WP-Optimize Plugin Accused of Cheating PageSpeed and Other Performance Testing Tools
Gijo Varghese, a developer who calls himself a “web performance enthusiast,” shocked WordPress users around the world over the weekend when he tweeted a screenshot of how WP-Optimize is explicitly preventing select JavaScript files from loading when users test their sites through popular performance testing tools. “When a site is loaded, the JavaScript files are loaded only when the user-agent/browser is not Lighthouse/GTmetrix/Headless Chrome/Pingdom,” Varghese said. “No JS = high scores. But for real users, these JS files are loaded!” How "WP Optimize" is cheating PageSpeed and other testing tools When a site is loaded, the JavaScript files are loaded only when the user-agent/browser is not Lighthouse/GTmetrix/Headless Chrome/Pingdom.No JS = high scores. But for real users, these JS files are loaded! pic.twitter.com/uuOiAOgvoo— Gijo Varghese (@GijoVarghese_) August 26, 2022 Varghese confirmed that he was testing the free version of WP-Optimize, which is used on more than a million WordPress sites. UpdraftPlus acquired WP-Optimize in 2016 and claims that the tool “has everything you need to keep your website fast and thoroughly optimized.” A commercial version is also promoted through the free plugin that is hosted on WordPress.org. “Tell me, UpdraftPlus, how I’m supposed to continue trusting your company with my clients’…
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