WordPress NYC Meetup Group

The WordPress Meetup NYC is proud to present a group of folks from the University of Michigan who are going to be giving WordPress related talks. A delicious and free lunch of pizza and salad will be served.
We are thrilled to see that the WordPress community is strong in the currently-working group as well as with the younger college students. It would be great of you to come show your community members support!

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Speakers:

Talk 1:
Website Hacks and Heists – Be a Detective and Find Out Whodunnit!

This engaging and interactive session will take attendees through real-world security incidents, helping them think like digital detectives to uncover website vulnerabilities. Using real case studies (with details anonymized), we will explore common security pitfalls in WordPress and discuss best practices for securing websites against attacks.

We will also provide a visual explanation for security issues

Takeaways for Attendees:
- Learn to recognize and prevent common security vulnerabilities
- Understand the importance of routine security practices (e.g., updates, backups, and access controls)
- Gain a detective’s mindset for identifying and mitigating risks before they cause harmThis session is ideal for developers, site administrators, and anyone responsible for securing a WordPress website. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable insights to enhance their site’s security and avoid becoming the next cautionary tale.

Talk 2:
Dark UX on the Web: How Websites Trick Users (and How to Do Better)

Ever clicked on a button thinking you were skipping something, only to realize you just signed up for an email list? Or tried to cancel a subscription but got lost in a maze of confusing options? That’s Dark UX at work—sneaky design tactics that manipulate users into taking actions they might not want to.
While this isn’t specific to WordPress, any website—on any platform—can be designed with (or without) these tactics. Whether you build sites for clients, manage an online store, or create content, understanding Dark UX will help you recognize these bad practices and ensure your own sites are built for good.
In this session, we’ll explore some of the most common Dark UX patterns found on websites, from misleading buttons to tricky checkouts. We’ll also discuss why these tactics hurt trust (and sometimes even SEO) and how web designers, developers, and site owners can build ethical, user-friendly experiences instead.

Key takeaways:
- What Dark UX is and why it exists
- Real-world examples of deceptive design patterns
- How to spot and avoid these practices in WordPress sites (and beyond)
- Ways to create better, more transparent user experiences
- If you build, design, or manage websites, this session will help you recognize shady UX practices—and make sure your site doesn’t fall into the same trap.

Attendees:
- Michael Hess
- Anna Vento
- Maryam Namakforoosh
- Lindsey Forche
- Sheza Munir
- Spandan Sharma