If you’re wondering if WordPress Plugins can contain viruses and you want to learn how you can find out if they do… then this article is for you.
Since WordPress is a very secure Platform, it has been a target for Hackers over the years… Let’s now take a look at the answer to your question.
Can WordPress Plugins Contain Viruses?
Yes, they can. WordPress Plugins are a set of files that contains codes that are used on your Website and as such can contain viruses.
These viruses most times are created by hackers who want to gain access to a website they don’t own, some theme developers also create viruses to punch WordPress users who wish to use nulled themes and plugins on their site.
For Hackers, their goal may be to gain access to your website and then copy all your customers’ details and start spamming them or to use your website as a link farm (sending links to their websites in a spammy manner).
They also create lines of code that can copy your website’s wp-config.php file and use the info to access your website whenever they want.
For Themes and Plugin Developers who create viruses, their motive is to punish those WordPress users who don’t want to pay for their Themes and Plugins and go for the nulled version.
My Experience with a Virus
I’ve had a run-in with one type of virus that turned the user’s into a One-Page website and on the one page, it boldly told the users to desist from using the Nulled Version of their WordPress Plugin, they also added a link to the Themeforest sales page. Lol 🙂
Eventually, the issue was fixed by restoring a backup, if you don’t know how to backup your WordPress Website ← here’s how to do so.
In any case, you should avoid using nulled WordPress Plugins and Themes, delete inactive WordPress plugins and themes, and update them frequently as these three reasons are mostly why WordPress Sites get infected with Viruses.
You should also get a good hosting plan from either Bluehost or Hostinger because both can help you with daily automatic backups so you don’t lose you site to hackers and viruses.
If you have any questions or anything to add to this topic, let’s hear your opinion in the comments section.
