Outdated themes and Plugins are Big Security Risks

We have listened that vulnerabilities are developed in the software. Just like software, these vulnerabilities are also developed in the themes and plugins. When developers know these vulnerabilities, they fix these vulnerabilities. After fixing these vulnerabilities, they release a security patch. This security patch is released in the form of an update. Now, it is the responsibility of the site owners to update their sites. If they don’t update their sites, it means that they are using outdated WordPress themes and plugins. These outdated WordPress themes and plugins are big security risks, It can become vulnerable to hackers. The hackers are finding these outdated plugins and themes. Here, we will discuss how outdated themes and plugins are big security risks.

Brute Force Attack

The use of multiple trial and error methods to use the different combinations of passwords and usernames to guess the log in detail of a WordPress website is known as a brute force attack. If you want to save your website from this kind of problem, you will have to use a strong password. A strong password consists of a combination of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Moreover, you can also enhance the security of your WordPress website by installing a plugin Two Factor Authentication. Now, the problem is that if you are using outdated themes and plugins, these techniques will not work. The hackers can get easy access to your login details by using various techniques.

SQL Injection

It is one of the oldest techniques to hack a website. By using this technique, they can destroy the web form or input field of a website. After successful intrusion, hackers can manipulate the MySQL database of a website. In some cases, they can also get access to the admin panel of the WordPress website. After getting access to the admin panel of your website, they change its credentials. They use these credentials for further damage to your website. The amateur, as well as mediocre hackers, can also use this kind of hacking technique. According to hackers, your website will be vulnerable to this kind of hacking technique if it has outdated themes and plugins. You should update all the WordPress plugins and themes to save your website from this kind of vulnerability. If you think that a specific WordPress plugin is creating some problems for your website, you can contact their developers by filling the support form. When you contact them, they will develop a patch in the form of an update.

Malware

Told by a dissertation help firm, if you are using outdated themes and plugins, hackers can also inject malware on your website. By using this malware, they can make mild to serious damages to your website. This malware is injected in the form of a code. Hackers can use this code to extract useful data from your website. They can also use this malware to insert malicious content on your website. This malicious content will remain unnoticed on your website because it has discreet nature. If you don’t handle your website on time, the hackers can create serious issues on your website. They can also infect the core structure of your website. When they infect the core structure of your website, you will have to re-install your WordPress website. On the infected website, you will observe the transfer of a huge amount of data. This thing can add cost to the hosting expenses of your website.

Cross-Site Scripting

Due to the presence of outdated themes and plugins in your website, your website can also become a victim of cross-site scripting. Cross-site scripting is also known as an XSS attack. By using this kind of hacking technique, the hackers can insert malicious JavaScript code on your website. After inserting the malicious JavaScript code, the hackers can use it to collect the data from your website. The hackers can also use this JavaScript code to affect the experience of a website. For this reason, the hackers will redirect your website to other malicious websites. To save your website from these kinds of security risks, you should update all the plugins and themes of your WordPress website.

Outdated Themes And Plugins Are Not Tested For Compatibility

If you are managing a WordPress website, you should make sure that all the themes and plugins should be compatible with your website. It is possible only if you are using the latest versions of the plugins and themes. If you are using outdated versions of the WordPress plugins and themes, it means that these themes and plugins have lots of vulnerabilities. Due to the presence of these vulnerabilities, these themes and plugins will not be compatible with your website. Therefore, to make them compatible with your website, you should immediately update all the plugins and themes of your website.

Backdoors

If you are using pirated themes and plugins on your WordPress website, these pirated themes and plugins can also create lots of security risks for your website. The pirated themes and plugins are the free versions of the paid themes and plugins. These free versions of the paid themes and plugins are not available on trusted sources. As you are downloading the free versions of these paid themes and plugins from unreliable resources, there will be backdoors in these themes and plugins. Now, the problem is that you can’t update these themes and plugins. If you update these themes and plugins, you will have to buy their premium plans. It means that you are using outdated versions of these themes and plugins. These outdated versions of the themes and plugins will create lots of security problems for your website. Due to the backdoors in these pirated themes and plugins, hackers can easily get access to your website. After getting access to your website from these backdoors, they can easily steal private information from your website.

End Words

Due to these security risks of the outdated themes and plugins, we should immediately update the themes and plugins. If a developer has not updated a theme or a plugin for longer than one year period, you should remove it from your website.

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