Bug in Google's reporting of old wordpress version

[realmaverick]

In November last year, I moved from Wordpress to Invision blogs, as it better integrated with my forums. The URL structure couldn't be kept in tact, due to ID's in the new blog URL.s So we manually setup redirects to the new blog. They work fine.

On January 20th, I received a message, informing me my WP blog was out of date. Somehow they got the version number spot on. I'm guessing it was gathered, prior to the move in November.

So as an extra measure, I renamed the entire directory. Yet Feb, March and April, I have received the message in GWT, informing me that my blog is out of date and venerable.

I can only guess, that there is a flaw in how the system works. It appears that a flag is created upon finding an outdated version and isn't removed, until they see a new version. Which of course they will never see, as it no longer exists.

I'd just ignore the messages, but it concerns me that this may effect the health of the website. Surely it's reasonable, for Google to see it as a negative signal, that a blog is out of date and vulnerable?

I cannot think of a way to fix this?

[g1smd]

Do any of the URLs that might uniquely identify that WP is in use, still return "200 OK"?

[realmaverick]

For 3 months, the name of the folder was changed to /newssss/ just to ensure Google couldn't get it's mitts on any of the files.

But the messages continued to come.

I can only assume that the flag can only be removed, once Google sees proof that a new version has been installed. I'm just not sure how to fool Google in to believing I have upgraded. Though I shouldn't have to.

Am I being paranoid, with my concern that this maybe a negative signal?

[goodroi]

To be honest I haven't properly tested this so I don't know for sure. But based on my experience this is not a significant negative signal. It might be a negative signal but IMHO not a big one (especially considering this is for non-existing pages).

Google has been emailing me to upgrade an abandoned wordpress sites for several months. During this time the rankings for that abandoned site haven't significantly changed. Maybe I have enough positive signals to that old wordpress site that the possible negative signal of running outdated wordpress doesn't hurt. Or maybe the competition is just too weak that even with this possible negative signal I still rank. Either way it makes me think it is not a significant negative signal.

I would still strongly encourage everyone to update their wordpress for any site that they care about. Outdated wordpress leads to hacked sites and hidden backlinks which is a HUGE risk.

[netmeg]

I don't know for sure, of course, but I suspect Google would only take negative action if they detected malware or a hack. I haven't seen anything (in my experience or from G) that would lead me to believe that outdated WP would be a ranking factor one way or the other.