diff --git a/include/api.php b/include/api.php
index a5e806384..e0dc413c2 100644
--- a/include/api.php
+++ b/include/api.php
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use Friendica\Core\Config;
 use Friendica\Core\NotificationsManager;
 use Friendica\Core\Worker;
 use Friendica\Database\DBM;
+use Friendica\Model\User;
 use Friendica\Network\HTTPException;
 use Friendica\Network\HTTPException\BadRequestException;
 use Friendica\Network\HTTPException\ForbiddenException;
@@ -190,7 +191,6 @@ function api_login(App $a)
 
 	$user = $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'];
 	$password = $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_PW'];
-	$encrypted = hash('whirlpool', trim($password));
 
 	// allow "user@server" login (but ignore 'server' part)
 	$at = strstr($user, "@", true);
@@ -218,16 +218,9 @@ function api_login(App $a)
 	if (($addon_auth['authenticated']) && (count($addon_auth['user_record']))) {
 		$record = $addon_auth['user_record'];
 	} else {
-		// process normal login request
-		$r = q(
-			"SELECT * FROM `user` WHERE (`email` = '%s' OR `nickname` = '%s')
-			AND `password` = '%s' AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `account_expired` AND NOT `account_removed` AND `verified` LIMIT 1",
-			dbesc(trim($user)),
-			dbesc(trim($user)),
-			dbesc($encrypted)
-		);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$record = $r[0];
+		$user_id = User::authenticate(trim($user), trim($password));
+		if ($user_id) {
+			$record = dba::select('user', [], ['uid' => $user_id], ['limit' => 1]);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/include/auth.php b/include/auth.php
index f852ea28a..a02c18d1d 100644
--- a/include/auth.php
+++ b/include/auth.php
@@ -4,22 +4,31 @@ use Friendica\App;
 use Friendica\Core\System;
 use Friendica\Core\Config;
 use Friendica\Database\DBM;
+use Friendica\Model\User;
 
-require_once('include/security.php');
-require_once('include/datetime.php');
+require_once 'include/security.php';
+require_once 'include/datetime.php';
 
 // When the "Friendica" cookie is set, take the value to authenticate and renew the cookie.
 if (isset($_COOKIE["Friendica"])) {
 	$data = json_decode($_COOKIE["Friendica"]);
 	if (isset($data->uid)) {
-		$r = q("SELECT `user`.*, `user`.`pubkey` as `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` as `uprvkey`
-		FROM `user` WHERE `uid` = %d AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `account_expired` AND NOT `account_removed` AND `verified` LIMIT 1",
-			intval($data->uid)
+
+		$user = dba::select('user',
+			[],
+			[
+				'uid'             => $data->uid,
+				'blocked'         => false,
+				'account_expired' => false,
+				'account_removed' => false,
+				'verified'        => true,
+			],
+			['limit' => 1]
 		);
 
-		if ($r) {
-			if ($data->hash != cookie_hash($r[0])) {
-				logger("Hash for user ".$data->uid." doesn't fit.");
+		if (DBM::is_result($user)) {
+			if ($data->hash != cookie_hash($user)) {
+				logger("Hash for user " . $data->uid . " doesn't fit.");
 				nuke_session();
 				goaway(System::baseUrl());
 			}
@@ -28,14 +37,15 @@ if (isset($_COOKIE["Friendica"])) {
 			// Expires after 7 days by default,
 			// can be set via system.auth_cookie_lifetime
 			$authcookiedays = Config::get('system', 'auth_cookie_lifetime', 7);
-			new_cookie($authcookiedays*24*60*60, $r[0]);
+			new_cookie($authcookiedays * 24 * 60 * 60, $user);
 
 			// Do the authentification if not done by now
 			if (!isset($_SESSION) || !isset($_SESSION['authenticated'])) {
-				authenticate_success($r[0]);
+				authenticate_success($user);
 
-				if (Config::get('system','paranoia'))
+				if (Config::get('system', 'paranoia')) {
 					$_SESSION['addr'] = $data->ip;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -44,18 +54,16 @@ if (isset($_COOKIE["Friendica"])) {
 
