diff --git a/client/lib.go b/client/lib.go
index 85084f5ae440cadddfcb3699944327339d81ad9f..a3d7a3c0eac872b2c11e561b5a56f88ba9f74f2d 100644
--- a/client/lib.go
+++ b/client/lib.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Implements a very simple wrapper for GoShimmer's HTTP API .
+// Implements a very simple wrapper for GoShimmer's web API .
 package goshimmer
 
 import (
@@ -6,16 +6,18 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
 
 	webapi_broadcastData "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/broadcastData"
-	webapi_findTransactions "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/findTransactionHashes"
+	webapi_findTransactionHashes "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/findTransactionHashes"
 	webapi_getNeighbors "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/getNeighbors"
-	webapi_getTransactions "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/getTransactionObjectsByHash"
-	webapi_getTrytes "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/getTransactionTrytesByHash"
+	webapi_getTransactionObjectsByHash "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/getTransactionObjectsByHash"
+	webapi_getTransactionTrytesByHash "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/getTransactionTrytesByHash"
 	webapi_gtta "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/gtta"
 	webapi_spammer "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/spammer"
+	webapi_auth "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webauth"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/iota.go/consts"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/iota.go/guards"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/iota.go/trinary"
@@ -25,17 +27,19 @@ var (
 	ErrBadRequest          = errors.New("bad request")
 	ErrInternalServerError = errors.New("internal server error")
 	ErrNotFound            = errors.New("not found")
+	ErrUnauthorized        = errors.New("unauthorized")
 	ErrUnknownError        = errors.New("unknown error")
 )
 
 const (
-	routeBroadcastData            = "broadcastData"
-	routeGetTrytes                = "getTransactionTrytesByHash"
-	routeGetTransactions          = "getTransactionObjectsByHash"
-	routeFindTransactions         = "findTransactionHashes"
-	routeGetNeighbors             = "getNeighbors"
-	routeGetTransactionsToApprove = "getTransactionsToApprove"
-	routeSpammer                  = "spammer"
+	routeBroadcastData               = "broadcastData"
+	routeGetTransactionTrytesByHash  = "getTransactionTrytesByHash"
+	routeGetTransactionObjectsByHash = "getTransactionObjectsByHash"
+	routeFindTransactionsHashes      = "findTransactionHashes"
+	routeGetNeighbors                = "getNeighbors"
+	routeGetTransactionsToApprove    = "getTransactionsToApprove"
+	routeSpammer                     = "spammer"
+	routeLogin                       = "login"
 
 	contentTypeJSON = "application/json"
 )
@@ -47,9 +51,11 @@ func NewGoShimmerAPI(node string, httpClient ...http.Client) *GoShimmerAPI {
 	return &GoShimmerAPI{node: node}
 }
 
+// GoShimmerAPI is an API wrapper over the web API of GoShimmer.
 type GoShimmerAPI struct {
 	httpClient http.Client
 	node       string
+	jwt        string
 }
 
 type errorresponse struct {
@@ -79,34 +85,85 @@ func interpretBody(res *http.Response, decodeTo interface{}) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrNotFound, errRes.Error)
 	case http.StatusBadRequest:
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrBadRequest, errRes.Error)
+	case http.StatusUnauthorized:
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnauthorized, errRes.Error)
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnknownError, errRes.Error)
 }
 
-func (api *GoShimmerAPI) BroadcastData(targetAddress trinary.Trytes, data string) (trinary.Hash, error) {
-	if !guards.IsHash(targetAddress) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid address: %s", consts.ErrInvalidHash, targetAddress)
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) do(method string, route string, reqObj interface{}, resObj interface{}) error {
+	// marshal request object
+	var data []byte
+	if reqObj != nil {
+		var err error
+		data, err = json.Marshal(reqObj)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
-	reqBytes, err := json.Marshal(&webapi_broadcastData.Request{Address: targetAddress, Data: data})
+	// construct request
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(method, fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, route), func() io.Reader {
+		if data == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return bytes.NewReader(data)
+	}())
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// add authorization header with JWT
+	if len(api.jwt) > 0 {
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", fmt.Sprintf("bearer %s", api.jwt))
 	}
 
