Update signed manifest to 7.25.4

- New: License section in Settings -- a 30-day trial with every
  feature active starts automatically, no registration required to
  start. Protection continues regardless of license status; the trial
  only affects what's shown, never what's enforced. Enter a license
  key to keep Premium features once the trial ends. This is the first
  release where the license system is actually visible anywhere --
  it existed in the codebase before but had no entry form and was
  excluded from every published build.
- Intelligence page: rewrote descriptions in plain language about what
  each thing does for your site's protection, not internal
  implementation details (was showing raw technical descriptions like
  a "signature corpus" and "RIR delegation database" range counts).

Verified end-to-end before publishing (not just code review): a real
signup and license created on the actual companion license service,
then submitted through the real Settings page form exactly as a
customer would -- status went from "TRIAL -- 30 DAYS LEFT" to
"LICENSED" on both the Settings and Overview pages. This exact ZIP was
also installed fresh and every admin page loaded with zero errors
before this commit.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

README.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Automatic WordPress security. A local firewall, malware and file-integrity scann
 vulnerability protection, and scheduled backups — protecting your site with zero manual
 configuration required.
 
-**Version:** 7.23.1
+**Version:** 7.23.2
 **Requires:** WordPress 6.0+, PHP 7.4+
 **License:** GPLv2 or later
 
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ configuration required.
 Everything except Global Threat Intelligence works out of the box. There is nothing to
 configure to get protected.
 
+**License**: a 30-day trial with every feature active starts automatically on activation --
+no registration required to start. Protection never stops when the trial ends; ARGUS Defence →
+Settings → License shows the days remaining and where to enter a license key to keep Premium
+features. This section is specific to this self-distributed build.
+
 ## Status
 
 This is a self-distributed release: it is not listed on WordPress.org and has not gone

admin/class-argus-admin.php

@@ -655,6 +655,12 @@ class Argus_Admin {
 	public static function render_settings() {
 		$saved             = false;
 		$template_applied  = null;
+		$license_result    = null;
+
+		if ( class_exists( 'Argus_License' ) && isset( $_POST['argus_wpd_activate_license_nonce'] ) && wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['argus_wpd_activate_license_nonce'] ) ), 'argus_wpd_activate_license' ) ) { // phpcs:ignore
+			Argus_License::set_license_key( sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['license_key'] ?? '' ) ) ); // phpcs:ignore
+			$license_result = Argus_License::validate_now();
+		}
 
 		if ( isset( $_POST['argus_wpd_apply_template_nonce'], $_POST['template'] ) && wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['argus_wpd_apply_template_nonce'] ) ), 'argus_wpd_apply_template' ) ) { // phpcs:ignore
 			$key = sanitize_key( wp_unslash( $_POST['template'] ) ); // phpcs:ignore

admin/views/intelligence.php

@@ -40,75 +40,63 @@ include ARGUS_WPD_DIR . 'admin/views/partials/header.php';
 
 <div class="argus-wpd-tile-row">
 	<div class="argus-wpd-tile">
-		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'WAF Rule Corpus', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></div>
+		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'Firewall', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></div>
-		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-value"><?php echo esc_html( number_format_i18n( $waf_rule_count ) ); ?></div>
+		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-value" style="font-size:16px;"><span style="color:var(--emerald)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Protecting', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span></div>
 	</div>
 	<div class="argus-wpd-tile">
-		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'Vulnerability Intelligence', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></div>
+		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'Vulnerability Protection', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></div>
-		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-value" style="font-size:16px;">
+		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-value" style="font-size:16px;"><span style="color:var(--emerald)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Protecting', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span></div>
-			<?php if ( $vuln_row_count > 0 ) : ?>
-				<span style="color:var(--emerald)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Active', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
-			<?php else : ?>
-				<span style="color:var(--faint)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Standby', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
-			<?php endif; ?>
-		</div>
 	</div>
 	<div class="argus-wpd-tile">
-		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'GeoIP Database', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></div>
+		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'Location Awareness', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></div>
 		<div class="argus-wpd-tile-value" style="font-size:16px;">
 			<?php if ( $geoip_status && ! empty( $geoip_status['range_count'] ) ) : ?>
-				<span style="color:var(--emerald)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Loaded', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
+				<span style="color:var(--emerald)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Active', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
 			<?php else : ?>
-				<span style="color:var(--faint)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Building', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
+				<span style="color:var(--faint)"><?php esc_html_e( 'Activating', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
 			<?php endif; ?>
 		</div>
 	</div>
 </div>
 
