Wordpress team upgraded Wordpress version very frequent recently and another latest version Wordpress 2.8.4 has been released. The purpose Wordpress team upgraded Wordpress version to 2.8.4 was because there is a worm making its way around old, unpatched versions of WordPress. This particular worm, like many before it, is clever: it registers a user, uses a security bug (fixed earlier in the year) to allow evaluated code to be executed through the permalink structure, makes itself an admin, then uses JavaScript to hide itself when you look at users page, attempts to clean up after itself, then goes quiet so you never notice while it inserts hidden spam and malware into your old posts.
If I was not mistaken, my blog had been attacked by this worm a week ago. My blog’s permalink was broken and displayed silly code without any reason, and all my posts couldn’t be viewed in the right way, the URL of every posts had silly code. After a few minutes I found out that was my permalink problem, so I rewrote the code and everything was alright. The worm is silent and invisible, so it’s difficult to detect except it does something else in your blog just like what happened on my blog. The critical part is that your blog may get removed from Google for having spam and malware on it.
This sounds serious and I never want it to be happened on my blog. In fact, I didn’t upgrade my Wordpress version if there was nothing else happened, such as the old Wordpress version didn’t support the wordpress plugin. This time, I don’t want to take the risk and I just upgraded to the latest version yesterday.
How I Upgraded To Wordpress 2.8.4
In case beginner doesn’t know how to upgrade your wordpress to the latest version, here is a short step-by-step tutorial guides you how to upgrade in 5 minutes.
- Backup all your files. Wordpress Backups plugin is good for you, but usually I backup my files manually which was downloading all the files using FTP.
- Delete the old wp-includes and wp-admin directories.
- Upload the new wp-includes and wp-admin directories.
- Upload and overwrite all the old files in the root, except the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file.
- Visit your main WordPress admin page at /wp-admin, login and it leads you to an upgrade page, click upgrade and follow instruction.
- Done!
Wordpress team spends most of the time reading the code every day, audit it, update it, and care enough about keeping your wordpress blog safe. Wordpress team prevents your blog from being hacked and makes sure you can make money online with your wordpress blog, so be sure you upgrade your wordpress to the latest version.
Have you upgraded already? If not yet, upgrade to Wordpress 2.8.4 now!
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Lee,
Yes it is important to get your blog upgraded soon. My blog is on latest.
Thanks for advising.
@Sahil Kotak,
Yea, I experienced the bug until I read the post, so I upgraded it, again.
i still use the old 2,79…. lol….. it’s working fine in my blog… thanks lee for sharing this….
oh ya.. i wonder what plugin you use to show four small icon at the left of your page
EarningStep´s last blog ..Five easiest ways to make money with facebook – make money with facebook
@EarningStep,
Then you need to spend a few minutes to upgrade your Wordpress version.
Regarding the icon at the left hand side of my page, I have no idea how to do it on other wordpress theme but I do know how to do it in Thesis Theme.
I updated it as soon as it came out. Fresh out from oven.
SP Blogger´s last blog ..Focus on getting traffic not revenue
@SP Blogger,
Great to hear that you upgraded your Wordpress version. I was lazy to upgrade in the past too, but I worried the bugs killed my blog, so it was better to upgrade asap.
Very well said! congrats!
I upgraded to wordpress 2.8.4 when John Sullivan was talking around hackers changing bloggers adsense code to their own and stealing commissions and I heard hackers putting hidden text on the homepage.
You should be safe though and back up your blog before upgrading. Hopefully your blog will be fine now Lee.
@Blaine,
Thanks Blaine, my blog is alright now. That sounds scary, he should be able to keep track if he notices that his blog doesn’t make any money from Adsense in few days, and hidden text may hurt our blog and Google may penalize us too. So it’s better to upgrade asap.
I’m still on 2.7
Need to find some time to upgrade it.. You reminded me dude..will do it now..But last time i used a plugin to do this task..
