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Anyone who uses a computer understands the importance of maintaining the latest updates. Microsoft is of particular note when it comes to updates. Some updates are functionality issues but many times the issues that are resolved through updates are security related. With Wordpress, the same types of issues may occur and it is very important to ensure that you have the most up to date version installed on your account.
If you have hired someone to install and maintain your Wordpress blog and are not at all computer savvy, the prospect of having to ensure your Wordpress is continually updated may seem daunting. However, keep in mind that Wordpress is popular because of its ease of use. The developers of Wordpress know that many of its users are not computer programmers or software developers so they purposely make maintenance of their product fast and easy. Regardless of your level of skill, you can update Wordpress; it literally only takes a click of the mouse. When you log in to your admin panel look to the center of the page. You will see a notification that “Wordpress [version #] is available!” Right next to it there will be a link to “Please Update Now”. Clicking on the link will get you the most updated version with no fuss.
What happens if you do not update Wordpress regularly? First, you will likely not have all the available features and tools that will help make your blog more functional and appealing. Every version of Wordpress is developed based on user feedback and additional features are incorporated. You may find that you have the ability to do more functions than you previously did or to be more efficient in your blogging. However, as convenient as this is, the primary reason to update Wordpress is for increased security.
Hackers abound on the Internet and every software program is studied by these hackers in order to access users’ data. Vulnerabilities in code may lead to malicious attacks including spyware and worms. If you keep your Wordpress software updated, all known vulnerabilities will be patched as son as possible and you will minimize your risk. However, if you choose to not update your blogging software then you run the risk of getting hacked. What you will have to do then is fix your site in its entirety, something that is at best time consuming and at worst expensive.
If you are one of those people who have little to no computer experience than you can update your Wordpress blogging software quickly and easily. You will have no problem doing so. However, if your blog gets hacked because you are running an outdated version of Wordpress, than the odds of you being able to fix it yourself are slim. You may have to invest some money in hiring a designer or coder to fix the problems before installing the latest version with the patch. When it comes to Wordpress maintenance and ensuring you have the latest version, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is particularly apt.
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