OK after looking through the plugin directory, I see there are quite a number of authentication plugins. So perhaps my question should be: can I get some recommendations of specific ones. What I want is for no one to be able to view the blog until they register. And I want the registration to require an email. If the user name is not the email address, I want it to require email validation. And I would like it to be free or cheap and not too difficult to install and configure. I am a web designer and am an intermediate JS programmer, but have next to no experience in PHP, SQL, PEARL, etc. High levels of security are not necessary, but it would be nice to have protection from bots and protection from outside spammers stealing accounts or email addresses.