 // login/logout
 
-if (isset($_SESSION) && x($_SESSION,'authenticated') && (!x($_POST,'auth-params') || ($_POST['auth-params'] !== 'login'))) {
-
-	if ((x($_POST,'auth-params') && ($_POST['auth-params'] === 'logout')) || ($a->module === 'logout')) {
-
+if (isset($_SESSION) && x($_SESSION, 'authenticated') && (!x($_POST, 'auth-params') || ($_POST['auth-params'] !== 'login'))) {
+	if ((x($_POST, 'auth-params') && ($_POST['auth-params'] === 'logout')) || ($a->module === 'logout')) {
 		// process logout request
 		call_hooks("logging_out");
 		nuke_session();
-		info(t('Logged out.').EOL);
+		info(t('Logged out.') . EOL);
 		goaway(System::baseUrl());
 	}
 
-	if (x($_SESSION,'visitor_id') && !x($_SESSION,'uid')) {
+	if (x($_SESSION, 'visitor_id') && !x($_SESSION, 'uid')) {
 		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `contact` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
 			intval($_SESSION['visitor_id'])
 		);
@@ -64,25 +72,29 @@ if (isset($_SESSION) && x($_SESSION,'authenticated') && (!x($_POST,'auth-params'
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (x($_SESSION,'uid')) {
-
+	if (x($_SESSION, 'uid')) {
 		// already logged in user returning
-
-		$check = Config::get('system','paranoia');
+		$check = Config::get('system', 'paranoia');
 		// extra paranoia - if the IP changed, log them out
 		if ($check && ($_SESSION['addr'] != $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])) {
-			logger('Session address changed. Paranoid setting in effect, blocking session. '.
-				$_SESSION['addr'].' != '.$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']);
+			logger('Session address changed. Paranoid setting in effect, blocking session. ' .
+				$_SESSION['addr'] . ' != ' . $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']);
 			nuke_session();
 			goaway(System::baseUrl());
 		}
 
-		$r = q("SELECT `user`.*, `user`.`pubkey` as `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` as `uprvkey`
-		FROM `user` WHERE `uid` = %d AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `account_expired` AND NOT `account_removed` AND `verified` LIMIT 1",
-			intval($_SESSION['uid'])
+		$user = dba::select('user',
+			[],
+			[
+				'uid'             => $_SESSION['uid'],
+				'blocked'         => false,
+				'account_expired' => false,
+				'account_removed' => false,
+				'verified'        => true,
+			],
+			['limit' => 1]
 		);
-
-		if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+		if (!DBM::is_result($user)) {
 			nuke_session();
 			goaway(System::baseUrl());
 		}
@@ -91,61 +103,57 @@ if (isset($_SESSION) && x($_SESSION,'authenticated') && (!x($_POST,'auth-params'
 		// stays logged in for a long time, e.g. with "Remember Me"
 		$login_refresh = false;
 		if (!x($_SESSION['last_login_date'])) {
-			$_SESSION['last_login_date'] = datetime_convert('UTC','UTC');
+			$_SESSION['last_login_date'] = datetime_convert('UTC', 'UTC');
 		}
-		if (strcmp(datetime_convert('UTC','UTC','now - 12 hours'), $_SESSION['last_login_date']) > 0) {
-
-			$_SESSION['last_login_date'] = datetime_convert('UTC','UTC');
+		if (strcmp(datetime_convert('UTC', 'UTC', 'now - 12 hours'), $_SESSION['last_login_date']) > 0) {
+			$_SESSION['last_login_date'] = datetime_convert('UTC', 'UTC');
 			$login_refresh = true;
 		}
-		authenticate_success($r[0], false, false, $login_refresh);
+		authenticate_success($user, false, false, $login_refresh);
 	}
 } else {
-
 	session_unset();
+	if (
+		!(x($_POST, 'password') && strlen($_POST['password']))
+		&& (
+			x($_POST, 'openid_url') && strlen($_POST['openid_url'])
+			|| x($_POST, 'username') && strlen($_POST['username'])
+		)
+	) {
+		$noid = Config::get('system', 'no_openid');
 
-	if (x($_POST,'password') && strlen($_POST['password']))
-		$encrypted = hash('whirlpool',trim($_POST['password']));
-	else {
-		if ((x($_POST,'openid_url')) && strlen($_POST['openid_url']) ||
-		   (x($_POST,'username')) && strlen($_POST['username'])) {
+		$openid_url = trim(strlen($_POST['openid_url']) ? $_POST['openid_url'] : $_POST['username']);
 
-			$noid = Config::get('system','no_openid');
+		// validate_url alters the calling parameter
 
-			$openid_url = trim((strlen($_POST['openid_url'])?$_POST['openid_url']:$_POST['username']));
+		$temp_string = $openid_url;
 
-			// validate_url alters the calling parameter
+		// if it's an email address or doesn't resolve to a URL, fail.
 
