diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index faea331..86eb146 100755
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@
 coverage
 .tags
 /.vagrant
+/vendor/ruby
diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 1217dcc..5799cac 100755
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 source 'https://rubygems.org'
 
 #don't upgrade
-gem 'rails', '3.2.20'
+gem 'rails', '3.2.21'
 
 ruby '2.1.5'
 
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ end
 
 gem 'jquery-rails'
 
+## strong parameters in Rails 3 (see rails gem above)
+gem 'strong_parameters'
+
 # To use ActiveModel has_secure_password
  gem 'bcrypt'
 
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 157a053..d03caba 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 GEM
   remote: https://rubygems.org/
   specs:
-    actionmailer (3.2.20)
-      actionpack (= 3.2.20)
+    actionmailer (3.2.21)
+      actionpack (= 3.2.21)
       mail (~> 2.5.4)
-    actionpack (3.2.20)
-      activemodel (= 3.2.20)
-      activesupport (= 3.2.20)
+    actionpack (3.2.21)
+      activemodel (= 3.2.21)
+      activesupport (= 3.2.21)
       builder (~> 3.0.0)
       erubis (~> 2.7.0)
       journey (~> 1.0.4)
@@ -14,18 +14,18 @@ GEM
       rack-cache (~> 1.2)
       rack-test (~> 0.6.1)
       sprockets (~> 2.2.1)
-    activemodel (3.2.20)
-      activesupport (= 3.2.20)
+    activemodel (3.2.21)
+      activesupport (= 3.2.21)
       builder (~> 3.0.0)
-    activerecord (3.2.20)
-      activemodel (= 3.2.20)
-      activesupport (= 3.2.20)
+    activerecord (3.2.21)
+      activemodel (= 3.2.21)
+      activesupport (= 3.2.21)
       arel (~> 3.0.2)
       tzinfo (~> 0.3.29)
-    activeresource (3.2.20)
-      activemodel (= 3.2.20)
-      activesupport (= 3.2.20)
-    activesupport (3.2.20)
+    activeresource (3.2.21)
+      activemodel (= 3.2.21)
+      activesupport (= 3.2.21)
+    activesupport (3.2.21)
       i18n (~> 0.6, >= 0.6.4)
       multi_json (~> 1.0)
     addressable (2.3.6)
@@ -193,17 +193,17 @@ GEM
       rack
     rack-test (0.6.2)
       rack (>= 1.0)
-    rails (3.2.20)
-      actionmailer (= 3.2.20)
-      actionpack (= 3.2.20)
-      activerecord (= 3.2.20)
-      activeresource (= 3.2.20)
-      activesupport (= 3.2.20)
+    rails (3.2.21)
+      actionmailer (= 3.2.21)
+      actionpack (= 3.2.21)
+      activerecord (= 3.2.21)
+      activeresource (= 3.2.21)
+      activesupport (= 3.2.21)
       bundler (~> 1.0)
-      railties (= 3.2.20)
-    railties (3.2.20)
-      actionpack (= 3.2.20)
-      activesupport (= 3.2.20)
+      railties (= 3.2.21)
+    railties (3.2.21)
+      actionpack (= 3.2.21)
+      activesupport (= 3.2.21)
       rack-ssl (~> 1.3.2)
       rake (>= 0.8.7)
       rdoc (~> 3.4)
@@ -265,6 +265,11 @@ GEM
       rack (~> 1.0)
       tilt (~> 1.1, != 1.3.0)
     sqlite3 (1.3.10)
+    strong_parameters (0.2.3)
+      actionpack (~> 3.0)
+      activemodel (~> 3.0)
+      activesupport (~> 3.0)
+      railties (~> 3.0)
     temple (0.6.10)
     terminal-table (1.4.5)
     therubyracer (0.12.1)
@@ -282,140 +287,6 @@ GEM
       json
     treetop (1.4.15)
       polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
-      polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
       polyglot (>= 0.3.1)
     trollop (2.0)
     tzinfo (0.3.42)
@@ -459,12 +330,13 @@ DEPENDENCIES
   powder
   pry
   rack-livereload
-  rails (= 3.2.20)
+  rails (= 3.2.21)
   rb-fsevent
   rspec-rails (= 2.14.2)
   sass-rails
   simplecov
   sqlite3
+  strong_parameters
   therubyracer
   travis-lint
   uglifier
diff --git a/app/controllers/messages_controller.rb b/app/controllers/messages_controller.rb
index 83b992c..e657297 100644
--- a/app/controllers/messages_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/messages_controller.rb
@@ -33,4 +33,10 @@ class MessagesController < ApplicationController
       end
     end
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+
+  private
+
+  def message_params
+    params.require(:message).permit(:creator_id, :message, :read, :receiver_id)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/controllers/schedule_controller.rb b/app/controllers/schedule_controller.rb
index 65caa2e..d940a9d 100644
--- a/app/controllers/schedule_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/schedule_controller.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ class ScheduleController < ApplicationController
     message = false
 
