When you have a website, you have to keep on top of a lot of tasks – write content, keep themes up to date, keep your plugins, up to date, keep WordPress up to date! You also have to drive traffic, build your list, and more.
To keep you informed about a plugin that went ‘rogue’ (my own description after learning what happened), take a look at an email that I just mailed out describing a plugin gone bad! I suggest that you deactivate the plugin and then delete from your site for good. Take a look at some other plugin that does the same thing.
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Hi聽 –
Remember the old series, Lost in Space – ‘Robot’ would alert everyone when there was danger in the air!
I was on a weekly call with the SafeWP team last night when I was informed that the popular plugin, “Social Media Widget” (that is the name), developed by ‘Blink Web Effects’, had a vulnerability detected: It is being used to inject spam into websites and it has also been removed from the WordPress Plugin repository! Needless to say, this is not good at all!
This is a popular social media plugin – it was also recently updated, but still has issues. For a more complete description, check out: http://blog.sucuri.net/2013/04/wordpress-plugin-social-media-widget.html – it has more information.
I have deactivated and then deleted the plugin from my sites.
If you want to stay on top of these issues, check out SafeWP!
Be Well.
Paul.
Paul, thanks for the warning! I haven’t been using that particular plug-in, thank goodness. Glad to know a WP expert like you is around!
Thanks for stopping by! If you have any questions, just ask!
Timely warning! Thank you!
Be safe out there, Caro!
Thanks for the heads up Paul! You are right, with so many things to do in your business to make it all come together online, things like this can slip through and just take you down without any warning. Great to see that you are helping people in this way. Cheers.
I’m trying, Edward! 馃檪
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, that’s a big problem to have. I’m glad that plugin isn’t being offered anymore. Thanks for the heads up!
Katie –
Until the plugin is ‘fixed’ and then resubmitted, it is not available. Once it is corrected, it can re-apply and be put back into the repository.
Thanks so much for this warning! I read and ran straight over to my site to check my plugins. Luckily, I’m not using that plugin. Needless to say, Im signing up for your updates. 馃檪
Hey Paul,
Thanks for spreading awareness. There are many things to keep up with 3rd party plugins and themes on WordPress sites. Glad you are helping others stay safe out there.
It was great having you on our weekly call. Thanks for the mention 馃檪
My pleasure, Regina!
Your weekly calls teach me so much and I know that my sites are protected even more based on the information you are sharing!
I HIGHLY recommend Regina’s program – check it out SafeWP
Luckily, I’m not using that plug-in but thanks for the tip. I enjoyed the stroll down memory lane with your Lost in Space comments. My siblings loved that show but it really drove me crazy, especially Dr. Zachary Smith!
Dr. Zachary Smith, as your service! What a character he was! Thanks for stopping by, Leslie!