-			$temp_string = $openid_url;
-
-			// if it's an email address or doesn't resolve to a URL, fail.
-
-			if ($noid || strpos($temp_string,'@') || !validate_url($temp_string)) {
-				$a = get_app();
-				notice(t('Login failed.').EOL);
-				goaway(System::baseUrl());
-				// NOTREACHED
-			}
-
-			// Otherwise it's probably an openid.
-
-			try {
-				require_once('library/openid.php');
-				$openid = new LightOpenID;
-				$openid->identity = $openid_url;
-				$_SESSION['openid'] = $openid_url;
-				$_SESSION['remember'] = $_POST['remember'];
-				$openid->returnUrl = System::baseUrl(true).'/openid';
-				goaway($openid->authUrl());
-			} catch (Exception $e) {
-				notice(t('We encountered a problem while logging in with the OpenID you provided. Please check the correct spelling of the ID.').'<br /><br >'.t('The error message was:').' '.$e->getMessage());
-			}
+		if ($noid || strpos($temp_string, '@') || !validate_url($temp_string)) {
+			$a = get_app();
+			notice(t('Login failed.') . EOL);
+			goaway(System::baseUrl());
 			// NOTREACHED
 		}
+
+		// Otherwise it's probably an openid.
+
+		try {
+			require_once('library/openid.php');
+			$openid = new LightOpenID;
+			$openid->identity = $openid_url;
+			$_SESSION['openid'] = $openid_url;
+			$_SESSION['remember'] = $_POST['remember'];
+			$openid->returnUrl = System::baseUrl(true) . '/openid';
+			goaway($openid->authUrl());
+		} catch (Exception $e) {
+			notice(t('We encountered a problem while logging in with the OpenID you provided. Please check the correct spelling of the ID.') . '<br /><br >' . t('The error message was:') . ' ' . $e->getMessage());
+		}
+		// NOTREACHED
 	}
 
-	if (x($_POST,'auth-params') && $_POST['auth-params'] === 'login') {
-
+	if (x($_POST, 'auth-params') && $_POST['auth-params'] === 'login') {
 		$record = null;
 
 		$addon_auth = array(
@@ -162,39 +170,30 @@ if (isset($_SESSION) && x($_SESSION,'authenticated') && (!x($_POST,'auth-params'
 		 * and later plugins should not interfere with an earlier one that succeeded.
 		 *
 		 */
-
 		call_hooks('authenticate', $addon_auth);
 
-		if ($addon_auth['authenticated'] && count($addon_auth['user_record']))
+		if ($addon_auth['authenticated'] && count($addon_auth['user_record'])) {
 			$record = $addon_auth['user_record'];
-		else {
-
-			// process normal login request
-
-			$r = q("SELECT `user`.*, `user`.`pubkey` as `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` as `uprvkey`
-				FROM `user` WHERE (`email` = '%s' OR `nickname` = '%s')
-				AND `password` = '%s' AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `account_expired` AND NOT `account_removed` AND `verified` LIMIT 1",
-				dbesc(trim($_POST['username'])),
-				dbesc(trim($_POST['username'])),
-				dbesc($encrypted)
-			);
-			if (DBM::is_result($r))
-				$record = $r[0];
+		} else {
+			$user_id = User::authenticate(trim($_POST['username']), trim($_POST['password']));
+			if ($user_id) {
+				$record = dba::select('user', [], ['uid' => $user_id], ['limit' => 1]);
+			}
 		}
 
 		if (!$record || !count($record)) {
-			logger('authenticate: failed login attempt: '.notags(trim($_POST['username'])).' from IP '.$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']);
-			notice(t('Login failed.').EOL);
+			logger('authenticate: failed login attempt: ' . notags(trim($_POST['username'])) . ' from IP ' . $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']);
+			notice(t('Login failed.') . EOL);
 			goaway(System::baseUrl());
 		}
 
-		if (! $_POST['remember']) {
+		if (!$_POST['remember']) {
 			new_cookie(0); // 0 means delete on browser exit
 		}
 
