Disable WP REST API vs Disable Search

This plugin prevents WordPress from allowing and handling any search requests from the front-end of the site. Specifically, this plugin: Prevents the search form from appearing if the theme uses the standard get_search_form() function to display the search form. Prevents the search form from appearing if the theme uses a searchform.php template Prevents the search item from appearing in the admin tool bar when shown on the front-end. Disables the search widget. Removes the Search widget from the list of available widgets Deactivates any search widgets currently in use in any sidebars (they are hidden, not deleted; they’ll reappear in their original locations if this plugin gets deactivated) Disables the search block. Removes the Search block from the list of available blocks Deactivates any search blocks currently in use, such as in posts or as a widget (they are disabled, not deleted; they’ll reappear if this plugin gets deactivated and the associated placeholder block doesn’t get deleted) With or without a search form, the plugin prevents any direct or manual requests by visitors, via either GET or POST requests, from actually returning any search results. Submitted attempts at a search will be given a 404 File Not Found response, rendered by your site’s 404.php template, if present. Disables output of SearchAction in SEO schema by the Yoast SEO plugin. The plugin only affects search on the front-end of the site. It does not disable searching in the admin section of the site. Links: Plugin Homepage | Plugin Directory Page | GitHub | Author Homepage

Does one thing: Completely disables the WordPress REST API for visitors who are not logged into WordPress. No configuration required. Important: This plugin completely disables the WP REST API for visitors who are NOT logged in to WordPress. So not recommended if your site needs the WP REST API for any non-logged users. 👉 The fast, simple way to prevent abuse of your site’s REST/JSON API 👉 Protects your site’s REST data from all non-logged users and bots 👉 Uses only 4KB of code, so super lightweight, fast, and effective 🛠️ Pro version available! Check out REST Pro Tools » Features Disable REST/JSON for visitors (not logged in) Disables REST header in HTTP response for all users Disables REST links in HTML head for all users 100% plug-and-play, set-it-and-forget solution How does it work? This plugin completely disables the WP REST API unless the user is logged into WordPress. For logged-in (authenticated) users, WP REST API works normally For logged-out (unauthenticated) users, WP REST API is disabled What happens if logged-out visitor makes a JSON/REST request? They will get only a simple message: rest_login_required: REST API restricted to authenticated users. This message may customized via the filter hook, disable_wp_rest_api_error. Check out this post for an example of how to do it. Pro Version 🛠️ Check out the Pro version, REST Pro Tools, loaded with many awesome features: One-click disable all routes One-click disable all /users routes Disable any specific user routes based on role Whitelist any user IDs Whitelist any IP addresses Customize the REST error message Customize the REST response code Always require or force SSL/TLS Disable all JSONP shenanigans One-click disable any REST API headers Add any post meta (custom field) to REST API Add any user meta (custom field) to REST API Add routes for site profile and author profile Add routes for featured images and post categories Add routes for post taxonomies and terms At-a-glance check status of REST API The free version does only one thing: disables REST API for unauthenticated users. The PRO version can do that and much more! Take full control of the REST API with REST Pro Tools » Privacy This plugin does not collect or store any user data. It does not set any cookies, and it does not connect to any third-party locations. Thus, this plugin does not affect user privacy in any way. If anything it improves user privacy, as it protects potentially sensitive information from being displayed/accessed via REST API. Disable WP REST API is developed and maintained by Jeff Starr, 15-year WordPress developer and book author. Support development of this plugin I develop and maintain this free plugin with love for the WordPress community. To show support, you can make a donation or purchase one of my books: The Tao of WordPress Digging into WordPress .htaccess made easy WordPress Themes In Depth Wizard’s SQL Recipes for WordPress And/or purchase one of my premium WordPress plugins: BBQ Pro – Blazing fast WordPress firewall Blackhole Pro – Automatically block bad bots Banhammer Pro – Monitor traffic and ban the bad guys GA Google Analytics Pro – Connect WordPress to Google Analytics Head Meta Pro – Ultimate Meta Tags for WordPress REST Pro Tools – Awesome tools for managing the WP REST API Simple Ajax Chat Pro – Unlimited chat rooms USP Pro – Unlimited front-end forms Links, tweets and likes also appreciated. Thank you! 🙂