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In September, a security vulnerability was found in a popular WordPress plugin – Display Widgets. The plugin, which had over 200,000 installs, was inserting content into sites from external servers and collecting visitor data without permission.
Website owners should be cautious when using plugins and ensure they are updated frequently. Although rare, websites have been compromised due to plugins’ vulnerabilities.
WordPress offers thousands of plugins and themes, which can be leveraged to enhance a website’s design and functionality, making it highly versatile for businesses of any sector. However, given the popularity of WordPress, it has become a common target for hackers.
Website exploitation usually occurs due to personal negligence, such as failing to keep up with website maintenance. Someone within the organization should undertake regular website maintenance, including reviewing and updating plugins. Outsourcing can be viable if no one has the necessary skills or time.
How can you minimize risk to your site?
Although you cannot eliminate the possibility of an online attack, keeping your WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date will reduce the chances that hackers will succeed in penetrating your site.
Many business owners believe that once they have hired someone to launch their site, all the hard work is done, and they can leave it to do its thing. No one has ever told them their website needs regular upkeep to stay secure. Alas, as with most things, if you neglect regular maintenance, eventually, something will break.
Many websites run on outdated versions of WordPress with plugins that need to be updated. Still, some business owners leave this untouched because they fear technology. However, leaving your website running on outdated technology keeps you wide open to being a victim of hack attacks.
Updating WordPress will give you peace of mind that you are doing everything possible to secure your site. Having a plan for who will update your plugins and how often this will be done means you are far less likely to deal with a hacked site.
There are three options for maintaining your WordPress site and plugins. You can do it yourself, pay an employee, or outsource it to a professional who will update your site as soon as updates are available.
Whatever you choose, the important thing is to have a plan. Figure out who will do the updates and make sure they happen. All software needs regular updates, and your website is something you can’t afford to ignore.
Outsource your website maintenance
If you decide to outsource your website maintenance, look at our WordPress Maintenance Plans to find the best option to suit your business requirements.
We have developed a premium quality support and maintenance service for all WordPress website owners, delivering total peace of mind. Taking a proactive approach to security and maintenance can put you ahead of 70% of WordPress websites and save you from falling victim to attacks that could be easily preventable. It’s not something you can afford to leave until a later date, so act now to keep your site secure.