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, routeBroadcastData), contentTypeJSON, bytes.NewReader(reqBytes))
+	// make the request
+	res, err := api.httpClient.Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	resObj := &webapi_broadcastData.Response{}
+	if resObj == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// write response into response object
 	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Login authorizes this API instance against the web API.
+// You must call this function before any before any other call, if the web-auth plugin is enabled.
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) Login(username string, password string) error {
+	res := &webapi_auth.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodPost, routeLogin,
+		&webapi_auth.Request{Username: username, Password: password}, res); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	api.jwt = res.Token
+	return nil
+}
+
+// BroadcastData sends the given data by creating a zero value transaction in the backend targeting the given address.
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) BroadcastData(targetAddress trinary.Trytes, data string) (trinary.Hash, error) {
+	if !guards.IsHash(targetAddress) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid address: %s", consts.ErrInvalidHash, targetAddress)
+	}
+
+	res := &webapi_broadcastData.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodPost, routeBroadcastData,
+		&webapi_broadcastData.Request{Address: targetAddress, Data: data}, res); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	return resObj.Hash, nil
+	return res.Hash, nil
 }
 
+// GetTransactionTrytesByHash gets the corresponding transaction trytes given the transaction hashes.
 func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetTransactionTrytesByHash(txHashes trinary.Hashes) ([]trinary.Trytes, error) {
 	for _, hash := range txHashes {
 		if !guards.IsTrytes(hash) {
@@ -114,117 +171,82 @@ func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetTransactionTrytesByHash(txHashes trinary.Hashes) ([]
 		}
 	}
 
-	reqBytes, err := json.Marshal(&webapi_getTrytes.Request{Hashes: txHashes})
-	if err != nil {
+	res := &webapi_getTransactionTrytesByHash.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodPost, routeGetTransactionTrytesByHash,
+		&webapi_getTransactionTrytesByHash.Request{Hashes: txHashes}, res); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, routeGetTrytes), contentTypeJSON, bytes.NewReader(reqBytes))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	resObj := &webapi_getTrytes.Response{}
-	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return resObj.Trytes, nil
+	return res.Trytes, nil
 }
 
-func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetTransactionObjectsByHash(txHashes trinary.Hashes) ([]webapi_getTransactions.Transaction, error) {
+// GetTransactionObjectsByHash gets the transaction objects given the transaction hashes.
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetTransactionObjectsByHash(txHashes trinary.Hashes) ([]webapi_getTransactionObjectsByHash.Transaction, error) {
 	for _, hash := range txHashes {
 		if !guards.IsTrytes(hash) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid hash: %s", consts.ErrInvalidHash, hash)
 		}
 	}
 
-	reqBytes, err := json.Marshal(&webapi_getTransactions.Request{Hashes: txHashes})
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, routeGetTransactions), contentTypeJSON, bytes.NewReader(reqBytes))
-	if err != nil {
+	res := &webapi_getTransactionObjectsByHash.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodPost, routeGetTransactionObjectsByHash,
+		&webapi_getTransactionObjectsByHash.Request{Hashes: txHashes}, res); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	resObj := &webapi_getTransactions.Response{}
-	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return resObj.Transactions, nil
+	return res.Transactions, nil
 }
 
-func (api *GoShimmerAPI) FindTransactionHashes(query *webapi_findTransactions.Request) ([]trinary.Hashes, error) {
+// FindTransactionHashes finds the given transaction hashes given the query.
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) FindTransactionHashes(query *webapi_findTransactionHashes.Request) ([]trinary.Hashes, error) {
 	for _, hash := range query.Addresses {
 		if !guards.IsTrytes(hash) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid hash: %s", consts.ErrInvalidHash, hash)
 		}
 	}
 