TechZoomIn´s last blog ..Who is Reading your Blog? – Part 2
@TechZoomIn,
Yea, I think there is a plugin that helps to upgrade your blog to the latest Wordpress version in one click. But I prefer to upgrade manually. Upgrade asap before the bugs hack your blog.
Wasn’t 2.8.4 release last month? My Blog Dashboard is showing I am using version 2.8.4 but there ia a bar saying “WordPress 2.8.4 is available please update now”
What is happening? Any Idea?
Agent 001´s last blog ..Free Online PDF Tools to Join, Protect and Unlock your PDF files
@Agent 001,
It’s the same version if I’m not mistaken. As long as your wordpress cpanel shows that you’re using WP 2.8.4, then you’re safe. The Dashboard will be asking you to upgrade to the latest version even though you’ve already upgraded, it happened on me as well.
Hmm…! It happens on other blogs too. Thanks for telling me that. I feel a little relieved.
Agent 001´s last blog ..Free Online PDF Tools to Join, Protect and Unlock your PDF files
@Agent 001,
Seems that the bugs not only attacked my blog, but it would be safe after upgrading to the latest version, don’t worry dude.
The new version came out sometime ago, you need to ensure that you are always running on the latest version. Glad to see that you could resolve it
George Serradinho´s last blog ..Ebooks – 5 Different Free Downloads
@Serradinho,
Yea it was terrible when I faced the problem, I didn’t what happen at all. But luckily I was able to find out and fix it. Anyway, I’ve upgraded to the latest version and it’s fine now. Thanks dude!
One of my blogs has been recently attack. As of now I have upgraded most of them.
Ridiculous blogger´s last blog ..Upgrade your site now before an attack happen
@Ridiculous blogger,
So sorry to hear that, but it could be safe after you upgrade to the latest version.
I’m always upgrading with the lastest version of wordpress when it is available in my dashboard. I’m still waiting for the perfect wordpress version… do you think Wordpress won’t be free in several years?
Benjamin Cip´s last blog ..Become My Affiliate And Earn A 50% Commission!
@Benjamin Cip,
In my point of view, Wordpress will be free to use in several years, or else they will lose a lot of users since Drupal and other blog platforms are free to use.
Regarding the perfect wordpress version, Wordpress team will keep upgrading their system since there is more and more bug and virus attacking wordpress, so they will keep protecting their wordpress platform and their users as well.
Thanks for letting us know about this bug. It would be a shame to get penalized by google because your site has been compromized without your knowledge.
@marcus,
You’re welcome marcus! It can’t be considered as shame because there is more and more clever people creates “useful” and “wonderful” bugs to “help” us. Anyway. always upgrade your blog to the latest version then you wordpress blog might be free from virus.
Thanks for letting us know about this bug..My blog is on latest.
The same happend to me last week. Then Google informed me that my site was a Attacksite and i was band for 2 days. A clean server and a fresh wp install did the trick. Up and running again. So remember, if there is an upgrade available use it. It can safe your blog.
Ilonka´s last blog ..10 ideeën om meer traffic te krijgen door de juiste reacties te plaatsen
@Ilonka,
Too bad, hope your blog is in good condition right now.
done at several blogs. Not all hosting reach 2.8.4 yet. So, just upgrade at any hosting reach 2.8.4 first.
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I also upgraded to latest version 2.8.4 to prevent bugs. Before this I was using version 2.6.2 (really old version)
Lee | Money4Invest.Com´s last blog ..How To Quit Smoking | Quitting Smoking
@Lee,
Wow it was really too old, I was upgrading to 2.8.4 from 2.7.1, slightly newer than yours.
You’re right, Ka Hoong. It’s too old version now for Wordpress environment. Luckily I had upgraded it recently and I think the new version is great and easy to use too.
Lee | Money4Invest.Com´s last blog ..photo funny| photofunny.net| Free photo effects
@Lee,
Yea, there is more and more bugs attacking Wordpress blog, but don’t worry Wordpress team will do the work for us. As long as you upgrade to the latest version, then you’re safe.