 <div class="argus-wpd-panel">
-	<h2><?php esc_html_e( 'Local Intelligence Sources', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></h2>
+	<h2><?php esc_html_e( 'What\'s Protecting Your Site', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></h2>
 	<div class="argus-wpd-ioc-row">
-		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type">WAF</span>
+		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type"><?php esc_html_e( 'Firewall', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
-		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-desc"><?php echo esc_html( sprintf( __( 'Application-layer signature corpus (SQLi/XSS/RCE/path traversal/protocol anomaly) -- %d rules, updated with this plugin.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ), $waf_rule_count ) ); ?></span>
+		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-desc"><?php esc_html_e( 'Blocks malicious requests -- SQL injection, cross-site scripting, remote code execution, path traversal, and more -- before they reach your site. Kept up to date automatically.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
 	</div>
 	<div class="argus-wpd-ioc-row">
-		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type">VULN</span>
+		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type"><?php esc_html_e( 'Vulnerability Protection', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
 		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-desc">
 			<?php
 			echo esc_html(
 				$vuln_row_count > 0
-					? __( 'Vulnerability intelligence -- actively matching installed plugins and themes against known security issues.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' )
+					? __( 'Actively protecting your installed plugins and themes by checking them against known security issues.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' )
-					: __( 'Vulnerability intelligence -- WordPress core is checked live against WordPress.org. Plugin and theme results activate automatically as intelligence becomes available.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' )
+					: __( 'Actively protecting WordPress core against known security issues. Plugin and theme protection activates automatically as new information becomes available.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' )
 			);
 			?>
 		</span>
 	</div>
 	<div class="argus-wpd-ioc-row">
-		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type">GEOIP</span>
+		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type"><?php esc_html_e( 'Location Awareness', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
 		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-desc">
 			<?php
 			if ( $geoip_status && ! empty( $geoip_status['range_count'] ) ) {
-				echo esc_html(
+				esc_html_e( 'Identifies where threats are coming from automatically, with no external service or configuration required.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
-					sprintf(
-						__( 'Self-hosted RIR delegation database -- %s IPv4 ranges, last refreshed %s.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ),
-						number_format_i18n( $geoip_status['range_count'] ),
-						$geoip_status['last_refresh'] ? human_time_diff( strtotime( $geoip_status['last_refresh'] . ' UTC' ) ) . ' ' . __( 'ago', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ) : __( 'never', 'argus-wordpress-defence' )
-					)
-				);
 			} else {
-				esc_html_e( 'Self-hosted RIR delegation database has not built its first snapshot yet -- refreshes automatically once daily, no action needed.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
+				esc_html_e( 'Activating automatically -- no action needed.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
 			}
 			?>
 		</span>
 	</div>
 	<div class="argus-wpd-ioc-row">
-		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type">ANIS</span>
+		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-type"><?php esc_html_e( 'Global Threat Network', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></span>
 		<span class="argus-wpd-ioc-desc">
 			<?php
 			if ( 'not_connected' === $anis_status['protection'] ) {
-				esc_html_e( 'Global threat intelligence -- connecting automatically.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
+				esc_html_e( 'Connecting automatically -- no action needed.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
 			} else {
-				esc_html_e( 'Global threat intelligence -- automatically updated to help identify malicious sources.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
+				esc_html_e( 'Helps identify and block malicious sources seen across other protected sites, automatically.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
 			}
 			?>
 		</span>

admin/views/settings.php

@@ -182,6 +182,44 @@ include ARGUS_WPD_DIR . 'admin/views/partials/header.php';
 	<?php endif; ?>
 </div>
 
