Banner Notifications Keep Re-appearing

Even tried re-installing but the problems are still there!

@TZAL

It’s going to be hard to find out what’s wrong without any additional info.

Try this. Allthough keep in mind, it is just a wild guess.
Make sure you are logged out from Admin Dashboard.
Then log into the database using phpMyAdmin.
Click on the wp_options table of your database in the left panel.
Click on the SQL tab in the right panel.
Run the following SQL query:

select * from wp_options where option_name = ‘itsec-storage’ or option_name = ‘itsec_data’;

Update the topic with the info displayed.

dwinden

@dwinden

We’ve just ran the SQL query in your last response. The result of which is:

a:5:{s:5:”build”;i:4036;s:20:”activation_timestamp”;i:1407769630;s:17:”already_supported”;b:1;s:15:”setup_completed”;b:1;s:18:”tooltips_dismissed”;b:1;}

The column ‘Autoload’ is also set to ‘yes’

Hopefully that information will get us closer to a resolution.

PS we sometimes have to close the banner more than once in a logged-in session!

@dwinden

We’ve just ran the SQL query in your last response. The result of which is:

a:5:{s:5:”build”;i:4036;s:20:”activation_timestamp”;i:1407769630;s:17:”already_supported”;b:1;s:15:”setup_completed”;b:1;s:18:”tooltips_dismissed”;b:1;}

The column ‘Autoload’ is also set to ‘yes’

Hopefully that information will get us closer to a resolution.

PS we sometimes have to close the banner more than once in a logged-in session!

@TZAL

Build 4036 is from an old release (4.6.x).

It should be 4041. So it looks like the database upgrade is failing.
No wonder you are having problems.

Below an overview of iTSec plugin releases and its database build version:

5.6.0 – 4041
5.3.7 – 4040
5.1.1 – 4038
4.6.13 – 4036

It looks like database upgrading from 4036 to 4041 is a step too big.
So try and upgrade from 4036 to 4038 and then upgrade from 4038 to 4040.
Finally upgrade from 4040 to 4041.

First deactivate the current iTSec plugin release (5.6.0)
Then use FTP to delete the better-wp-security folder. DO NOT DELETE the plugin FROM WordPress Dashboard.
Download and MANUALLY (using FTP) install the iTSec plugin 5.1.1 release.
Activate the iTSec plugin 5.1.1 release.
Check on the plugin Dashboard page (System Information section) the build number is now 4038.

If so deactivate the current iTSec plugin release (5.1.1)
Then use FTP to delete the better-wp-security folder. DO NOT DELETE the plugin FROM WordPress Dashboard.
Download and MANUALLY (using FTP) install the iTSec plugin 5.3.7 release.
Activate the iTSec plugin 5.3.7 release.
Check on the plugin Dashboard page (System Information section) the build number is now 4040.

If so from the WordPress Dashboard update to the iTSec plugin 5.6.0 release which will be offered as an update from www.remarpro.com
Activate the iTSec plugin 5.6.0 release.
Use phpMyAdmin and check the build number is now 4041.

Don’t know whether this will resolve your issue but it makes sense to make the database upgrade steps smaller. Good luck !

dwinden

@dwinden

Many thanks for the comprehensive instructions! I executed them this week. The Installed Plugins Dashboard now shows Version 5.6.0 (but not done phpMyAdmin to check the build number)

The good news is that logging back on showed no banners…

The bad news is that subsequent days when logging on, i-Themes Security loses some of our settings:

1. Write to Files becomes un-ticked

2. Hide Backend also becomes un-ticked.

3. Therefore the Login Slug reverts to normal meaning that our normal login URL doesn’t work

4. Banners appear – What’s New & Get API Key (even though we’ve done this)

So each new day when logging on, we have to reset a whole bunch of things and get an API key.

Hopefully nearly there – can you please advise what we need to do to get the settings to say?

TZAL

@TZAL

Use phpMyAdmin and check the build number is now 4041.

Log into the database using phpMyAdmin.
Click on the wp_options table of your database in the left panel.
Click on the SQL tab in the right panel.
Run the following SQL query:

select * from wp_options where option_name = ‘itsec-storage’ or option_name = ‘itsec_data’;

Update the topic with the info displayed.

dwinden

@dwinden

The version is still 4036 but I have included the results below for your reference:

a:5:{s:5:”build”;i:4036;s:20:”activation_timestamp”;i:1407769630;s:17:”already_supported”;b:1;s:15:”setup_completed”;b:1;s:18:”tooltips_dismissed”;b:1;}

Hope that helps!

