The latest update to WordPress (version 4.3, named Billie Holiday) introduced some very interesting and useful changes, most of which will both help website administrators and authors in producing content and keeping their sites safe. One of the most interesting and overall very welcome change is the new password system. Passwords generated automatically will be significantly stronger and each reset password request will trigger a different procedure for password retrieval from now on. Or should we say password reset, because WordPress will no longer send passwords via e-mail! Instead, a password reset link will be mailed, prompting user to reset the existing password to something new. The password strength meter is also a welcome addition to the password setup procedure.
Excerpt from the WordPress 4.3 release notes:
Resetting Your Password received attention and 4.3 improves the way that passwords are chosen and changed. You start out with a strong password by default and you are given the option to keep it or choose your own. A password strength meter is available as well as the option to hide your password from prying eyes. You will find the new password interface on the password reset screen and the WordPress install screen. WordPress will no longer send passwords via email and the password reset links will expire in 24 hours. Finally, e-mail notifications will be sent out in the event that an e-mail or password is changed.
We would also like to point out the fact that from version 4.3 comments will be automatically disabled on newly generated posts and pages. For many business websites this is a great news, which their web admins will appreciate as well. Until now we usually had to either do changes to the code or install plugins to accomplish the comment system shutdown for pages and posts that do not rely of visitor feedback.
Finally, you know those small icons, that represent your (and every other website) when you browse on your phone or drag a site to the bookmarks bar on your browser? In WordPress 4.3 you can edit those directly in WP backend and they are no longer theme dependent. As such, they’re immune to theme updates.
More info about the WordPress 4.3 can be found here.
