You should update your WordPress installation. It's incredibly insecure if you don't.

You may come across theme issues when updating, but you probably won't. It's unlikely.

I recall a WP update at some point within the past year or two that introduced a new javascript library or something like that. I forget, but I know it caused a jQuery conflict that was tough to unravel.

In my experience, you're much more likely to experience a plugin conflict than a theme conflict while updating, and both are unlikely. If you get a lot of traffic and want to play it safe, you could create a staging site and update there first, just to make sure nothing goes horribly wrong.

It's easier to deal with jQuery noconflict issues than hackers, although I suppose both can ruin one's afternoon.

Thanks dconjar,
Yeah, I know that new WP Versions cover potential security issues but I am always concerned that my Theme and Plugins will be affected with new version installs. I hate having to fix things un-necessarily.
So you think it's unlikely to effect my theme and plugins at all for many months and years, is that correct?

yes it is safe to update your Word Press but don't forget to back up sometimes other themes are not compatible with the recent Wordprsss update so you need to better check them out as well.

Hi,
Yes its safe when we have not customized anything in original setup and just running the WP sites with posts and themes applied. Its became critical when we had done something customization according to our requirement and update the WP version.
Backup taken in this case helps to recover or modify the things again as per our need.

Its not safe if you are NOT UPDATING! Updates means the software vulnerabilities are patched. So not point of keep updates out.

You have to back up your website first before updating to newer version.

You ask some very good questions.

For the first question about affecting your theme: Many themes and many plugins will be affected when you update wordpress. Some will have minor problems. Some will not work at all.

The update may be a minor inconvenience. And it may be your worst nightmare.

But if you are asking this question at all, it means that you want to avoid this problem. You are not someone who has the time, who has the expertise and who has the inclination to wrestle with programming bugs and things that just won't work anymore, who knows why and where can you get some help to fix it.

I can tell you for sure, though, when it will go wrong. It will go wrong, and badly, just at the moment that you cannot afford to have your site down for any reason whatsoever.

You know what I mean: You are updating, but you are holding your breath, because it just has to be right. And...

...you get a hard slap to the face. Just an error message and you can't access anything. Have you seen that? Your whole site disappears? You won't like it when you do.

Now, if you take the advice of the mavens at WordPress you'll just deal with child themes. You may already know about child themes. Child themes do not modify the files of the parent -- in this case the basic word press files -- unlike human children who can and do fundamentally alter their parents.

So when use a child theme and the WordPress is updated "your modifications are preserved. You can read about it here. For safety and peace of mind that may be the way for you to go.

For the second question about not updating WordPress, that is not a good choice.

One of the main reasons that WordPress is updated is that the soft underbelly of the program has been probed and weaknesses have been identified. Sinister entities can then use these weaknesses to ravage your site. You do not want to be ravaged, no?

Updating your WordPress files is one of the best ways to keep your site secure.

For the third question, the files that you need to back up are your database files. The database files contain all your content. You can have a fresh WordPress install in three minutes but if you lose all your content you may never regain it.

nice post,quite informative post...
thanks for share....

Always check if the plugins are compateble with the new wp version. And don't forget to make that backup!!

I've been doing that for over a year, never had a problem.

If you're unsure, then keep a weekly or monthly backup of your MySQL database, that's pretty much the only thing you need to keep your blog mobile (and perhaps uploaded resources, but they won't get corrupt from an update).

I dont think its wrong , yes it is safe to update your Word Press but don't forget to back up sometimes other themes are not compatible with the recent Wordprsss update so you need to better check them out as well.

Hello,

I think before updating it is always a good idea to check what is the actual update...If there are no critical components than you can skip it and not worry about it. On the other hand, if the fix is about critical security hole than that's another story.

There are many ways to automate your backups. It really depends on how you are set up right now. (virtual drive, ftp, etc.) Your hosting provider might be offering some good stuff as well...

Based on my experience for wordpress platform, there are nothing effect for your wordpress site if you not updating regularly. This update version needed if you want to install new plugin or other tools to increase your WP performance.

Don't forget you could always post a question on the support forum of your theme provider if you're worried.

But the chances of something going wrong with a theme is really, really low - and if you're using one of the bigger theme companies like Genesis, DIY Themes, Elegant Themes, etc.you can be sure they'd fix any problem pretty quickly.

XCloner is a nice WordPress plugin for backing up your site and database. It makes recovery very easy, and also can clone / move your site. Makes it super easy to backup your site prior to upgrading, which is essential in this hacker rife environment!

Thank you to everyone for your input and suggestions, it's much appreciated.

I was told by another warrior about a free WP Plugin called - WP-DB-Backup. It will backup all of the database weekly or monthly automatically. Sounds like this could be my answer, what you think?