8 Sites to Download WordPress GPL Themes and Plugins (Free)

What are GPL themes? Are GPL Themes Safe?

When it comes to choosing a WordPress theme, the question of safety often comes up. And rightfully so – after all, your website is only as safe as the themes and plugins you use.

So, are GPL themes safe to use?
The short answer is yes. GPL themes are just as safe to use as any other type of WordPress theme. The long answer is a little more complicated. To understand why GPL themes are safe to use, you first need to understand what GPL is and how it applies to WordPress themes. The GPL is a licensing agreement that governs the use of WordPress itself, as well as any themes or plugins that are released under the GPL. The agreement states that anyone who releases software under the GPL must also make the source code available to anyone who wants it.

Note: GPL themes are safe unless it’s been modified by someone and added some malicious codes, so if you use GPL themes from trusted sites then it’s definitely safe.

How to scan malware and malicious code of GPL themes?
VirusTotal is good for ad-hoc analysis of suspicious files, It’s a good way to confirm if suspicious activity is actually malicious or benign.