 		// if we haven't failed up this point, log them in.
 		$_SESSION['remember'] = $_POST['remember'];
-		$_SESSION['last_login_date'] = datetime_convert('UTC','UTC');
+		$_SESSION['last_login_date'] = datetime_convert('UTC', 'UTC');
 		authenticate_success($record, true, true);
 	}
 }
@@ -202,8 +201,8 @@ if (isset($_SESSION) && x($_SESSION,'authenticated') && (!x($_POST,'auth-params'
 /**
  * @brief Kills the "Friendica" cookie and all session data
  */
-function nuke_session() {
-
+function nuke_session()
+{
 	new_cookie(-3600); // make sure cookie is deleted on browser close, as a security measure
 	session_unset();
 	session_destroy();
diff --git a/include/oauth.php b/include/oauth.php
index c6993d05b..8834b9355 100644
--- a/include/oauth.php
+++ b/include/oauth.php
@@ -182,93 +182,3 @@ class FKOAuth1 extends OAuthServer {
 	}
 
 }
-/*
-class FKOAuth2 extends OAuth2 {
-
-	private function db_secret($client_secret){
-		return hash('whirlpool',$client_secret);
-	}
-
-	public function addClient($client_id, $client_secret, $redirect_uri) {
-		$client_secret = $this->db_secret($client_secret);
-		$r = q("INSERT INTO clients (client_id, pw, redirect_uri) VALUES ('%s', '%s', '%s')",
-			dbesc($client_id),
-			dbesc($client_secret),
-			dbesc($redirect_uri)
-		);
-
-		return $r;
-	}
-
-	protected function checkClientCredentials($client_id, $client_secret = NULL) {
-		$client_secret = $this->db_secret($client_secret);
-
-		$r = q("SELECT pw FROM clients WHERE client_id = '%s'",
-			dbesc($client_id));
-
-		if ($client_secret === NULL)
-			return $result !== FALSE;
-
-		return $result["client_secret"] == $client_secret;
-	}
-
-	protected function getRedirectUri($client_id) {
-		$r = q("SELECT redirect_uri FROM clients WHERE client_id = '%s'",
-				dbesc($client_id));
-		if ($r === FALSE)
-			return FALSE;
-
-		return isset($r[0]["redirect_uri"]) && $r[0]["redirect_uri"] ? $r[0]["redirect_uri"] : NULL;
-	}
-
-	protected function getAccessToken($oauth_token) {
-		$r = q("SELECT client_id, expires, scope FROM tokens WHERE id = '%s'",
-				dbesc($oauth_token));
-
-		if (DBM::is_result($r))
-			return $r[0];
-		return null;
-	}
-
-
-
-	protected function setAccessToken($oauth_token, $client_id, $expires, $scope = NULL) {
-		$r = q("INSERT INTO tokens (id, client_id, expires, scope) VALUES ('%s', '%s', %d, '%s')",
-				dbesc($oauth_token),
-				dbesc($client_id),
-				intval($expires),
-				dbesc($scope));
-
-		return $r;
-	}
-
-	protected function getSupportedGrantTypes() {
-		return array(
-		  OAUTH2_GRANT_TYPE_AUTH_CODE,
-		);
-	}
-
-
-	protected function getAuthCode($code) {
-		$r = q("SELECT id, client_id, redirect_uri, expires, scope FROM auth_codes WHERE id = '%s'",
-				dbesc($code));
-
-		if (DBM::is_result($r))
-			return $r[0];
-		return null;
-	}
-
-	protected function setAuthCode($code, $client_id, $redirect_uri, $expires, $scope = NULL) {
-		$r = q("INSERT INTO auth_codes
-					(id, client_id, redirect_uri, expires, scope) VALUES
-					('%s', '%s', '%s', %d, '%s')",
-				dbesc($code),
-				dbesc($client_id),
-				dbesc($redirect_uri),
-				intval($expires),
-				dbesc($scope));
-		return $r;
-	}
-
-}
-*/
diff --git a/include/security.php b/include/security.php
index 18793ce06..6f6ef94b6 100644
--- a/include/security.php
+++ b/include/security.php
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use Friendica\Database\DBM;
  */
 function cookie_hash($user) {
 	return(hash("sha256", Config::get("system", "site_prvkey").
-				$user["uprvkey"].
+				$user["prvkey"].
 				$user["password"]));
 }
 
diff --git a/include/user.php b/include/user.php
index be03637df..d82671b86 100644
--- a/include/user.php
+++ b/include/user.php
@@ -4,13 +4,12 @@ use Friendica\Core\Config;
 use Friendica\Core\System;
 use Friendica\Database\DBM;
 
