If you are running an older version of WordPress, it’s time to upgrade. The current version is 2.8.4, which we have found to be very stable and include some great features not found in prior versions.
Personally, I don’t recommend you blindly upgrade every time a new version comes out – in any software. New software versions almost always bring new bugs with the new features. I like to sit back a while and let other people find the bugs on their sites.
But today we have a stable version in 2.8.4 and there are several security issues with many of the older WP versions. Bad guys have written worms to find sites running older versions and to do malicious things to them. Unfortunately, we regularly get calls to restore and secure hacked sites.
If your site (or your client’s sites) are not running 2.8.4 we would strongly recommend this is a good time to get “up to date” , before they get discovered by a malicious worm!
Before you update:
Remember to backup your site (and your databases) before updating and always check your plugins before updating a WordPress site. A plugin that is not compatible with the current version can crash your site.
Main Street is available to help you with upgrades or to do an audit of your plugins before you install the update.

Tuesday, Sept 14, 2010