The Hidden Dangers of Running WordPress on Old PHP
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At Cyber PR Army, we’re all about keeping your website secure, speedy, and ready for anything. But there’s a silent threat lurking behind the scenes of many WordPress sites: outdated PHP. If you haven’t thought about your site’s PHP version lately, you could be putting your business at risk—without even realizing it. We’ve recently recreated two WordPress websites with extremely old architecture, helping them update their look and protect the security of their sites.
What Is PHP and Why Does It Matter?
PHP is the scripting language that powers WordPress. Think of it as the engine under the hood of your website. Just like any engine, it needs regular updates to run smoothly and safely. As technology progresses, protections start moving onto the newest shiniest model, leaving older models relegated to gradual obsolescence.
The Risks of Running on Old PHP
1. Security Vulnerabilities
Older PHP versions no longer receive security updates. This means hackers know exactly where to look for weaknesses, and they’re not shy about exploiting them. Running your site on PHP 7.4 or earlier leaves you wide open to cyberattacks, malware, and data breaches. The older the PHP version, the easier it is for malicious parties to gain access.
2. Compatibility Issues
As WordPress and plugins evolve, they’re built to work with newer PHP versions. If your site is stuck on an old version, you’ll start to see things break: plugins won’t update, themes might glitch, and new features simply won’t work. Eventually, you may find that you can’t update WordPress at all without upgrading PHP first.
3. Performance Problems
Newer PHP versions aren’t just safer; they’re faster. Sticking with an outdated version can slow down your site, frustrate your visitors, and hurt your search rankings as Google uses site performance as part of its SEO equation.
4. Hosting Provider Pressure
Many web hosts are phasing out support for old PHP versions. If you don’t upgrade, your host might do it for you, sometimes without warning. This can lead to sudden site outages or broken functionality if you’re not prepared. They need to do it to keep the server secure, yet a sudden rug-pull can lead to an unusable mess of a website.
Why Upgrading Is Necessary
Upgrading your PHP version is one of the most effective ways to protect your WordPress site. You’ll benefit from:
- Stronger security against the latest threats
- Better compatibility with plugins, themes, and WordPress core
- Faster load times and improved performance
- Peace of mind knowing your site is future-proof
What to Do if Your Site is Slightly Outdated: How to Upgrade Safely
Worried about breaking your site? You’re not alone. The key is to test everything in a staging environment first, check plugin and theme compatibility, and make a full backup before making any changes. PHP upgrades frequently cause issues or, in some cases, full site crashes, so if you’re not sure where to start, that’s what we’re here for!
What to Do if Your Site is Positively Ancient
If you are currently on an extremely old setup (something we’ve seen twice recently), it’s worth considering a full new site. Most old WordPress websites have limited content as they weren’t the most user-friendly, and you’ll be surprised how affordably a new website can be created for you. Yes, you could go for a PHP upgrade, but with very old sites, that often means carrying forward anomalies and coding bugs that can’t be removed.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Running WordPress on old PHP is like driving with bald tires – you might get away with it for a while, but eventually, something’s going to blow. If you’re not sure what version your site is running, or you need help upgrading safely, reach out to us today. We’ll make sure your website is secure, speedy, and ready for whatever comes next.
Ready to upgrade?
Contact us today for a free site checkup! We’ll let you know where you’re at and what our recommendation is to bring your site up to modern standards.
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