-require_once('include/network.php');
-require_once('include/plugin.php');
-require_once('include/text.php');
-require_once('include/pgettext.php');
-require_once('include/datetime.php');
-require_once('include/enotify.php');
-
+require_once 'include/network.php';
+require_once 'include/plugin.php';
+require_once 'include/text.php';
+require_once 'include/pgettext.php';
+require_once 'include/datetime.php';
+require_once 'include/enotify.php';
 
 function create_user($arr) {
 
@@ -388,7 +387,7 @@ function user_create_self_contact($uid) {
  * @param string $email
  * @param string $sitename
  * @param string $username
- * @return NULL|boolean from notification() and email() inherited 
+ * @return NULL|boolean from notification() and email() inherited
  */
 function send_register_pending_eml($email, $sitename, $username) {
 	$body = deindent(t('
diff --git a/mod/openid.php b/mod/openid.php
index 45b80638d..613cd222f 100644
--- a/mod/openid.php
+++ b/mod/openid.php
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ function openid_content(App $a) {
 			//       mod/settings.php in 8367cad so it might have left mixed
 			//       records in the user table
 			//
-			$r = q("SELECT *, `user`.`pubkey` as `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` as `uprvkey` FROM `user`
+			$r = q("SELECT *
+				FROM `user`
 				WHERE ( `openid` = '%s' OR `openid` = '%s' )
 				AND `blocked` = 0 AND `account_expired` = 0
 				AND `account_removed` = 0 AND `verified` = 1
diff --git a/mod/removeme.php b/mod/removeme.php
index b1ad2e5ca..bf5969982 100644
--- a/mod/removeme.php
+++ b/mod/removeme.php
@@ -4,21 +4,21 @@ use Friendica\App;
 use Friendica\Core\System;
 use Friendica\Model\User;
 
-function removeme_post(App $a) {
-
-	if (! local_user()) {
+function removeme_post(App $a)
+{
+	if (!local_user()) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (x($_SESSION,'submanage') && intval($_SESSION['submanage'])) {
+	if (x($_SESSION, 'submanage') && intval($_SESSION['submanage'])) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if ((! x($_POST,'qxz_password')) || (! strlen(trim($_POST['qxz_password'])))) {
+	if ((!x($_POST, 'qxz_password')) || (!strlen(trim($_POST['qxz_password'])))) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if ((! x($_POST,'verify')) || (! strlen(trim($_POST['verify'])))) {
+	if ((!x($_POST, 'verify')) || (!strlen(trim($_POST['verify'])))) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -26,18 +26,15 @@ function removeme_post(App $a) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	$encrypted = hash('whirlpool',trim($_POST['qxz_password']));
-
-	if ((strlen($a->user['password'])) && ($encrypted === $a->user['password'])) {
+	if (User::authenticate($a->user['uid'], trim($_POST['qxz_password']))) {
 		User::remove($a->user['uid']);
 		// NOTREACHED
 	}
-
 }
 
-function removeme_content(App $a) {
-
-	if (! local_user()) {
+function removeme_content(App $a)
+{
+	if (!local_user()) {
 		goaway(System::baseUrl());
 	}
 
@@ -59,5 +56,4 @@ function removeme_content(App $a) {
 	));
 
 	return $o;
-
 }
diff --git a/mod/settings.php b/mod/settings.php
index 6a32b7ed0..8ad82b023 100644
--- a/mod/settings.php
+++ b/mod/settings.php
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use Friendica\Core\Config;
 use Friendica\Core\PConfig;
 use Friendica\Database\DBM;
 use Friendica\Model\GlobalContact;
+use Friendica\Model\User;
 
 require_once 'include/group.php';
 
@@ -371,7 +372,6 @@ function settings_post(App $a) {
 
 		$newpass = $_POST['password'];
 		$confirm = $_POST['confirm'];
-		$oldpass = hash('whirlpool', $_POST['opassword']);
 
 		$err = false;
 		if ($newpass != $confirm) {
@@ -386,8 +386,7 @@ function settings_post(App $a) {
 