       if params[:schedule][:event_type] == "pto"
-        sched = Schedule.new(params[:schedule])
+        sched = Schedule.new(schedule_params)
         sched.date_begin, sched.date_end = format_schedule_date(params[:date_range1])
         sched.user_id = current_user.user_id
         a = sched.date_end
@@ -56,4 +56,10 @@ class ScheduleController < ApplicationController
    end
      return vals
   end
+
+  private
+
+  def schedule_params
+    params.require(:schedule).permit(:date_begin, :date_end, :event_desc, :event_name, :event_type)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index 1fb5d4a..8db2dc0 100755
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def create
-    user = User.new(params[:user])
+    user = User.new(user_params)
     user.build_benefits_data
     if user.save
       session[:user_id] = user.user_id
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
     if user
       user.skip_user_id_assign = true
       user.skip_hash_password = true
-      user.update_attributes(params[:user].reject { |k| %w(password password_confirmation user_id).include? k })
+      user.update_attributes(user_params_without_password)
       if !(params[:user][:password].empty?) && (params[:user][:password] == params[:user][:password_confirmation])
         user.skip_hash_password = false
         user.password = params[:user][:password]
@@ -50,4 +50,15 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
       redirect_to user_account_settings_path(:user_id => current_user.user_id)
     end
   end
+
+  private
+
+  def user_params
+    params.require(:user).permit(:email, :admin, :first_name, :last_name, :user_id, :password, :password_confirmation)
+  end
+
+  # unpermitted attributes are ignored in production
+  def user_params_without_password
+    params.require(:user).permit(:email, :admin, :first_name, :last_name)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/analytics.rb b/app/models/analytics.rb
index 2d9fbe5..d84e777 100644
--- a/app/models/analytics.rb
+++ b/app/models/analytics.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 class Analytics < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :ip_address, :referrer, :user_agent
-
   scope :hits_by_ip, ->(ip,col="*") { select("#{col}").where(:ip_address => ip).order("id DESC")}
 
   def self.count_by_col(col)
diff --git a/app/models/benefits.rb b/app/models/benefits.rb
index 144a2f4..4deae64 100644
--- a/app/models/benefits.rb
+++ b/app/models/benefits.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 class Benefits < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessor :backup
 
   def self.save(file, backup=false)
     data_path = Rails.root.join("public", "data")
diff --git a/app/models/key_management.rb b/app/models/key_management.rb
index 70adbd1..7188efa 100644
--- a/app/models/key_management.rb
+++ b/app/models/key_management.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 class KeyManagement < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :iv, :user_id
   belongs_to :work_info
   belongs_to :user
 end
diff --git a/app/models/message.rb b/app/models/message.rb
index 12aaaba..7de4c26 100644
--- a/app/models/message.rb
+++ b/app/models/message.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 class Message < ActiveRecord::Base
   belongs_to :user
-  attr_accessible :creator_id, :message, :read, :receiver_id
   validates_presence_of :creator_id, :receiver_id, :message
 
   def creator_name
diff --git a/app/models/paid_time_off.rb b/app/models/paid_time_off.rb
index 409d355..c398f77 100644
--- a/app/models/paid_time_off.rb
+++ b/app/models/paid_time_off.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 class PaidTimeOff < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :pto_earned, :pto_taken, :sick_days_earned, :sick_days_taken
   belongs_to :user
   has_many :schedule, :foreign_key => :user_id, :primary_key => :user_id, :dependent => :destroy
 
diff --git a/app/models/pay.rb b/app/models/pay.rb
index 2218d11..7a35563 100644
--- a/app/models/pay.rb
+++ b/app/models/pay.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 class Pay < ActiveRecord::Base
-  # mass-assignable attributes
-  attr_accessible :bank_account_num, :bank_routing_num, :percent_of_deposit
-
   # Associations
   belongs_to :user
 
diff --git a/app/models/performance.rb b/app/models/performance.rb
index 73f25c1..5dfad88 100644
--- a/app/models/performance.rb
+++ b/app/models/performance.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 class Performance < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :comments, :date_submitted, :reviewer, :score
   belongs_to :user
 
   def reviewer_name
diff --git a/app/models/retirement.rb b/app/models/retirement.rb
index 47048a0..c3c981c 100644
--- a/app/models/retirement.rb
+++ b/app/models/retirement.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 class Retirement < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :employee_contrib, :employer_contrib, :total
   belongs_to :user
 end
diff --git a/app/models/schedule.rb b/app/models/schedule.rb
index fc66df7..6692c27 100644
--- a/app/models/schedule.rb
+++ b/app/models/schedule.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 class Schedule < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :date_begin, :date_end, :event_desc, :event_name, :event_type
   belongs_to :paid_time_off
 
   validates_presence_of :date_begin, :date_end, :event_desc, :event_name, :event_type
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 9c5cc7f..263b56d 100755
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 require 'encryption'
 
 class User < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :email, :admin, :first_name, :last_name, :user_id, :password, :password_confirmation
   validates :password, :presence => true,
                        :confirmation => true,
                        :length => {:within => 6..40},
diff --git a/app/models/work_info.rb b/app/models/work_info.rb
index 2816dfa..9484803 100644
--- a/app/models/work_info.rb
+++ b/app/models/work_info.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 class WorkInfo < ActiveRecord::Base
-  attr_accessible :DoB, :SSN, :bonuses, :income, :years_worked
   belongs_to :user
   has_one :key_management, :foreign_key => :user_id, :primary_key => :user_id, :dependent => :destroy
   #before_save :encrypt_ssn
diff --git a/config/initializers/strong_parameters.rb b/config/initializers/strong_parameters.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..394c1f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/initializers/strong_parameters.rb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ActiveRecord::Base.send(:include, ActiveModel::ForbiddenAttributesProtection)
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 705f2a3..a51d0db 100755
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended to check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20140804171756) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20140408185601) do
 
   create_table "analytics", :force => true do |t|
     t.string   "ip_address"