How failing to update WordPress can cost you big time

WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites worldwide – WPZoom (2025).

That’s around 533 million sites. With such massive usage, it’s no surprise that WordPress is a favourite target for hackers.

However, many site owners fall behind on updates:

• Only around 62% of WordPress sites run the latest version.
• As a result, nearly 4 in 10 sites remain vulnerable to known exploits.

What Happens When You Don’t Patch

Outdated sites are easy targets. In fact, the numbers are alarming:

• About 4.3% of WordPress sites are hacked each year.
• That’s roughly 13,000 hacks per day or 4.7 million annually.
• Even worse, most of these attacks happen automatically and without warning.

Common Vulnerabilities (and Why They Matter)

Most attacks don’t come through the front door. Instead, they slip through weak spots:

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) causes around 50% of all known vulnerabilities.
• Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) accounts for another 15%.
• Moreover, over 52% of all threats start with outdated plugins or themes.

Why Patching Is So Important

Wordfence reported a 68% increase in WordPress vulnerabilities last year (WordFence 2024 Annual Report)

Fortunately, most were medium risk. However, almost all successful hacks involved sites that hadn’t been updated.

Therefore, staying current with updates significantly reduces your risk. It’s a simple but highly effective way to protect your website.

Most Attacks Are Automated

Here’s what many site owners don’t realise: 97% of WordPress hacks are automated.

In other words, bots are constantly scanning the web for known weaknesses. If your site is unpatched, it’s only a matter of time before it’s targeted.

Don’t Let Your Site Be Next

Let’s break it down:

• Up to 38% of WordPress sites remain unpatched.
• As a result, hackers compromise millions of them each year.
• Thankfully, most of these attacks are preventable with a smart update routine.

What You Can Do

Here are some practical steps you can take today:

• Update everything regularly — including plugins, themes and WordPress core.
• Use tools like Wordfence to get alerts and block suspicious activity.
• Choose secure hosting that actively maintains server software.
• Back up your site before updates, just in case something goes wrong.

Why Auto-Updates Aren’t Foolproof

Set-and-forget auto-updates may sound convenient. However, they can be risky.

For example, a single plugin conflict could crash your site or even lock you out entirely. Fixing the issue can cost hundreds in developer fees. That’s why we recommend updating manually — with a full backup first.

How IWSA Can Help

At IWSA Web Solutions, we go beyond advice — we manage everything for you:

• Automatic backups and controlled patching for peace of mind
• Security reporting on risks such as:
  • Outdated server software
  • Blacklisted IPs from your hosting provider
  • Missing security headers that could expose your site
• Hands-on support to fix issues before they become costly problems

Ready for a Safer Website?

For only $55.00 per month, invoiced quarterly, you can have peace of mind that your WordPress site is safe and secure. Get in touch with us today to organise this service for your WordPress site.