         //  check if the old password was supplied correctly before
         //  changing it to the new value
-        $r = q("SELECT `password` FROM `user`WHERE `uid` = %d LIMIT 1", intval(local_user()));
-        if ($oldpass != $r[0]['password']) {
+        if (User::authenticate(intval(local_user()), $_POST['opassword'])) {
             notice(t('Wrong password.') . EOL);
             $err = true;
         }
@@ -501,22 +500,20 @@ function settings_post(App $a) {
 	if ($email != $a->user['email']) {
 		$email_changed = true;
 		//  check for the correct password
-		$r = q("SELECT `password` FROM `user`WHERE `uid` = %d LIMIT 1", intval(local_user()));
-		$password = hash('whirlpool', $_POST['mpassword']);
-		if ($password != $r[0]['password']) {
+		if (!User::authenticate(intval(local_user()), $_POST['mpassword'])) {
 			$err .= t('Wrong Password') . EOL;
 			$email = $a->user['email'];
 		}
 		//  check the email is valid
 		if (!valid_email($email)) {
-			$err .= t(' Not valid email.');
+			$err .= t('Invalid email.');
 		}
 		//  ensure new email is not the admin mail
 		//if ((x($a->config, 'admin_email')) && (strcasecmp($email, $a->config['admin_email']) == 0)) {
 		if (x($a->config, 'admin_email')) {
 			$adminlist = explode(",", str_replace(" ", "", strtolower($a->config['admin_email'])));
 			if (in_array(strtolower($email), $adminlist)) {
-				$err .= t(' Cannot change to that email.');
+				$err .= t('Cannot change to that email.');
 				$email = $a->user['email'];
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/Model/User.php b/src/Model/User.php
index 01bcce28d..b2beb8e19 100644
--- a/src/Model/User.php
+++ b/src/Model/User.php
@@ -1,22 +1,71 @@
 <?php
+
 /**
  * @file src/Model/User.php
  * @brief This file includes the User class with user related database functions
  */
+
 namespace Friendica\Model;
 
 use Friendica\Core\System;
 use Friendica\Core\Worker;
+use Friendica\Database\DBM;
 use dba;
 
 require_once 'boot.php';
-require_once 'plugin.php';
+require_once 'include/plugin.php';
 
 /**
  * @brief This class handles User related functions
  */
 class User
 {
+	public static function authenticate($user_info, $password)
+	{
+		if (is_object($user_info)) {
+			$user = (array) $user_info;
+		} elseif (is_int($user_info)) {
+			$user = dba::select('user',
+				['uid', 'password'],
+				[
+					'uid' => $user_info,
+					'blocked' => 0,
+					'account_expired' => 0,
+					'account_removed' => 0,
+					'verified' => 1
+				],
+				['limit' => 1]
+			);
+		} elseif (is_string($user_info)) {
+			$user = dba::fetch_first('SELECT `uid`, `password`
+				FROM `user`
+				WHERE (`email` = ? OR `username` = ? OR `nickname` = ?)
+				AND `blocked` = 0
+				AND `account_expired` = 0
+				AND `account_removed` = 0
+				AND `verified` = 1
+				LIMIT 1',
+				$user_info,
+				$user_info,
+				$user_info
+			);
+		} else {
+			$user = $user_info;
+		}
+
+		if (!DBM::is_result($user) || !isset($user['uid']) || !isset($user['password'])) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		$password_hashed = hash('whirlpool', $password);
+
+		if ($password_hashed !== $user['password']) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		return $user['uid'];
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @param object $uid user to remove
 	 * @return void
@@ -29,21 +78,20 @@ class User
 
 		logger('Removing user: ' . $uid);
 
-		$r = dba::select('user', array(), array('uid' => $uid), array("limit" => 1));
+		$user = dba::select('user', [], ['uid' => $uid], ['limit' => 1]);
 
-		call_hooks('remove_user', $r);
+		call_hooks('remove_user', $user);
 
 		// save username (actually the nickname as it is guaranteed
 		// unique), so it cannot be re-registered in the future.
-
-		dba::insert('userd', array('username' => $r['nickname']));
+		dba::insert('userd', ['username' => $user['nickname']]);
 
