Buddypress

Popular WordPress Plugins Updated for Security

In an article on WordPress Plugin vulnerabilities, we mentioned that the top 50 most popular plugins were tested for security and vulnerability by Checkmarx, a leading provider in application security. The first scan was conducted in January 2013 where it was discovered that more than a third of the 50 plugins were vulnerable. The second scan, conducted in early June 2013, was performed on the updated versions of all plugins. However, only six of these updates were free of those previously found vulnerabilities. These were:

– creates a social network for the organization. # Downloads: 1,319,743.

A BuddyPress Plugin is a program, or a set of one or more functions, written in the PHP scripting language, that adds a specific set of features or services to the BuddyPress site, which can be seamlessly integrated with the site using access points and methods provided by the BuddyPress Plugin API. BuddyPress allows easy modification, customization, and enhancement to a BuddyPress powered WordPress site. Instead of changing the core programming of BuddyPress, you can add functionality with BuddyPress Plugins.

BBPress

– forum software. # Downloads: 483,28. Alerted by Checkmarx to their vulnerabilities.

bbPress is forum software, made the WordPress way – simple to setup, fully integrated, multisite forum, simple interface, customizable templates, highly extensible

E-Commerce

– shopping cart plugin. # Downloads: 2,209,352.

WP e-Commerce is a free WordPress Shopping Cart Plugin that lets customers buy your products, services and digital downloads online.

WooCommerce

– an e-commerce store. # Downloads: 469,503

WooCommerce is a free, powerful WordPress eCommerce plugin. With the extendability of a huge catalog of commercial themes and extensions we have all the tools you might need to get your shop running. Transform your WordPress website into a thoroughbred eCommerce store, delivering enterprise-level quality and features whilst backed by a name (WooThemes) you can trust.

W3 Total Cache

– site optimization by caching. # Downloads: 1,450,980. Most likely fixed as part of a security overhaul following an external full disclosure of some vulnerabilities.

W3 Total Cache improves the user experience of your site by increasing server performance, reducing the download times and providing transparent content delivery network (CDN) integration.

Super Cache

– site optimization by caching. # Downloads: 3,984,976. Most likely fixed as part of a security overhaul as with W3 Total Cache.

A very fast caching engine for WordPress that produces static html files. This plugin generates static html files from your dynamic WordPress blog. After a html file is generated your webserver will serve that file instead of processing the comparatively heavier and more expensive WordPress PHP scripts. Supercache really comes into it’s own if your server is underpowered, or you’re experiencing heavy traffic. Super Cached html files will be served more quickly than PHP generated cached files but in everyday use, the difference isn’t noticeable.

Note: Downloads statistics are as of the time of the tests.

Check Out Our Favorite WordPress Themes for 2013

We play favorites. Surprise, surprise! Yes, we do. Especially if we know that what we find is really great and we want to share them with as many as we can. We’ve seen how many of you have benefited from our Best WordPress Themes for 2012 post and we hear you. Finding the best WordPress themes in the marketplace can sometimes be overwhelming, what with all the amazing graphics and all the features packed (sometimes bloated) into these themes. But not all these themes are created equal so we’d like to give you a push in the right direction with our comprehensive list of what to look for in WordPress themes.

We’ve updated our Best WordPress Themes for 2012 list and come up with an updated version – Best WordPress Themes for 2013. What’s great about our updated list is that not only have we’ve broken down these themes by categories making it easier for you to find what you need, the great news is that we will also be updating this post several times each month all year round. If you’ve been wanting a one-stop shop for the most updated themes in the marketplace, make sure to bookmark this page. We will be updating WordPress themes according to theme categories such as: Responsive, Portfolio, Magazine, Business, eCommerce, BuddyPress, Frameworks, HTML5, Real Estate, Free, and Premium. Yup, the list includes the best Free themes too. All these themes have made it into our list of favorites for good reason.

If you’ve been wanting to update your own website or you are searching for a great theme to use for your clients, head on out and check our post – Best WordPress Themes for 2013. You might find just what you are looking for. While you’re there leave us a comment on what else you want us to add to our list. We’d love to hear from you.

2013 Is Here: Time To Update Your WordPress Theme!

New Year. New Look. Say goodbye to all the holiday trimmings and get ready to update the old. What better time to start the year with something new and something fresh! If you’ve been wanting to revamp your website and give it a makeover now is the time to do it. Design trends and the gazillion features have sort of settled, the fads have faded, while useful and relevant features have been embraced and integrated into the basic WordPress theme structure. It’s a great way to start 2013.