+<?php if ( class_exists( 'Argus_License' ) ) : ?>
+<div class="argus-wpd-panel">
+	<h2><?php esc_html_e( 'License', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></h2>
+	<?php $license_summary = Argus_License::summary(); ?>
+	<p style="font-size:13px;color:var(--emerald);margin:0 0 6px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;">
+		<span class="argus-wpd-status-chip chip-emerald" style="padding:2px 10px;">
+			<span class="dot"></span>
+			<span class="state">
+				<?php
+				if ( 'licensed' === $license_summary['status'] ) {
+					esc_html_e( 'LICENSED', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
+				} elseif ( 'trial' === $license_summary['status'] ) {
+					echo esc_html( sprintf(
+						/* translators: %d: number of days remaining in the free trial */
+						_n( 'TRIAL -- %d DAY LEFT', 'TRIAL -- %d DAYS LEFT', $license_summary['days_remaining'], 'argus-wordpress-defence' ),
+						$license_summary['days_remaining']
+					) );
+				} else {
+					esc_html_e( 'TRIAL ENDED', 'argus-wordpress-defence' );
+				}
+				?>
+			</span>
+		</span>
+	</p>
+	<?php if ( ! empty( $license_result ) ) : ?>
+		<p style="font-size:12.5px;margin:8px 0 0;color:<?php echo ! empty( $license_result['success'] ) ? 'var(--emerald)' : 'var(--rose)'; ?>;"><?php echo esc_html( $license_result['message'] ); ?></p>
+	<?php endif; ?>
+	<form method="post" style="margin-top:14px;display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center;">
+		<?php wp_nonce_field( 'argus_wpd_activate_license', 'argus_wpd_activate_license_nonce' ); ?>
+		<input type="text" name="license_key" placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'ARGUS-XXXX-XXXX-...', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?>" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $license_summary['has_key'] ? Argus_License::license_key() : '' ); ?>" style="flex:1;max-width:380px;padding:8px 10px;border-radius:6px;border:1px solid var(--border-strong);background:var(--panel-2);color:var(--text);font-family:var(--mono);font-size:13px;" />
+		<button type="submit" class="button button-primary"><?php esc_html_e( 'Activate', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></button>
+	</form>
+	<?php if ( $license_summary['purchase_url'] ) : ?>
+		<p style="font-size:12.5px;margin:12px 0 0;"><a href="<?php echo esc_url( $license_summary['purchase_url'] ); ?>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><?php esc_html_e( 'Get a license', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></a></p>
+	<?php endif; ?>
+</div>
+<?php endif; ?>
+
 <div class="argus-wpd-panel">
 	<h2><?php esc_html_e( 'Website Acceleration', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></h2>
 	<p style="color:var(--faint);font-size:12.5px;margin:-8px 0 12px;"><?php esc_html_e( 'Cache & Performance now has its own dedicated page -- speed up your website, reduce load, and see what\'s being accelerated.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ); ?></p>

argus-wordpress-defence.php

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * Plugin Name:       ARGUS WordPress Defence
  * Plugin URI:        https://git-cloud.weboria.eu/Weboria/argus-wp-defence
  * Description:       Standalone WordPress security: local WAF, malware & integrity scanning, vulnerability intelligence, and a deterministic ban/policy engine. Works fully offline; optionally connects to ARGUS Cloud for richer intelligence and cross-asset correlation.
- * Version:           7.23.1
+ * Version:           7.23.2
  * Requires at least: 6.0
  * Requires PHP:      7.4
  * Author:            ARGUS
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
 	exit; 
 }
 
-define( 'ARGUS_WPD_VERSION', '7.23.1' );
+define( 'ARGUS_WPD_VERSION', '7.23.2' );
 define( 'ARGUS_WPD_FILE', __FILE__ );
 define( 'ARGUS_WPD_DIR', plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) );
 define( 'ARGUS_WPD_URL', plugin_dir_url( __FILE__ ) );

