Title: modified &#039;readme.txt&#039; files:
Last modified: September 1, 2016

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# modified 'readme.txt' files:

 *  [David](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bennettskaya/)
 * (@bennettskaya)
 * [9 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/modified-readmetxt-files/)
 * I have Wordfence installed on several sites.
 * After a scan I often get messages that the readme.txt files have been modified
   from the files that are distributed by WordPress.org for the version of the plugins.
 * For example, I just viewed the file differences for rvg-optimize-database and
   there is one line that is different.
 * The original says ‘Tested up to: 4.6’ and the modified version on my system says‘
   Tested up to: 4.5.3’
 * So on the face of it, nothing disastrous.
 * But how can that even be when the update is pulled from the WordPress repository?
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/)

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [wilderbee](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wilderbee/)
 * (@wilderbee)
 * [9 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/modified-readmetxt-files/#post-7714883)
 * Same happened here on readme files of two plugins. The ‘Tested up to’ number 
   had been backed down. Went to the support forums for those plugins. Compatibility
   issues were being reported. My guess is that until fixes are in, the developers
   modified their repository readme files to a lower compatibility, which apparently
   is something they can do without making it a plugin update (makes sense to me).
   They probably had good results when testing ahead of the new WP release and then
   some things went bump for some sites anyway.
 * I usually update WP right away but this time I did not. The WP 4.6 release reads
   more like a “new features” update rather than a “security update”. Red flag to
   me, not in desperate need of new features, let someone else test it. My setup
   may not have produced the same glitches reported by others but nonetheless happy
   to not be bothered.
 * Hope all else is okay with your installs. Myself, marked those WF-flagged readme
   files as “Ignore until changed”.
 * Listening though, in case someone else has other ideas.
 *  [mountainguy2](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mountainguy2/)
 * (@mountainguy2)
 * [9 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/modified-readmetxt-files/#post-7714892)
 * Wilderbee, I hear you on those stupid endless WordPress “updates.” Best to hold
   off for a day or two and let everyone else test it.
 * As for the scans vs readme files, In my case I rename or delete most readme files
   ASAP. To solve problem with Wordfence, just add readme wildcard pattern to the“
   Exclude files from scan that match these wildcard patterns” The amount of false
   positives you otherwise get is clearly not worth the time of dealing with them.
 * Better, I simply don’t run the comparative scans, in my opinion they’re way too
   resource intensive and my plugins are all over the map. Some I don’t upgrade 
   because of weirdness, others I modify, and so forth. If I ran the comparison 
   scan I’d get a list a mile long.
 * Just because security software such as Wordfence has a feature, that doesn’t 
   mean it’s necessary to use it.
 * MTN

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘modified 'readme.txt' files:’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

 * [readme.txt](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/readme-txt/)

 * 2 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [mountainguy2](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mountainguy2/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/modified-readmetxt-files/#post-7714892)
 * Status: not resolved