 		// The user and related data will be deleted in "cron_expire_and_remove_users" (cronjobs.php)
-		q("UPDATE `user` SET `account_removed` = 1, `account_expires_on` = UTC_TIMESTAMP() WHERE `uid` = %d", intval($uid));
+		dba::update('user', ['account_removed' => true, 'account_expires_on' => datetime_convert()], ['uid' => $uid]);
 		Worker::add(PRIORITY_HIGH, "Notifier", "removeme", $uid);
 
 		// Send an update to the directory
-		Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, "Directory", $r['url']);
+		Worker::add(PRIORITY_LOW, "Directory", $user['url']);
 
 		if ($uid == local_user()) {
 			unset($_SESSION['authenticated']);
diff --git a/src/Util/ExAuth.php b/src/Util/ExAuth.php
index aa3300c4e..f4dc7c052 100644
--- a/src/Util/ExAuth.php
+++ b/src/Util/ExAuth.php
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ namespace Friendica\Util;
 use Friendica\Core\Config;
 use Friendica\Core\PConfig;
 use Friendica\Database\DBM;
+use Friendica\Model\User;
 use dba;
 
 require_once 'include/dba.php';
@@ -217,8 +218,8 @@ class ExAuth
 
 			$aUser = dba::select('user', ['uid', 'password'], ['nickname' => $sUser], ['limit' => 1]);
 			if (DBM::is_result($aUser)) {
-				$uid = $aUser['uid'];
-				$Error = $aUser['password'] != hash('whirlpool', $aCommand[3]);
+				$uid = User::authenticate($aUser, $aCommand[3]);
+				$Error = $uid === false;
 			} else {
 				$this->writeLog(LOG_WARNING, 'user not found: ' . $sUser);
 				$Error = true;
diff --git a/src/Worker/Delivery.php b/src/Worker/Delivery.php
index 216d2520d..c47e98287 100644
--- a/src/Worker/Delivery.php
+++ b/src/Worker/Delivery.php
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class Delivery {
 			}
 		}
 
-		$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `user`.`pubkey` AS `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`,
+		$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`,
 			`user`.`timezone`, `user`.`nickname`, `user`.`sprvkey`, `user`.`spubkey`,
 			`user`.`page-flags`, `user`.`account-type`, `user`.`prvnets`
 			FROM `contact` INNER JOIN `user` ON `user`.`uid` = `contact`.`uid`
diff --git a/src/Worker/Notifier.php b/src/Worker/Notifier.php
index ac8cf123c..b261b32fc 100644
--- a/src/Worker/Notifier.php
+++ b/src/Worker/Notifier.php
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class Notifier {
 			$recipients[] = $suggest[0]['cid'];
 			$item = $suggest[0];
 		} elseif ($cmd === 'removeme') {
-			$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `user`.`pubkey` AS `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`,
+			$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`,
 					`user`.`timezone`, `user`.`nickname`, `user`.`sprvkey`, `user`.`spubkey`,
 					`user`.`page-flags`, `user`.`prvnets`, `user`.`account-type`, `user`.`guid`
 				FROM `contact` INNER JOIN `user` ON `user`.`uid` = `contact`.`uid`
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class Notifier {
 
 		}
 
-		$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `user`.`pubkey` AS `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`,
+		$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`,
 			`user`.`timezone`, `user`.`nickname`, `user`.`sprvkey`, `user`.`spubkey`,
 			`user`.`page-flags`, `user`.`prvnets`, `user`.`account-type`
 			FROM `contact` INNER JOIN `user` ON `user`.`uid` = `contact`.`uid`
diff --git a/src/Worker/Queue.php b/src/Worker/Queue.php
index c15ccfb98..35642ae72 100644
--- a/src/Worker/Queue.php
+++ b/src/Worker/Queue.php
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <?php
+
 /**
  * @file src/Worker/Queue.php
  */
@@ -19,7 +20,8 @@ require_once 'include/items.php';
 require_once 'include/bbcode.php';
 require_once 'include/salmon.php';
 
-class Queue {
+class Queue
+{
 	public static function execute($queue_id = 0)
 	{
 		global $a;
@@ -57,8 +59,8 @@ class Queue {
 
 			if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
 				foreach ($r as $q_item) {
-					logger('Call queue for id '.$q_item['id']);
-					Worker::add(array('priority' => PRIORITY_LOW, 'dont_fork' => true), "Queue", (int)$q_item['id']);
+					logger('Call queue for id ' . $q_item['id']);
+					Worker::add(array('priority' => PRIORITY_LOW, 'dont_fork' => true), "Queue", (int) $q_item['id']);
 				}
 			}
 			return;
@@ -78,80 +80,71 @@ class Queue {
 