-	reqBytes, err := json.Marshal(&query)
-	if err != nil {
+	res := &webapi_findTransactionHashes.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodPost, routeFindTransactionsHashes, query, res); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Post(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, routeFindTransactions), contentTypeJSON, bytes.NewReader(reqBytes))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	resObj := &webapi_findTransactions.Response{}
-	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return resObj.Transactions, nil
+	return res.Transactions, nil
 }
 
-func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetNeighbors() (*webapi_getNeighbors.Response, error) {
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, routeGetNeighbors))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	resObj := &webapi_getNeighbors.Response{}
-	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
+// GetNeighbors gets the chosen/accepted neighbors.
+// If knownPeers is set, also all known peers to the node are returned additionally.
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetNeighbors(knownPeers bool) (*webapi_getNeighbors.Response, error) {
+	res := &webapi_getNeighbors.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodGet, func() string {
+		if !knownPeers {
+			return routeGetNeighbors
+		}
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s?known=1", routeGetNeighbors)
+	}(), nil, res); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
-	return resObj, nil
+	return res, nil
 }
 
-func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetTips() (*webapi_gtta.Response, error) {
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", api.node, routeGetTransactionsToApprove))
-	if err != nil {
+// GetTips executes the tip-selection on the node to retrieve tips to approve.
+func (api *GoShimmerAPI) GetTransactionsToApprove() (*webapi_gtta.Response, error) {
+	res := &webapi_gtta.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodGet, routeGetTransactionsToApprove, nil, res); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
-	resObj := &webapi_gtta.Response{}
-	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return resObj, nil
+	return res, nil
 }
 
+// ToggleSpammer toggles the node internal spammer.
 func (api *GoShimmerAPI) ToggleSpammer(enable bool) (*webapi_spammer.Response, error) {
-	res, err := api.httpClient.Get(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s?cmd=%s", api.node, routeSpammer, func() string {
+	res := &webapi_spammer.Response{}
+	if err := api.do(http.MethodGet, func() string {
 		if enable {
-			return "start"
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s?cmd=start", routeSpammer)
 		}
-		return "stop"
-	}()))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	resObj := &webapi_spammer.Response{}
-	if err := interpretBody(res, resObj); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s?cmd=stop", routeSpammer)
+	}(), nil, res); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
-	return resObj, nil
+	return res, nil
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 319811df54bfd58cf595f9673cf8d838ff403157..c3f4249478f7fcb1c247f41fe0ebe9a87bab43c3 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import (
 	webapi_getTransactionTrytesByHash "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/getTransactionTrytesByHash"
 	webapi_gtta "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/gtta"
 	webapi_spammer "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi/spammer"
-	"github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webauth"
+	webapi_auth "github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webauth"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/zeromq"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/hive.go/node"
 )
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ func main() {
 			statusscreen_tps.PLUGIN,
 
 			webapi.PLUGIN,
+			webapi_auth.PLUGIN,
 			webapi_gtta.PLUGIN,
 			webapi_spammer.PLUGIN,
 			webapi_broadcastData.PLUGIN,
@@ -64,7 +65,6 @@ func main() {
 			webapi_spammer.PLUGIN,
 
 			ui.PLUGIN,
-			webauth.PLUGIN,
 
 			graph.PLUGIN,
 		),
diff --git a/plugins/webauth/parameters.go b/plugins/webauth/parameters.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2146da738ad8c6cd92b66d585e50613b8d8cc5a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/webauth/parameters.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package webauth
+
+import (
+	flag "github.com/spf13/pflag"
+)
+
+const (
+	WEBAPI_AUTH_USERNAME    = "webapi.auth.username"
+	WEBAPI_AUTH_PASSWORD    = "webapi.auth.password"
+	WEBAPI_AUTH_PRIVATE_KEY = "webapi.auth.private_key"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	flag.String(WEBAPI_AUTH_USERNAME, "user", "username for the webapi")
+	flag.String(WEBAPI_AUTH_PASSWORD, "pass", "password for the webapi")
+	flag.String(WEBAPI_AUTH_PRIVATE_KEY, "", "private key used to sign the JWTs")
+}
diff --git a/plugins/webauth/webauth.go b/plugins/webauth/webauth.go
index aa7ba5b340e3cb0c232b97ccf0cf970fd11ab965..ed8adfd3209bcf95c346a0e610811d132a373d86 100644
--- a/plugins/webauth/webauth.go
+++ b/plugins/webauth/webauth.go
@@ -2,13 +2,11 @@ package webauth
 
