WP Builds This Week in WordPress #351
10 snips
Oct 7, 2025 Tim Nash, a security consultant specializing in WordPress, discusses the concept of randomness in computers and its implications for AI. Courtney Robertson, an open source developer advocate, highlights the new accessibility knowledge base on wpaccessibility.org. They also explore the recent WordPress 6.8.3 security updates and the significance of Tammie Lister’s Blocktober project. Additionally, the panel reflects on improving plugin discoverability and the celebration of the free Ollie Menu Designer plugin, emphasizing community contributions and ethical tech practices.
AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Computers Can't Make True Randomness
- Computers are fundamentally deterministic and cannot produce true randomness without an external source.
- Pseudo-random outputs can be 'good enough' for many uses but are ultimately reproducible if you know the inputs.
Apply Security Updates Immediately
- Update WordPress immediately when security releases arrive and enable auto-updates for client sites.
- Remember core security fixes are sometimes backported to older branches but only the latest version is actively supported.
PatchStack Publishing Oops Caused Panic
- PatchStack accidentally published a vulnerability notice before a fix was available and caused widespread cached warnings.
- That single mistake triggered automated emails and host banners, showing how fragile coordinated security communication can be.
