you just want to paste them somewhere else. ![ultimate security backup and restore settings](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/backup-and-restore.png) ### Restore Settings If you move to a new website or accidentally mess up your settings, use this area to fix it. - **What it does:** It takes a file you saved earlier and puts all those settings back onto your site. - **How to use it:** You can **Drag & drop** your saved file into the gray box, or click **Select JSON File** to find it on your computer. - **Import Settings:** Once the file is uploaded, click this to turn the settings on. ## Security Tools ### **REST API Methods** The REST API uses four main types of messages to manage your website’s data: ![advance security tool](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/security-tool.png) - **GET (The “Reader”):** This is used when your site wants to **read or look at** information. It’s like opening a book to see what is written inside. - **POST (The “Creator”):** This is used to **add or create** something new. It’s like writing a brand-new page and adding it to your book. - **PUT (The “Editor”):** This is used to **update or fix** something that is already there. It’s like taking an eraser to a mistake and writing the correct information over it. - **DELETE (The “Eraser”):** This is used to **remove** information. It’s like ripping a page out of the book and throwing it away. ### **What the Status Colors Mean** - **Active (Green):** The “door” is open, and your website can use this method to talk to other apps. - **Inactive (Red):** The “door” is locked. This might be for safety, but sometimes it can stop certain features from working. ### Server Resources This part shows you how hard your website’s “brain” is working. ![server resource](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/server-resource.png) - **Memory Limit:** This is the total amount of “thinking space” your website has (for example, 256M). - **Current Usage:** This shows how much of that space you are using right now. If the green bar gets too full, your site might slow down. - **Max Execution Time:** This is the amount of time (in seconds) your site is allowed to work on a single task before it gives up. - **Copy & Print:** You can use these buttons to save this information if you ever need to show it to a tech expert for help. ### 3. Scheduled Tasks This is the “To-Do List” for your security plugin. ![schedual task](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/schedual-task.png) - **Event Name:** This is the name of the specific job the plugin needs to do, like checking your files for changes or sending alerts. - **Schedule:** This tells you how often the job happens (for example, “every minute” or “hourly”). - **Next Run:** This shows a countdown of when the job will start again. - **Actions (Run Button):** If you don’t want to wait for the timer, you can click the **Run** button to make the plugin do that task immediately. > **💡**You don’t usually need to change anything here. This page is mostly for checking that everything is working exactly as it should! ## Advanced Settings ### Data Management This section decides what happens if you ever decide to stop using the plugin and delete it. ![ULTIMATE SECURITY ADVANCE OPTION](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ADVANCE-OPTION-1.png) - **Delete plugin data on uninstall:** * **What it does:** If you turn this switch **ON**, the plugin will erase everything it ever recorded (like settings and security logs) when you delete it from WordPress. **Why use it:** Use this if you want to make sure no leftover “digital trash” is left behind on your website. - **⚠️ Warning:** Once this data is deleted, you can never get it back! ### Emergency Access (The “Spare Key”) This is one of the most important parts of the plugin. Sometimes, security settings might accidentally lock *you* out of your own website. - **Emergency URL:** This is a secret web link made just for you. - **What it does:** If you are locked out, you can paste this secret link into your browser. It will automatically turn off the security plugin so you can get back into your site. - **How to use it:** 1. **Save it:** Copy this link and save it somewhere safe, like a notebook or a private file on your phone. 2. **Test URL:** Click this to make sure the link works. 3. **Regenerate URL:** If you think someone else saw your secret link, click this to create a brand-new one. ### Reset & Cache (The “Fresh Start”) If the plugin is acting strangely or you just want to go back to the beginning, use these buttons. - **Reset to Defaults:** * **What it does:** This pushes the “Reset” button on every setting in the plugin. It will go back to exactly how it looked when you first installed it. - **Clear Cache:** * **What it does:** This clears out “temporary memory” that the plugin uses. **Why use it:** If you changed a setting but don’t see the change happening on your site, clicking this can usually fix the problem. > **💡** Always remember to click the **Save Changes** button at the bottom left after turning on the “Delete plugin data” switch! ## Database