Nulled WordPress Themes – Why You Should Avoid Them
To many, the use of nulled WordPress themes may seem harmless. However, if you're actually interested in building your site to be as effective and user-friendly as possible, then you need to avoid them like the plague.
They can damage your site from both an aesthetic and functional standpoint.
What Are Nulled WordPress Themes and Plugins?
The term nulled refers to a file that has had its copyright protection, or Digital Rights Management (DRM), removed.
Nulled files are often offered for free download on the internet.
The most common way that people acquire null files is by downloading them from a third party.
Think of them as copies of premium WordPress products that have been modified and made available for free.
Even though they are not always illegal, there are several reasons why you should avoid using them.
Premium WordPress products are often licensed under the General Public License (GPL).
Unfortunately, a drawback is that it allows anyone to alter and distribute the software.
Any developer has permission to obtain, modify and release a premium version of a product to the public.
Why You Shouldn't Use Them
1. Bad for SEO
Many people are unaware that when they download a free, nulled WordPress theme or plugin, it could be bad for SEO.
This means that your site could be crawling with spam links, which will make it hard to rank in Google or Bing.
The thing is that such links are hidden among other WordPress codes, which makes it harder for you to detect them – but not for search engines.
They will instantly punish your site by bringing down the rank or de-indexing it, so be careful.
2. No Security
Nulled themes are free and can be downloaded from various websites; however, it's important to note that these have no security.
For example, they may contain viruses or malicious code that infect your website.
Oh, you will scan for malware?
While it can detect some harmful code, there's always a chance you'll miss something.
After all, hackers know how to disguise malware so that it likely won't be detected.
You won't realize the damage until it's too late.
3. No Support from the Developer
Free nulled WordPress themes seem so accessible and easy to use.
While saving money by not having to buy the original theme is tempting, there are some major drawbacks.
Another reason is that you will not get any support from the developer if there is an issue with your site or something does not work correctly.
Developers frequently release updates to patch software bugs or address security vulnerabilities.
You won't get these updates if you acquire a nulled version of a plugin or theme.
Conclusion
Nulled themes can be tempting for those who are just starting to build their own website, but there are many reasons why you should avoid them.
If you really want a professional-looking site, it is better to spend the time and money on your own original theme than to risk choosing a nulled theme that could have malware or put your site at risk in other ways.
Many people may think that using a nulled theme will save them money, but this is not the case.
Nulled themes cost nothing to download and use; however, they will give you such bad headaches it won't be worth it.
