[Jeffery]

The worse WordPress Plugins that degrade your website and often cause security vulnerabilities are plugins that have been removed from the WordPress.org Plugin Directory.

Possible reasons that plugins are removed:

• they are found to break the GPL
• they are found to break the directory rules
• other plugins by the author are found to be a problem and all are removed pending investigation
• the author asks for it to be closed
• the author asks for it to be closed because they are re-releasing under a different name
• it is being investigated after non-specific complaints
• there is a security vulnerability

It is all too common for WordPress users to use free plugins found at the WordPress.org Plugin Directory simply because the plugins are free. And since the plugins are in the official directory then those plugins must be perfect? No, not always and that is where problems usually start.


Plugins may be seemingly fine when first installed on our WordPress installation(s). However, when newer versions of WordPress are released, those plugins may also need newer releases/versions to be compatible with WordPress.



Our problem is we do not automatically know when our plugins are no longer compatible with our version of WordPress. We do not know when plugins are removed by the administrators of WordPress.org.



Worse case scenario is our websites are running out-dated plugins that open the doors to security vulnerabilities: hackers, spammers, malware etc.


... Solution ...


The solution is a plugin that checks for installed plugins that are no longer in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory. A new page will be created in the WordPress Admin (Dashboard) that alerts us to all of the installed plugins that we need to remove or possibly deactivate until a newer version of the plugin is available.


Read More about it here:
WordPress › No Longer in Directory « WordPress Plugins


Jeffery 100% :-)

[Jeffery]

Reserved for FAQ.

1) Question: Do plugins affect website performance?

Answer: Yes, both positive and negative. Here is a quick explanation with links to determine what is right for your website:
(Worse WordPress Plugins: Website Performance: Post #5)

Jeffery 100% :-)

[Patrician]

Good info, Jeffery - adding this link to my tips and tricks thread so it doesn't get buried.

Thank you!

[Jeffery]

Your welcome Pat and glad you find the plugin helpful

Jeffery 100% :-)

[Jeffery]

1) Website Performance.
Plugins directly affect our website performance. All search engines monitor and determine a website's performance on many factors, but one of the the basic factors is performance, i.e. "load-time." Plugins increase our website's page "load-time" because all plugins use our website resources. There are many types of resources, but the most important resource is: memory. The simple explanation is all plugins use memory and the more memory a plugin uses will result in low to high load-time. This usually affects the "home page" and the WordPress Admin (Dashboard) as well as overall website performance.

Our objective is optimal website performance for the search engines and our website visitors. This is not always easily accomplished because there are so many different types of websites such as a normal blog, niche sites, eCommerce sites, and so forth. Most sites utilize standard plugins on almost all types of websites. Plugins that are not standard for all sites are a major factor.

We are often left in the dark in terms of knowing exactly which plugins are worse for website performance. It is fairly easy to measure a website's performance and even compare our websites to others. When we realize our website is not performing well and we want to figure out why .. it is time to have an authoritative look at our plugins.

...Solution...

There is in fact an authoritative website that actually focuses on plugins and website performance. You might be surprised when you see the results of some of the popular plugins that are free in the official WordPress Plugin Depository.

Link 1:
Plugins performance testing: 2012 / January – Benchmark | Dev4Press

Link 2: (Be sure to read between the lines)
Measuring impact of plugins on WordPress loading – Benchmark | Dev4Press

Jeffery 100% :-)

[Steven Hill]

Thanks Jeffery, for some great info.

[Jeffery]

Hi Steven,

Your welcome. BTW, I noticed that the site in your sig is running an outdated version of WordPress.

Jeffery 100% :-)

[Allen Lundy]

Very good information Jeffrey.

You are and continue to be a great source of relevant and current information.

Thank you for your time and for sharing your indepth knowledge.

Allen

[Jeffery]

Hi Allen nice to see you and I thank you kindly

Jeffery 100% :-)