Learning how to decode a WordPress theme is an essential part of keeping your WordPress blog or website secure. Learning how to decode a WordPress theme is a great tool to have because here is no legitimate reason that a theme designer should be encoding the theme in the first place.
Before you begin learning how to decode a WordPress theme that has been encrypted, it is important to learn that it is best to avoid using a theme that has been encrypted in the first place. WordPress encourages users to avoid using encrypted themes because often times, the designer has used the theme coding to insert and hid malicious code. While decoding your WordPress theme might help to get rid of any malicious coding that was hidden there in the first place, it is not a fool proof way to protect yourself and your WordPress blog. If you are using an encoded WordPress theme and didn’t realize it, but really like the look of your WordPress theme, you can try decoding it to help enhance your WordPress security.
Because many WordPress users, especially those that use their WordPress website to host an online business, rely on tough WordPress security features to ensure important and often financial information is not stolen or lost. However, sometimes switching the look of your website too much by changing the entire theme can be confusing for some viewers, so the website administrator might choose to simply go with learning how to decode a WordPress theme rather than change themes altogether. If this is your intention, keep reading to learn how to decode a WordPress theme and to enhance the security of your WordPress blog.
How to Decode a WordPress Theme:
Depending on your type of coding for your theme, there are online decoders that can be used to decode your WordPress theme that seems to be encrypted or obfuscated. Check out the WordPress codex forums to learn more about these online tools. Depending on the type of theme you have in your WordPress theme, there are certain decoders for certain types of interface. This thread will help you distinguish which theme yours is decoded as and how to decode it and repaste it back in your theme. This should help clean up the garbage in your theme. However, keep in mind that your code still may not be free of the security risks or malicious coding.
If you still seem to have problems with your WordPress website, it might be a good idea to consider just switching themes. While you may think you have found the best WordPress theme on the web, it is important to keep in mind that there are thousands of free and premium WordPress themes available to be chosen from based on your website type, interests, and whether or not you want to pay for a theme. Sometimes, unless you feel you can completely rid the code of malicious intent, it might just be a better idea to get a WordPress theme that is properly coded without being encrypted, and is not such a hassle to deal with when designing your WordPress website or blog.