Cleanup ### Database Stats At the top, you’ll see four important numbers: ![database clean up](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/database-clean-up.png) - **Total Database Size**: How big your database is (right now it shows 0 B) - **Total Records**: How many things are stored in your database (right now it shows 0) - **30-Day Growth Estimate**: How much your database might grow in 30 days - **Avg. Daily Records**: How many new things are added each day ### Step 2: Turn On Automatic Cleanup You’ll see two toggle switches: - **Enable Automatic Cleanup** – This automatically removes old, unnecessary data from your database - **Enable Archiving Before Deletion** – This saves a copy of data before removing it (good for safety) Both are turned ON by default, which is usually best for most websites. ### Step 3: Clean Up Your Database In the “Database Cleanup” section, you can: - Select which tables (parts of your database) to clean - Delete old records that you don’t need anymore Right now, it shows “No log tables found” which means your database is already clean! ### Overview Tab This is the main dashboard that shows you: - Your total database size - How many records (items) are in your database - How your database is growing - Average daily records being added It gives you a quick look at how healthy your database is right now. ### Retention Policies Tab This tab helps you control how long data stays in your database. ![retention policy](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/retention-policy.png) #### What It Does: - **Configure Retention Periods**: You can set how many days to keep records in each part of your database - **Save Retention Policies**: Click this blue button to save your settings #### Why This Matters: - Keeping your database clean means your website runs faster - You can choose how long to keep different types of data - This helps prevent your database from getting too big and slow ### Archives Tab This tab shows you archived records – data that has been saved before being deleted. ![archive tab](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/archive.png) #### What You’ll See: - **Archived Records**: Any data that was archived (saved) before cleanup - Right now it shows “No archives found” which means your database is clean! #### Why Archives Are Good: - They act like a backup before data gets deleted - You can review what was removed if needed - Makes cleanup safer because you can always restore archived data ### History Tab This tab keeps track of all the cleanup activities. ![history tab](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/history.png) #### What It Shows: - **Cleanup History**: A log of everything the plugin has cleaned up - Right now it shows “No cleanup history found” which means the plugin hasn’t done any cleanups yet, or it’s a new installation #### Why History Is Helpful: - You can see what was cleaned and when - Helps you track how your database is being maintained - Good for troubleshooting if something goes wrong ## Important Tips: - Always save your changes by clicking “Save Changes” at the bottom - If you make a mistake, you can “Discard Changes” to go back - Start with the default settings if you’re not sure what to do - These features help keep your website fast and secure! Important Notes - Automatic cleanup helps keep your site running fast - Archiving before deletion is like making a backup before cleaning – it’s safer - You can always turn these features off if you prefer to clean your database manually - Click “Save Changes” to keep your settings, or “Discard Changes” to go back to how things were ## Self Defense Protection This feature keeps your security plugin safe from being turned off by bad people. ![ultimate security self-defense](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/self-defense.png) ### **Enable Self Defense**: - When this is ON (green), it means: No one can easily turn off your security plugin - If someone tries to turn it off, they’ll need to prove who they are first - Your website stays protected ### File Integrity Monitoring This feature watches your security plugin files to make sure no one changes them. - **Enable file integrity checks**: When this is ON (green), it means: The plugin checks if any files have been changed - If someone tries to mess with your plugin code, you’ll get an alert - Your security stays strong and trustworthy ### Deactivation Alerts This feature tells you when someone tries to turn off your security plugin. - **Send alerts on deactivation**: When this is ON (green), it means: You’ll get a message if someone tries to turn off your security - Alerts can come to your email or other places you set up - You’ll know right away if something suspicious happens Important Warning If you ever need to turn off this security plugin (maybe to fix something), remember: - You can use the “Emergency Access URL” from the Advanced Settings page - Or you’ll need to prove it’s really you trying to turn it off --- Source: https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/docs/maintenance-tools/maintenance-tools-overview/