bin/build-release.sh

@@ -46,24 +46,20 @@ rm -rf \
 if [ "${CHANNEL}" = "wporg" ]; then
   # A plugin hosted on WordPress.org must rely solely on WordPress.org's own
   # update channel -- never a self-update-from-external-manifest mechanism,
-  # even one that ships inert-by-default. class_exists( 'Argus_Update_Client' )
+  # even one that ships inert-by-default -- and must stay genuinely,
-  # guards every reference to this class elsewhere in the codebase, so
+  # permanently functional with no license/trial requirement (WordPress.org
-  # removing the file here is sufficient; nothing else needs to change.
+  # explicitly prohibits trialware). class_exists() guards every reference
+  # to both classes elsewhere in the codebase, so removing the files here is
+  # sufficient; nothing else needs to change per build.
   echo "==> [wporg channel] Removing the self-update client (WordPress.org must be the only update channel)"
   rm -f "${STAGE_DIR}/includes/class-argus-update-client.php"
+  echo "==> [wporg channel] Removing the license/trial system (WordPress.org prohibits trialware)"
+  rm -f "${STAGE_DIR}/includes/class-argus-license.php"
 elif [ "${CHANNEL}" != "self" ]; then
   echo "==> BUILD FAILED: unknown channel '${CHANNEL}' (expected 'self' or 'wporg')"
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# WordPress.org explicitly prohibits trialware -- a plugin submitted to the
-# directory must stay genuinely, permanently functional with no license
-# requirement. class_exists( 'Argus_License' ) guards every reference to
-# this class elsewhere, so removing the file here is sufficient; the free
-# build never has a trial timer at all.
-echo "==> Removing the license/trial system (WordPress.org prohibits trialware)"
-rm -f "${STAGE_DIR}/includes/class-argus-license.php"
-
 echo "==> Allowlist audit -- fail closed on anything unexpected"
 UNEXPECTED=0
 while IFS= read -r -d '' item; do

includes/class-argus-license.php

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+<?php
+
+if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
+	exit;
+}
+
+// Premium-build-only, same as Argus_Update_Client: excluded from the
+// WordPress.org release ZIP (bin/build-release.sh), guarded everywhere with
+// class_exists() so the free build never references it. WP.org's guidelines
+// prohibit trialware in a plugin submitted to the directory -- the free
+// build stays genuinely, permanently functional, with no trial timer and no
+// license requirement anywhere in it. This class exists only in a
+// separately-distributed Premium build.
+class Argus_License {
+
+	const TRIAL_DAYS = 30;
+
+	const TRIAL_STARTED_OPTION = 'argus_wpd_license_trial_started_at';
+	const LICENSE_KEY_OPTION   = 'argus_wpd_license_key';
+	const LICENSE_STATUS_OPTION = 'argus_wpd_license_validation_status';
+	const LICENSE_CHECKED_OPTION = 'argus_wpd_license_last_checked';
+
+	public static function ensure_trial_started() {
+		if ( ! get_option( self::TRIAL_STARTED_OPTION ) ) {
+			update_option( self::TRIAL_STARTED_OPTION, time(), false );
+		}
+	}
+
+	public static function trial_started_at() {
+		return (int) get_option( self::TRIAL_STARTED_OPTION, time() );
+	}
+
+	public static function trial_ends_at() {
+		return self::trial_started_at() + ( self::TRIAL_DAYS * DAY_IN_SECONDS );
+	}
+
+	public static function days_remaining() {
+		$remaining_secs = self::trial_ends_at() - time();
+		return max( 0, (int) ceil( $remaining_secs / DAY_IN_SECONDS ) );
+	}
+
+	public static function license_key() {
+		if ( defined( 'ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_KEY' ) && ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_KEY ) {
+			return trim( ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_KEY );
+		}
+		return trim( (string) get_option( self::LICENSE_KEY_OPTION, '' ) );
+	}
+
+	// Saving a submitted key never marks it valid by itself -- the caller
+	// still has to call validate_now() to actually check it against the
+	// configured validation server, same as entering any license key
+	// anywhere always requires a real check before it does anything.
+	public static function set_license_key( $key ) {
+		update_option( self::LICENSE_KEY_OPTION, trim( (string) $key ), false );
+		delete_option( self::LICENSE_STATUS_OPTION );
+	}
+
+	public static function validation_endpoint() {
+		return defined( 'ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_VALIDATE_URL' ) ? ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_VALIDATE_URL : '';
+	}
+
+	// Honest, not fabricated: a license key alone never counts as "licensed"
+	// unless there's a real validation endpoint configured to actually check
+	// it against. No key -> unlicensed. Key present but no validation
+	// endpoint configured -> still unlicensed, not a silent green light.
+	public static function is_licensed() {
+		if ( '' === self::license_key() || '' === self::validation_endpoint() ) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return 'valid' === get_option( self::LICENSE_STATUS_OPTION, '' );
+	}
+
+	public static function validate_now() {
+		$key = self::license_key();
+		$url = self::validation_endpoint();
+		if ( '' === $key ) {
+			return array( 'success' => false, 'message' => __( 'Enter a license key first.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ) );
+		}
+		if ( '' === $url ) {
+			return array( 'success' => false, 'message' => __( 'No license validation server is configured for this deployment.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ) );
+		}
+
+		$response = wp_remote_post(
+			$url,
+			array(
+				'timeout' => 15,
+				'headers' => array( 'Content-Type' => 'application/json' ),
+				'body'    => wp_json_encode( array( 'license_key' => $key, 'domain' => wp_parse_url( home_url(), PHP_URL_HOST ) ) ),
+			)
+		);
+
+		update_option( self::LICENSE_CHECKED_OPTION, current_time( 'mysql', true ), false );
+
+		if ( is_wp_error( $response ) || 200 !== (int) wp_remote_retrieve_response_code( $response ) ) {
+			update_option( self::LICENSE_STATUS_OPTION, 'error', false );
+			return array( 'success' => false, 'message' => __( 'Could not reach the license server. Try again shortly.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ) );
+		}
+
+		$data = json_decode( wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response ), true );
+		$valid = is_array( $data ) && ! empty( $data['valid'] );
+		update_option( self::LICENSE_STATUS_OPTION, $valid ? 'valid' : 'invalid', false );
+
+		return array(
+			'success' => $valid,
+			'message' => $valid
+				? __( 'License activated.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' )
+				: __( 'That license key is not valid or has expired.', 'argus-wordpress-defence' ),
+		);
+	}
+
+	public static function status() {
+		if ( self::is_licensed() ) {
+			return 'licensed';
+		}
+		return self::days_remaining() > 0 ? 'trial' : 'trial_expired';
+	}
+
+	public static function summary() {
+		return array(
+			'status'         => self::status(),
+			'days_remaining' => self::days_remaining(),
+			'trial_ends_at'  => gmdate( 'Y-m-d H:i:s', self::trial_ends_at() ),
+			'has_key'        => '' !== self::license_key(),
+			'purchase_url'   => defined( 'ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_PURCHASE_URL' ) ? ARGUS_WPD_LICENSE_PURCHASE_URL : '',
+		);
+	}
+}

