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The Nugget with Michelle Martello

this one's nerdy, but critical

Published 1 day ago • 2 min read

I thought I'd come back from my yoga retreat this week all rested and as relaxed as the two resident peeping tom turkeys who loved watching me use the outdoor sauna. ​
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The internet had other plans for me. Bear with me, this gets a mite bit technical - and if you've got someone handling your website for you, you'll want to check in with them. ​
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Message board chatter this week indicated that a critical PHP security update was due to be released to fix a major vulnerability. Why is this a big deal? Because a huge number of websites use PHP (a programming language).
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​And if your site runs on WordPress, you ARE affected by this.
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​Wednesday morning, the fixes became available. But folks on hosted servers have to wait until their provider installs the latest PHP release so they can upgrade.
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I spent the entire time driving back furiously hotspotting my laptop with sketchy mountain signals so I could refresh server status screens. Fortunately, the webhosts I typically use (Siteground, Kinsta and WP Engine) had the fixes posted quickly.
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​Not using WordPress, but using another platform or have a hand/vibe-coded site? You might still be at risk - ask whoever built your site or your favorite chatbot to figure out if you're using PHP. Squarespace, Webflow, Wix and Kajabi folks can sit this one out. ​
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Using WordPress? You can tell if you're up to date by logging into your site's dashboard and going to:

  • Tools > Site Health on the left-hand menu. Then click on Info > Server.
  • If the PHP version is listed as 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36, or 8.2.35 - you've got the fix.
  • Some older versions also got the patch, but you really should upgrade to a newer supported version once you test your site.

This fix doesn't have to be scary or overwhelming, but it's a good reminder to take the time to:

  1. Know where your site is hosted and verify your login credentials work (you'd be shocked how many business owners DO NOT have this critical info handy).
  2. Know how to access your webhost customer support - and if you're unsure on what to do, contact them before you make any big changes!
  3. Make a plan to keep your site updated and test any upgrades before pushing changes to your live site.

Less nerdy and more marketing stuff in my next email, promise.​
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you've got this,
Michelle
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p.s. if you're looking to host a yoga, writing or culinary retreat on the east coast, may I recommend Firecreek Retreat located just outside of Asheville, NC. Gorgeous location, epic scenery and peeping turkeys are a delightful bonus.
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​p.p.s. miss my last email? Catch it here: delightfully analog.

upcoming + work with me ​
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Now booking consults for November 2026. Inquire here for details.​
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​tech I love​
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​WisprFlow​* - capture every thought quickly​
​Kit* - my favorite easy-to-use email tool (you're reading it right now!)
​Kajabi* - what I use to host courses and digital products.
​ManyChat* - what I use to automate messages on social media
​Hello Audio* - what I use to create private podcasts

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The Nugget with Michelle Martello

Digital Product Design + Online Business Strategy

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