WordPress often lures people in with promises of flexibility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness when managing websites. But beneath the surface lies a platform riddled with vulnerabilities that can cripple businesses in ways money cannot fix.
Our recent experience hosting a WordPress site was a stark reminder of this reality. Despite years of avoiding WordPress due to its inherent security flaws and notorious reputation for being easily compromised, we reluctantly agreed to host a WordPress site for a client. What followed was an incident that reinforced our decision to steer clear of this platform for good.
WordPress: A Time Bomb Waiting to Go Off
The core of WordPress is a ticking time bomb. While touted as an advantage, its open-source nature allows cybercriminals to exploit its countless loopholes. For businesses, this is more than just a technical issue—it’s a liability that can result in operational disruption, repetitional damage, and loss of customer trust.
Adding to the problem are companies that aggressively push WordPress as a solution. These companies often prioritise fast deployment and rely on cheap labour to set up and maintain WordPress sites. However, the people they hire are frequently under-educated in cybersecurity best practices, leaving these sites vulnerable to exploitation. Worse yet, some individuals hired to work on WordPress sites have been known to act maliciously. When they are no longer employed, they create issues for their former employers, sabotaging systems and exploiting security gaps. This dangerous combination of unskilled labour and criminal behaviour makes WordPress riskier for businesses.
We’ve always believed that hosting WordPress is a gamble, and this incident proved it. The risks far outweigh the benefits, no matter how affordable or free it may appear.
Look, we are not the only ones speaking negatively about WordPress. The platform’s reputation for being dangerous isn’t just opinion—it’s a well-documented fact supported by experts in cybersecurity and real-world incidents.
- https://theadminbar.com/security-weekly/what-will-wordpress-security-look-like-in-2025
- https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2025/01/wordfence-intelligence-weekly-wordpress-vulnerability-report-january-6-2025-to-january-12-2025
- https://claesjonasson.design/wordpress-and-the-built-in-bomb
The Nightmare Unfolds
Against our better judgment, we agreed to host a WordPress site for a client whose original hosting provider had taken it down. Out of goodwill, we duplicated the site on our servers to help them get back online. Initially, all seemed well.
However, the problems began quickly. The site suddenly went offline, demanding an upgrade. We complied, only to realise that it wasn’t a necessary upgrade but a forced downgrade of the WordPress version. This was the first red flag.
Shortly after, the site turned malicious. Unknown scripts were generated within WordPress itself, which began running applications that crippled our entire server, affecting other sites that were not WordPress we hosted. It didn’t stop there.
Hackers had gained access to critical credentials, including API keys. They used these stolen resources to send phishing emails through our domain (web@***.com), seriously threatening our reputation. While preemptive security measures limited the damage to just 120 emails, the incident was a wake-up call about the cost of trusting WordPress.
The Real Cost of WordPress
This incident didn’t just harm the compromised site—it affected our entire operation. Imagine if these emails had reached thousands of people. Imagine the damage to our business reputation, the loss of client trust, and the legal complications that would follow.
WordPress isn’t just a cost-saving solution for businesses—it’s a potential financial and operational disaster. No amount of money can undo the damage caused by breaches like these. In today’s world, where cybersecurity is critical, trusting WordPress is like handing your business over to criminals on a silver platter.
Why Businesses Should Avoid WordPress at All Costs
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High Vulnerability: The open-source nature of WordPress transforms it into a playground for hackers. Despite numerous updates or plugins, absolute protection remains elusive (Certain plugins are generating more problems like backdoors and malware 😂)
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Business Risk: A compromised WordPress site doesn’t just impact the site itself—it can take down servers, cripple other operations, and damage reputations.
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False Economy: While WordPress may seem cost-effective or even free, the cost of a breach can be catastrophic. The downtime, recovery, and reputation repair can far exceed any perceived savings.
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Unreliable Foundation: The WordPress core is fundamentally flawed. Businesses can’t afford to build their operations on an unstable platform.
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Exploitation Risk: Companies that promote WordPress often employ individuals who lack proper security knowledge, and some may even pose a direct threat if they act maliciously after their employment ends. (we have seen this and encountered this before)
Our Stance Moving Forward
We’ve learned our lesson the hard way: WordPress is not worth the risk. No matter how appealing it may seem, we strongly advise businesses to avoid it. Even if it’s free, the price you’ll eventually pay will be far too high.
For those who value security, stability, and long-term success. Businesses cannot afford to compromise on their digital infrastructure.
Ultimately, this isn’t just about websites—it’s about protecting your business, reputation, and future. WordPress might be popular, but popularity doesn’t equal safety. Stay vigilant and choose wisely.
Note: This article highlighted the serious risks of using WordPress for business purposes. We encourage readers to prioritise security and consider alternatives to avoid the devastating consequences of a WordPress breach—we learned our lesson!