Automattic quietly updated the WP Engine Tracker website with an activity log showing a continuously updated list of domains that have switched away from managed WordPress host, WP Engine. This update is part of Mullenweg’s self-described “nuclear war” against WP Engine, with the Tracker site actively promoting competitors by offering links to their hosting promotions. WP … Read more
A flaw in a WordPress anti-spam plugin with over 200,000 installations allows rogue plugins to be installed on affected websites. Security researchers rated the vulnerability 9.8 out of 10, reflecting the high level of severity determined by security researchers. Screenshot Of CleanTalk Vulnerability Severity Rating CleanTalk Anti-Spam WordPress Plugin Vulnerability A highly rated anti-spam firewall … Read more
WP Engine had their day in court, but it didn’t go entirely in their favor, as Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín ruled the request for a preliminary injunction was too vague. However, the judge said they were “inclined to grant some sort of injunction.” “That’s How You Set A Ransom” The attorney for plaintiff offered new details … Read more
Automattic cloned WP Engine’s paid ACF Premium plugin and is distributing it for free. Many in the WordPress community disapprove of this action, expressing concerns that it undermines the plugin and theme ecosystem. Advanced Custom Fields Plugin Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is a WordPress plugin that’s popular with WordPress website developers because it enables them … Read more
This post was sponsored by Bluehost. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. When trying to improve your WordPress site’s search rankings, hosting might not be the first thing on your mind. But your choice of hosting provider can significantly impact your SEO efforts. A poor hosting setup can slow down your … Read more
WP Engine escalated its Federal complaint by citing Automattic’s publication of the WP Engine Tracker website as evidence of intent to harm WP Engine and exposing customers to potential cybercrimes. The updated complaint incorporates recent actions by Mullenweg to further strengthen their case. A spokesperson for WP Engine issued a statement to Search Engine Journal … Read more
WordPress has released version 6.7, codenamed Rollins. This update introduces better font controls, a new default theme, enhanced design tools for easier page creation, 65 accessibility improvements, and performance optimizations. Version 6.7 focuses on making it easy to build attractive, high-performance websites. Twenty Twenty-Five Theme Twenty Twenty-Five is the new default theme that ships with … Read more
Wordfence issued an advisory on a vulnerability patched in the popular Happy Addons for Elementor plugin, installed on over 400,000 websites. The security flaw could allow attackers to upload malicious scripts that execute when browsers visit affected pages. Happy Addons for Elementor The Happy Addons for Elementor plugin extends the Elementor page builder with dozens … Read more
In an ironic twist to the ongoing dispute between Automattic and WP Engine, a newly published website on WPEngineTracker.com is displaying a protest message against CEO Matt Mullenweg. Copycat Domain Name Registered Someone registered the domain name WPEngineTracker.com using the words that Automattic’s WordPressEngineTracker.com domain uses to describe itself (WP Engine Tracker) . If people … Read more
Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker website was temporarily blocked by Cloudflare over the weekend as a suspected phishing site, sparking cheers from members of the WordPress subreddit. Meanwhile, someone registered the typosquatting domain WPEngineTracker.com to protest against Matt Mullenweg. Automattic, presumably under the direction of Matt Mullenweg, recently created a website called WP Engine Tracker on … Read more
Automattic appears to have created a site that draws attention to the number of customers that have left WP Engine for another web host. The site includes a searchable database of websites hosted on WP Engine that can also be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet. The name of the website is WP Engine Tracker, it … Read more
Lawyers for Matt Mullenweg and Automattic filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit from WP Engine, offering a different perspective on the dispute’s underlying causes. The motion to dismiss claims that the one causing harm isn’t Mullenweg and Automattic but WP Engine, asserting that WP Engine is compelling the defendant to provide resources and support … Read more
This post was sponsored by Kinsta. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. Managing client sites can quickly become costly in terms of time, money, and expertise, especially as your agency grows. You’re constantly busy fixing slow WordPress performance, handling downtime, or regularly updating and backing up ecommerce sites and small blogs. … Read more
Matt Mullenweg portrayed himself as a victim in his dispute with WP Engine, claiming in a tweet and blog post that they are ‘trying to curtail’ his free speech. Social media responses ranged from polite debunking of his First Amendment claim to accusations of hypocrisy. TL/DR Of Dispute With WP Engine Matt Mullenweg, co-creator of … Read more
Automattic CEO and WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg announced a new Executive Director for WordPress.org after the previous director’s resignation. Social media reactions, while generally positive, were notably subdued, with many comments focused on the recent WordPress controversy. New Executive Director Mullenweg announced that Mary Hubbard, was hired as the new Executive Director. Hubbard was formerly … Read more
Josepha Haden Chomphosy, Executive Director of the WordPress Project, officially announced her resignation, ending a nine-year tenure. This comes just two weeks after Matt Mullenweg launched a controversial campaign against a managed WordPress host, which responded by filing a federal lawsuit against him and Automattic. She posted an upbeat notice on her personal blog, reaffirming … Read more
WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO announced today that he offered Automattic employees the chance to resign with a severance pay and a total of 8.4 percent. Mullenweg offered $30,000 or six months of salary, whichever one is higher, with a total of 159 people taking his offer. Reactions Of Automattic Employees Given the recent controversies … Read more
WP Engine, the managed web host recently banned from WordPress.org, has filed a federal lawsuit against WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging attempted extortion as well as seeking relief from trademark infringement claims. The goal of the federal lawsuit is to stop Mullenweg from continuing to “harm” WP Engine and the WordPress ecosystem as … Read more
