How do the most popular opensource CMS websites compare in terms of getting hacked and security?

According to the latest data and statistics, here's how the major open-source CMS platforms compare in terms of security and vulnerability to hacking...

WordPress

WordPress has the highest rate of hacked websites among major CMS platforms.

• According to a 2019 report by Sucuri, WordPress accounted for 94% of infected websites among known CMS platforms.
• This high percentage is partly due to WordPress's immense popularity, making it a prime target for hackers.
• WordPress sites are often compromised due to vulnerabilities in third-party plugins and themes, rather than the core software itself.
• While these statistics are from 2019, they were still being cited in articles from 2022 and 2023, suggesting that no more recent comprehensive studies have been published.

Joomla

Joomla has a significantly lower rate of hacked websites compared to WordPress:

• The same Sucuri report showed Joomla accounted for only 2.5% of infected websites.
• Joomla's core is considered difficult to hack, but vulnerabilities in third-party extensions can still pose risks.

Drupal

Drupal has the lowest rate of hacked websites among these three major CMS platforms:

• Drupal accounted for just 1.28% of infected websites in the Sucuri report.
• It is widely regarded as the most secure of the three, which is why many government agencies and organizations with high security needs choose Drupal.
• Drupal takes a very serious approach to security, promptly publishing and patching vulnerabilities.

Security Considerations

While these statistics provide insight into the relative security of these CMS platforms, it's important to note:

1. WordPress's high infection rate is partly due to its massive market share and popularity among non-technical users who may not follow security best practices.
2. All open-source CMS platforms have inherent security risks due to their publicly available code.
3. The security of any CMS installation depends heavily on proper configuration, regular updates, and careful selection of third-party extensions.
4. Less popular CMS options like CMS Made Simple may have lower hack rates, but this could be due to lower adoption rather than superior security.

While Drupal statistically appears to be the most secure option, followed by Joomla and then WordPress, the security of any CMS implementation ultimately depends on proper management and security practices.