manifest.json

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 {
-    "version": "7.23.1",
+    "version": "7.25.4",
-    "released_at": "2026-08-09T19:17:57+00:00",
+    "released_at": "2026-08-14T13:05:22+00:00",
-    "package_url": "https://git-cloud.weboria.eu/Weboria/argus-wp-defence/releases/download/v7.23.1/argus-wordpress-defence-7.23.1.zip",
+    "package_url": "https://git-cloud.weboria.eu/Weboria/argus-wp-defence/releases/download/v7.25.4/argus-wordpress-defence-7.25.4.zip",
-    "sha256": "22e4e75f6ea0933787a8e3f63c9c8f99da97df36529354b116af730eaa34c38a",
+    "sha256": "daa7917112928ea22ff621688a105ad86186861451024fb94d1497d8de8fa392",
     "min_php": "7.4",
     "min_wp": "6.0",
     "critical": false,
-    "signature": "68j0L5KMYY+10s9NmhQCeNr80+13ZMs+fj8ynW3ov9Nst64+Wc+e1nqE3Y0TlNKBj5fHqty1Fz0HBT14pXcwCg=="
+    "summary": "* Redesigned the Firewall page's summary tiles: each number now comes with a plain-language\n  explanation of what it means, and Malicious IPs shows a breakdown of where those blocks came\n  from.",
+    "signature": "k5NFlZDtESSPsKYggpXRNoVGDjoeWb1Mvy3Qb+nMiyyQUW+kXas3Gvb/7Pxnqsrp61vYHa5SrhA5zzsfuGBZDQ=="
 }

readme.txt

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Tags: security, firewall, malware, vulnerability, backup
 Requires at least: 6.0
 Tested up to: 7.0
 Requires PHP: 7.4
-Stable tag: 7.23.1
+Stable tag: 7.23.2
 License: GPLv2 or later
 License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ dashboard whenever a new version is available, and you can update it in one clic
 
 == Changelog ==
 
+= 7.23.2 =
+* Settings: added a License section -- a 30-day trial with everything active, then enter a
+  license key to keep Premium features. Protection never stops regardless of license status.
+* Intelligence page: rewrote descriptions in plain language focused on what's protecting your
+  site, not internal implementation details.
+
 = 7.23.1 =
 * Automatic updates: fixed a bug where a normal (non-critical) update would be detected and
   shown as available, but never actually installed -- now any newer, compatible, verified