TZAL

@TZAL

Ok, so basically nothing has changed.
I think best thing to do is to delete the 5.1.1 plugin from the WordPress Dashboard.
This will cleanup the database from any iTSec traces.
Then install the 5.6.0 release.

So new instructions:

First deactivate the current iTSec plugin release (5.6.0)
Then use FTP to delete the better-wp-security folder.
Download and MANUALLY (using FTP) install the iTSec plugin 5.1.1 release.
Navigate to the Dashboard Plugins menu option and click on the iTSec plugin 5.1.1 Delete link.
It will ask you for confirmation. Agree to delete everything.

Now install the iTSec 5.6.0 release.

dwinden

@dwinden

Thanks. Did that & the database seems to be recording 4041 now:

a:5:{s:5:”build”;i:4041;s:20:”activation_timestamp”;i:1469187277;s:17:”already_supported”;b:0;s:15:”setup_completed”;b:0;s:18:”tooltips_dismissed”;b:0;}

However, after all that we are back to the beginning – ‘what’s new’ still shows!

Closing seems to shut it for the day but each new day (ie after shutting down / restarting PC) it’s there again!

What do you suggest now?

@TZAL

When this topic started you reported that there were 2 notices being closed and then after logout/login both notices were redisplayed.

Is that still the case ?

You now mention “each new day”. Does that mean logout/login on the first day (just after closing the notices) does not redisplay the notices ? So they only redisplay the next day ?

Are there any other symptoms ? Like the Security Check screen reappearing ?

dwinden

@dwinden

It was originally 2 but now just one notice on the Dashboard:
New! The iThemes Security dashboard just got a new look.See what’s new×

I thought it was on logout/login on the first day (just after closing the notices) does not redisplay the notices ? So they only redisplay the next day.

BUT just logged on (same day) and the ‘new’ banner is there! This didn’t happen yesterday! ie no return of banner once closed.

The Security Check screen is still there too despite:

1. completing initially and then again this morning
2. Going into Global Settings and savings (as you previously recommended)

Do you need any more info to help fix this?

@TZAL

Ok, so we did make some progress.

It turns out that the settings controlling the display of both the “what’s new” notice and the “Security Check” window are stored in the database (itsec-storage option) as part of the Global Settings module.
(The setting which controls the display of the “Get Free API Key” notice is not part of the Global Settings module).

Display of the “what’s new” notice is controlled by the show_new_dashboard_notice setting.

Display of the “Security Check” window is controlled by the show_security_check setting.

In total there are 27 Global Settings stored in the database.
However only max 23 will show up under the Global Settings module.
2 settings will only display if you are using nginx web server and/or the infinitewp plugin. If you are using neither of these only 21 settings will show under the Global Settings module.

So that leaves 27-23=4 extra settings.
2 of these are did_upgrade and log_info which are probably irrelevant for this issue. The other 2 I already mentioned: show_new_dashboard_notice and show security_check.

I’m providing you with as much relevant info as possible as I’m convinced you will need to monitor these settings in your database in order to find out what is going wrong.

Earlier in this topic mcmito figured out that 1 of the 23 Global Settings
(Path to Log Files) was not getting validated when trying to save the Global Settings. This also prevented the show_new_dashboard_notice setting from being saved in the database as part of the Global Settings when closing the “What’s new” notice.

I don’t think you are experiencing exactly the same issue, but something seems to be interfering with the Global Settings as saved in the database (itsec-storage option in wp_options table).

It could be a caching plugin or anything else.

Anyway I’m running out of options.

dwinden

@dwinden

Thanks for this. It sounds like you’re suggesting the fault lies with a plugin conflict.

The issue (what’s new banner/popup) only seems to appear on the first log-in of the day ie once I’ve closed it (hit the X) it doesn’t normally show up again until the following day.

Therefore, it will takes weeks to test each plugin and will cause the site to be functioning incorrectly (ie without the appropriate plug-in for 24 hours) for that duration – possibly many weeks if it’s the last one!

Not sure if you’ve any other ideas? If not, I’ll just have to lump it or change to a different security plugin.

@TZAL

All I can say is log into the database using phpMyAdmin on the next day and check the value of the show_new_dashboard_notice setting in the itsec-storage option.

The itsec-storage option should exist as well as the show_new_dashboard_notice setting in it and it should have a value of 0.
If so this should prevent the notice from displaying.

Perhaps there is a database process running overnight which clears the itsec-storage option. But that’s just a wild guess …

dwinden