 import (
 	"net/http"
-	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/packages/shutdown"
+	"github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/packages/parameter"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/goshimmer/plugins/webapi"
-	"github.com/iotaledger/hive.go/daemon"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/hive.go/node"
 	"github.com/labstack/echo"
 	"github.com/labstack/echo/middleware"
@@ -16,59 +14,59 @@ import (
 	"github.com/dgrijalva/jwt-go"
 )
 
-var secret = "secret"
+var PLUGIN = node.NewPlugin("WebAPI JWT Auth", node.Disabled, configure)
+
+var privateKey string
 
 func configure(plugin *node.Plugin) {
 
-	jwtKey := os.Getenv("JWT_KEY")
-	if jwtKey != "" {
-		secret = jwtKey
+	privateKey = parameter.NodeConfig.GetString(WEBAPI_AUTH_PRIVATE_KEY)
+	if len(privateKey) == 0 {
+		panic("")
 	}
 
 	webapi.Server.Use(middleware.JWTWithConfig(middleware.JWTConfig{
-		SigningKey:  []byte(secret),
-		TokenLookup: "query:token",
+		SigningKey: []byte(privateKey),
 		Skipper: func(c echo.Context) bool {
-			// if strings.HasPrefix(c.Request().Host, "localhost") {
-			// 	return true
-			// }
 			if strings.HasPrefix(c.Path(), "/ui") || c.Path() == "/login" {
 				return true
 			}
 			return false
 		},
 	}))
+
+	webapi.Server.POST("/login", Handler)
 }
 
-func run(plugin *node.Plugin) {
-	daemon.BackgroundWorker("webauth", func(shutdownSignal <-chan struct{}) {
-		webapi.Server.GET("login", func(c echo.Context) error {
-			username := c.FormValue("username")
-			password := c.FormValue("password")
-			uiUser := os.Getenv("UI_USER")
-			uiPass := os.Getenv("UI_PASS")
-
-			// Throws unauthorized error
-			if username != uiUser || password != uiPass {
-				return echo.ErrUnauthorized
-			}
+type Request struct {
+	Username string `json:"username"`
+	Password string `json:"password"`
+}
 
-			token := jwt.New(jwt.SigningMethodHS256)
-			claims := token.Claims.(jwt.MapClaims)
-			claims["name"] = username
-			claims["exp"] = time.Now().Add(time.Hour * 24 * 7).Unix()
+type Response struct {
+	Token string `json:"token"`
+}
 
-			t, err := token.SignedString([]byte(secret))
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
+func Handler(c echo.Context) error {
+	login := &Request{}
+	if err := c.Bind(login); err != nil {
+		return echo.ErrBadRequest
+	}
 
-			return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, map[string]string{
-				"token": t,
-			})
-		})
-	}, shutdown.ShutdownPriorityWebAPI)
-}
+	if login.Username != parameter.NodeConfig.GetString(WEBAPI_AUTH_USERNAME) ||
+		login.Password != parameter.NodeConfig.GetString(WEBAPI_AUTH_PASSWORD) {
+		return echo.ErrUnauthorized
+	}
+
+	token := jwt.New(jwt.SigningMethodHS256)
+	claims := token.Claims.(jwt.MapClaims)
+	claims["name"] = login.Username
+	claims["exp"] = time.Now().Add(time.Hour * 24 * 7).Unix()
 
-// PLUGIN plugs the UI into the main program
-var PLUGIN = node.NewPlugin("webauth", node.Disabled, configure, run)
+	t, err := token.SignedString([]byte(privateKey))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, &Response{Token: t})
+}