Have you seen update notification in the WordPress dashboard? Have you ignored that notification? Did you the fact if you are using outdated WordPress version then you are giving a big chance to the hackers to attack your website and steal the confidential data?
Table of Contents
As per the figure generated by WordPress, it shows that only 36% of WordPress users have updated their website to the latest version.
Most of the website owners of developers ignore the updates notification due to many reasons. Most people think that the updates come on continuously which can cause some serious issues to the computer or data may be lost.
But the real fact is updating your WordPress website to the latest version will always save your data and does not cause any problem to your system.
So, in this post, we will discuss some major problems that can be caused while using an outdated version of WordPress.
Plus we will go through the important points that should be considered while updating software. These solutions will remove your stress and give a better solution to prevent your website from hackers
Why you should always update your WordPress website?
Without any prior permission, anyone can download the WordPress platform is free of cost because WordPress is open-source software.
Any users can modify or change the thing using WordPress very easily no restrictions for customization. WordPress communities always look forward to resolving the issues encountered in the previous version. Hence a new version always comes with the solution of errors.
Let us check how it is done
- When any type of issue get encountered then the problem is reported but the developers to the WordPress team or WordPress community
- This team makes sure that they can provide alternate solutions to their problems. Hence they try to solve every problem in the latest version.
- The new updates are shown in the WordPress dashboard such as “WordPress 5.4 is available! Please update now!”
- Once the developer updates their website to the latest version the problem will get solved.
Now, what type of problems you will face if you have not updated your WordPress website?
If you are not updating your WordPress website to the latest version you will get some problem because the vulnerability will remains constant on your WordPress website.
The bad situation is that the latest version is released you have the documentation and guidelines for updating your website and you know the reason why you should update but still you are ignoring it. Even hackers know what types of errors are encountered in the previous version.
With the help of scanners, hackers crawl the website which is still using the outdated version of WordPress. And if they found your website your website will get hackers within some minutes or an hour.
The same issue is encountered if you have themes and plugins but they are not updated. The developers try to enhance the functionality level of your website by solving the errors and issues in the old version.
These developers try to ensure your themes and plugins are compatible with all type of WordPress website.
Actually you are giving invitation to the hackers to steal your data with your permission because it seems that you are not interested in enhancing security level of your website. Not updating your WordPress website can cause more problems some are listed below
Impact of outdated WordPress website
If you are not updating your WordPress website then also you can run your website but you will face several problems because of outdated versions. Some consequences are listed below
1. Compatibility Issue
WordPress website consists of many powerful components. The main WordPress version update is introduced by the WordPress team whereas the number of plugins and themes are introduced by third-party developers. The developers try to add a new feature and functionality to improve the visibility of your website. Whenever the WordPress team developer the new version they make sure that the new version is compatible with most of the themes and plugins.
Now if you are still working on the outdated version you will notice that most of the themes and plugins are not compatible with your WordPress version this is because your WordPress version is not compatible in nature hence you need to install the newest version to make it work successfully.
While downloading plugins from WordPress repository you will find that one statement is written that the particular plugin is compatible with the WordPress version 5 and the higher.
2. Slow speed and performance
Suppose you are using WordPress version 3.0 to make your website run successfully. You will face lots of problems such as navigation problems, speed and performance issue or redirection page problems.
You are not updating your WordPress website to the current one means you are not allowing your website to get all new features and functionality to run your business website successfully.
Read: Ways to increase speed of slow WordPress Blog using these tactics
3. SEO Ranking
SEO ranking is the most important factor for reaching maximum people all around the world to get maximum traffic and high conversion rate. old version website will never help you to boost the website.
Due to low speed of your website you will get less traffic and will affect your SEO ranking as well. Negative impression is what you will get if your website is not working properly and not able to crawl by search engines.
Google and different search engines will blacklist your website which will give the warning to your website visitors.
Read: 2020 SEO Checklist to Get Your WordPress Site Ranking Higher
4. Loss of credential information
Your website will get badly harm and you will face data losses and credential information hack by an unauthorized user. Even if you were using version 3.0 and not updated to 5.0 means you will lose all important updates that were introduced in between these versions.
5. Lack of online support
Whenever you face issue you connect with the WordPress support but you will be asked to update your website to the newest version first and discuss with them. Hence you will lose help from online support forum.
6.How to prevent your website from being hacked
The one and only one solution to prevent your website from being hacked is to update your WordPress version to the latest one. And after updating install some updated plugins which are intentionally created for enhancing security level.
Conclusion:
It is a very essential step that should be taken by updating your WordPress website to the latest version to keep your website safe and secure from hackers and cyber attackers.