 		$q_item = $r[0];
 
-		$c = q(
-			"SELECT * FROM `contact` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			intval($q_item['cid'])
-		);
-
-		if (!DBM::is_result($c)) {
+		$contact = dba::select('contact', [], ['id' => $q_item['cid']], ['limit' => 1]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 			remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$dead = Cache::get($cachekey_deadguy.$c[0]['notify']);
+		$dead = Cache::get($cachekey_deadguy . $contact['notify']);
 
 		if (!is_null($dead) && $dead) {
-			logger('queue: skipping known dead url: '.$c[0]['notify']);
+			logger('queue: skipping known dead url: ' . $contact['notify']);
 			update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$server = PortableContact::detectServer($c[0]['url']);
+		$server = PortableContact::detectServer($contact['url']);
 
 		if ($server != "") {
-			$vital = Cache::get($cachekey_server.$server);
+			$vital = Cache::get($cachekey_server . $server);
 
 			if (is_null($vital)) {
-				logger("Check server ".$server." (".$c[0]["network"].")");
+				logger("Check server " . $server . " (" . $contact["network"] . ")");
 
-				$vital = PortableContact::checkServer($server, $c[0]["network"], true);
-				Cache::set($cachekey_server.$server, $vital, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
+				$vital = PortableContact::checkServer($server, $contact["network"], true);
+				Cache::set($cachekey_server . $server, $vital, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
 			}
 
 			if (!is_null($vital) && !$vital) {
-				logger('queue: skipping dead server: '.$server);
+				logger('queue: skipping dead server: ' . $server);
 				update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
 				return;
 			}
 		}
 
-		$u = q(
-			"SELECT `user`.*, `user`.`pubkey` AS `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`
-			FROM `user` WHERE `uid` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			intval($c[0]['uid'])
-		);
-		if (!DBM::is_result($u)) {
+		$user = dba::select('user', [], ['uid' => $contact['uid']], ['limit' => 1]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($user)) {
 			remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$data      = $q_item['content'];
-		$public    = $q_item['batch'];
-		$contact   = $c[0];
-		$owner     = $u[0];
+		$data   = $q_item['content'];
+		$public = $q_item['batch'];
+		$owner  = $user;
 
 		$deliver_status = 0;
 
 		switch ($contact['network']) {
 			case NETWORK_DFRN:
-				logger('queue: dfrndelivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+				logger('queue: dfrndelivery: item ' . $q_item['id'] . ' for ' . $contact['name'] . ' <' . $contact['url'] . '>');
 				$deliver_status = DFRN::deliver($owner, $contact, $data);
 
 				if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
 					update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-					Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
+					Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy . $contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
 				} else {
 					remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 				}
 				break;
 			case NETWORK_OSTATUS:
 				if ($contact['notify']) {
-					logger('queue: slapdelivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+					logger('queue: slapdelivery: item ' . $q_item['id'] . ' for ' . $contact['name'] . ' <' . $contact['url'] . '>');
 					$deliver_status = slapper($owner, $contact['notify'], $data);
 
 					if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
 						update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-						Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
+						Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy . $contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
 					} else {
 						remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 					}
@@ -159,12 +152,12 @@ class Queue {
 				break;
 			case NETWORK_DIASPORA:
 				if ($contact['notify']) {
-					logger('queue: diaspora_delivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+					logger('queue: diaspora_delivery: item ' . $q_item['id'] . ' for ' . $contact['name'] . ' <' . $contact['url'] . '>');
 					$deliver_status = Diaspora::transmit($owner, $contact, $data, $public, true);
 
 					if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
 						update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-						Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
+						Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy . $contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
 					} else {
 						remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 					}
@@ -182,7 +175,7 @@ class Queue {
 				}
 				break;
 		}
-		logger('Deliver status '.(int)$deliver_status.' for item '.$q_item['id'].' to '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+		logger('Deliver status ' . (int) $deliver_status . ' for item ' . $q_item['id'] . ' to ' . $contact['name'] . ' <' . $contact['url'] . '>');
 
 		return;
 	}