A warning about free WordPress themes! Before downloading any themes you should know that in many there are encrypted links in the files, and some can’t be unencrypted without the theme deactivating. This means you are putting your site at risk!

Some sites include hidden links in their files. These links contain spam, viruses, cookies, and other undesirables. This is illegal. Users are only obligated to link back to the original designer, not some websites spam and viruses. Not only could destroy you and your sites reputation, have your site deleted by your host for malicious content, be removed from Google and other search engines, and be listed as an attack site, you could cause irreversible damage to you and your visitors computers and the other sites hosted on your server. Do not compromise the safety of your visitors, your host, and yourself. Check your WordPress files before uploading them, and if any contain encrypted content remove it using a free program like http://cyko.decodethe.net. If you cannot remove it DO NOT USE THE THEME.

Help keep the internet safe! Do not support illegal content! Always remove extra links and always credit the original source and designer. Support safe browsing!

Blacklist

The majority of free WordPress themes and theme sites out there do contain extra links, some hidden, some not, but here are some sites known for containing spam and/or malicious content. If you know of any WordPress themes or theme sites that should be blacklisted contact me.

• WPVulpe – All themes contain either encrypted or javascript links. Encryptions can be removed with DecodeThe.Net, but removal of the javascript footers cause the theme to error. Some can be remedied by deleted the footer.php file entirely.

• WordPress Free Themes Directory – Files containing encrypted, spam, and other bad links vary. It is recommed to check each file you download individually. Some links can be removed quite easily by just taking them out of the file, and others need to be unencrypted.

Remember to never remove designer credits!