Why you should never use nulled scripts.

A client recently imported a business website to Target Host from a popular hosting provider and for a week straight, we had back-to-back support tickets with issues ranging from spam to defacement of the website. We signed him up for our hack removal service and on an investigation, discovered that his previous developer had used a nulled WordPress theme( specifically Divi) and plugins on his website.

We worked tirelessly to clean up his website and get him back on track. It was a relatively busy site so we first had to make sure no information would be lost in the process. We removed all the nulled themes and plugins and replaced them with legitimate, up-to-date versions. This experience is the inspiration for this post and if even one person is saved from the aggravation as a result of this, it would be considered a success.

WordPress is a popular platform used to build websites of almost any type. It is favoured by a lot of website developers because it is widely used and has a lot of themes and plugins which make the delivery of a fully functional website take a fraction of the time it would take to code the same website with all features from scratch.

The issue is, most of the popular themes and plugins cost money, ranging from tens to hundreds and even thousands of dollars. As a result of this cost, some hackers take the original theme/plugin, take out the parts that ensure you have to pay to use them and then upload these paid themes/plugins as free (or cheaper) to download.

A lot of developers are attracted by this low/free cost and use these nulled themes in client projects to save cost and make a few extra pounds but the problem with this is while taking out those parts that ensure payment, most of the time, devious hackers add exploits in the code of these scripts that stay dormant till you install them and realise all of a sudden your site is sending out millions of spam emails every day, has a fake bank login page generated on it or has the homepage or other pages defaced.

Using nulled themes and plugins is a huge risk, and as a business owner, you should never allow your developers to use them on your website. Here are some reasons why:

1. Security Risks: As mentioned earlier, nulled themes and plugins often contain malicious code that can compromise your website’s security. These scripts can contain backdoors that allow hackers to gain access to your website, steal sensitive data or use your website to launch attacks on other websites.
2. No Support: When you buy a legitimate theme or plugin, you get access to support from the developers. This means that if you encounter any issues or have questions about how to use the theme/plugin, you can get help. With nulled themes and plugins, you’re on your own. If something goes wrong, you have no one to turn to for help.
3. Updates: Themes and plugins are updated regularly to fix bugs and address security issues. When you use a nulled script, you miss out on these updates, leaving your website vulnerable to attacks.
4. Legal Issues: Using nulled scripts is illegal. When you download a theme or plugin from a nulled site, you’re essentially stealing from the developers. If you get caught, you could face legal action and hefty fines.
5. Quality Issues: Nulled themes and plugins are often of poor quality. They may contain bugs, be poorly coded, or not work as advertised. This can lead to a poor user experience for your visitors and damage your reputation.

In short, the short-term gain of using nulled scripts is not worth the long-term damage they can cause to your website, your customers, and your business. Investing in legitimate, up-to-date versions of themes and plugins will not only ensure the security and performance of your website but will also protect you from legal issues down the line.

As a business owner, it is crucial to make sure that your developers are using legitimate versions of themes and plugins. Don’t take shortcuts that compromise the security and integrity of your website. Protect your business and your customers by investing in quality tools and practices. Remember, a hacked website can result in loss of income, damage to your reputation, and even legal trouble. Don’t take the risk.