{"id":78278,"date":"2012-05-21T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T16:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpmu.org\/?p=78278"},"modified":"2012-05-19T00:48:08","modified_gmt":"2012-05-19T04:48:08","slug":"how-to-restrict-usernames-and-disable-nicknames-in-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/how-to-restrict-usernames-and-disable-nicknames-in-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Restrict Usernames and Disable Nicknames in WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Post<\/a>
\nIf you allow users to register for your site, then you may eventually get a few troublemakers that want to stir things up by using offensive usernames or wreak havoc by pretending to be part of site\u2019s staff (going by the username Admin or Help or Support, etc.).<\/p>\n

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Restrict Usernames<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The first step you can take to stop this type of thing is to download and activate a plugin called Restrict Usernames<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This plugin will allow you to restrict certain names from being registered (such as \u201cadmin\u201d) or even names that contain a restricted username (such as \u201cjoeadmin\u201d or \u201cHead Admin\u201d etc.). Of course you can also prohibit obscene words. (I’d give you some examples of those too, but I’m afraid I don’t know any.)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example. I restricted the username \u201cadmin\u201d so that it couldn\u2019t be used as even part of username. And this is what someone trying to register a name with \u201cadmin\u201d in it sees.<\/p>\n

\"Post<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of some ideas from the plugin\u2019s author for what you might want to prevent or require in a username:<\/p>\n