Working with
WordPress
WordPress is the worlds most popular web platforms. They estimate that one third of ALL websites are built on the WordPress CMS. Whilst we’ve always built websites using a range of languages, we increasingly find ourselves drawn to WordPress.
Adding
Protection
However, WordPress sites are also the most targeted for malware, SQL Injections, spambots, viral attacks and more. Code spread over 30% of the internet means that unethical elements of the online community only need to write a programme to attack one site once and it’s suitable for all equal installations of WordPress. There’s very little targeting in these attacks – think of it like a normal cold-and-flu virus. It will simply bounce from one person or website, to the next it comes into contact with, infecting all who have weakest immunity. #1 reason to be on top of updates.
Continuous
Monitoring
Keeping on top of this malicious code is hard work, so WordPress routinely bring out updates and security patches to keep websites safe. The same can be said for the most popular elements of WordPress Plugins. Element built into WordPress to perform a specific function – some plugins are as complex as a shop, whereas others are very simple text buttons added. The world of plugins is vast and deep, ranging from high-priced top-quality development work in action on millions of websites, down to poor quality and ineptly built cheap plugins. Just like WordPress itself, credible developers bring out updates and security patches on a regular basis to defend your website. Cheapest isn’t always necessarily best when you’re talking plugins
Keeping Everything
Working Together
So far, so good, right? The WordPress community is targeted often (purely because of its visibility) but the frequent updates and patches from the core and credible plugins should continue to keep your site safe. That’s entirely true – provided the malware doesn’t reach your website before the update. However, websites are built on layers – thousands of them integrating with each other (think Tetris!). When one of those layers is updated, it affects all of those around and above it. If one of your plugins is set to automatically update with a fault – your layers are rendered useless. Even the most stable of updates on the WordPress platform can modify a layer one of your plugins uses, preventing them from integrating and working correctly.