diff --git a/wp-includes/class-http.php b/wp-includes/class-http.php
index 32ff9f3602..12e73bbb86 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-http.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-http.php
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class WP_Http {
 			'redirection' => apply_filters( 'http_request_redirection_count', 5),
 			'httpversion' => apply_filters( 'http_request_version', '1.0'),
 			'user-agent' => apply_filters( 'http_headers_useragent', 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . get_bloginfo( 'url' ) ),
-			'reject_unsafe_urls' => apply_filters( 'http_request_reject_unsafe_urls', true ),
+			'reject_unsafe_urls' => apply_filters( 'http_request_reject_unsafe_urls', false ),
 			'blocking' => true,
 			'headers' => array(),
 			'cookies' => array(),
diff --git a/wp-includes/http.php b/wp-includes/http.php
index c51794495e..4b1a60e611 100644
--- a/wp-includes/http.php
+++ b/wp-includes/http.php
@@ -28,6 +28,84 @@ function _wp_http_get_object() {
 	return $http;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Retrieve the raw response from a safe HTTP request.
+ *
+ * This function is ideal when the HTTP request is being made to an arbitrary
+ * URL. The URL is validated to avoid redirection and request forgery attacks.
+ *
+ * @see wp_remote_request() For more information on the response array format
+ * 	and default arguments.
+ *
+ * @since 3.6.0
+ *
+ * @param string $url Site URL to retrieve.
+ * @param array $args Optional. Override the defaults.
+ * @return WP_Error|array The response or WP_Error on failure.
+ */
+function wp_safe_remote_request( $url, $args = array() ) {
+	$args['reject_unsafe_urls'] = true;
+	$http = _wp_http_get_object();
+	return $http->request( $url, $args );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retrieve the raw response from a safe HTTP request using the GET method.
+ *
+ * @see wp_remote_request() For more information on the response array format
+ * 	and default arguments.
+ *
+ * @since 3.6.0
+ *
+ * @param string $url Site URL to retrieve.
+ * @param array $args Optional. Override the defaults.
+ * @return WP_Error|array The response or WP_Error on failure.
+ */
+function wp_safe_remote_get( $url, $args = array() ) {
+	$args['reject_unsafe_urls'] = true;
+	$http = _wp_http_get_object();
+	return $http->get( $url, $args );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retrieve the raw response from a safe HTTP request using the POST method.
+ *
+ * @see wp_remote_request() For more information on the response array format
+ * 	and default arguments.
+ *
+ * @since 3.6.0
+ *
+ * @param string $url Site URL to retrieve.
+ * @param array $args Optional. Override the defaults.
+ * @return WP_Error|array The response or WP_Error on failure.
+ */
+function wp_safe_remote_post( $url, $args = array() ) {
+	$args['reject_unsafe_urls'] = true;
+	$http = _wp_http_get_object();
+	return $http->post( $url, $args );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retrieve the raw response from a safe HTTP request using the HEAD method.
+ *
+ * This function is ideal when the HTTP request is being made to an arbitrary
+ * URL. The URL is validated to avoid redirection and request forgery attacks.
+ *
+ * @see wp_remote_request() For more information on the response array format
+ * 	and default arguments.
+ *
+ * @since 3.6.0
+ *
+ * @param string $url Site URL to retrieve.
+ * @param array $args Optional. Override the defaults.
+ * @return WP_Error|array The response or WP_Error on failure.
+ */
+function wp_safe_remote_head( $url, $args = array() ) {
+	$args['reject_unsafe_urls'] = true;
+	$http = _wp_http_get_object();
+	return $http->head( $url, $args );
+}
+
 /**
  * Retrieve the raw response from the HTTP request.
  *