Last week, when WordPress announced that Version 4.2 was available, I planned to take my time upgrading my site. Then I saw this from theme developer Photocrati in my Google Stream:
[Stream Missing]
It took me by surprised, because it was the first time I had heard about the availability of WordPress 4.2.1. Sure enough, WordPress has provided a critical security release for all previous versions of their CMS and the developers were strongly encouraging WordPress users to update their sites immediately. Apparently, the WordPress team were made aware of a cross-site scripting vulnerability which could enable commenters to compromise a site. You can check WordPress.org for additional information.
Updating your WordPress site to 4.2.1 also gets you all the brand new features found in the just just-released WordPress 4.2. WordPress is branding this major version upgrade as the one to help you communicate and share, globally. New features in WordPress 4.2 include:
- An easier way to share content: Clip it, edit it, publish it. Get familiar with the new and improved Press This. From the Tools menu, add Press This to your browser bookmark bar or your mobile device home screen. WordPress claims "sharing your favorite videos, images, and content has never been this fast or this easy".
- Extended character support: Writing in WordPress, whatever your language, just got better. WordPress 4.2 supports a host of new characters out-of-the-box, including native Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters, musical and mathematical symbols, and hieroglyphs. Don't use any of those characters? You can still have fun — emoji are now available in WordPress.
- Switch themes in the Customizer: Browse and preview your installed themes from the Customizer.
- Additional embeds: You can now paste links from Tumblr.com and Kickstarter and they will appear right in the WordPress editor.
- Streamlined plugin updates: The plugin update screen just got smoother and simpler.
As almost always the case, WordPress 4.2 is available for download or you can update your CMS through the WordPress dashboard on the admin side of your website.
Source: Wordpress.org