INSIGHTS
Still running PrestaShop 1.6? That's a wild gamble in 2026.
On the face of it, everything looks fine. Orders are rolling in, customers are checking out and nobody's raising the alarm. So what are you actually risking?
PrestaShop 1.6 stopped receiving official security updates years ago. That means while your website keeps working, the risk keeps growing in the background.
Think of it like locking the front door but leaving the back door wide open. You might get away with it for a while, but you're relying on luck rather than security.
Being small doesn't make you invisible.
Cyber attackers couldn’t care less whether you're a global retailer or a family-run business. Automated bots are constantly scanning the internet for websites running outdated software looking for the easiest way in.
When they find one, here's what's at risk:
- Customer account breaches
- Malware infections
- Payment card skimming attacks
- Website defacement
- Data theft
- Complete loss of ecommerce functionality
The easier your website is to compromise the more likely it is to attract unwanted attention.
Trust comes with responsibility.
Every ecommerce business holds more customer data than you might think. Names, addresses, email addresses, purchase history... that's a lot of personal information, and with it comes a lot of trust. That's exactly why GDPR matters.
Looking after customer data isn't just good practice. It's a legal responsibility under the UK Data Protection Act. If that data is compromised, you may need to notify the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and in some cases, the people affected.
After a breach, one of the first questions will be whether you took reasonable steps to protect it. Continuing to run unsupported software won't make that conversation any easier.
It's bigger than IT.
Cyber security stopped being "just an IT issue" a long time ago. It's a business risk that needs managing, right up there with finance, compliance and health and safety.
Don't get us wrong, nobody's saying directors are personally liable because they're running older software. But when a known risk is ignored and it comes back to bite, people will naturally want to know why.
That's why we reckon it's better to be talking about cyber security around the boardroom table now than explaining it after a breach.
The money pit.
Security is only half the story. Legacy ecommerce platforms are surprisingly good at draining time, budget and opportunity while giving very little back.
That can look like:
- Rising maintenance costs
- Compatibility issues with modern hosting environments
- Unsupported third-party modules
- Difficulty integrating new marketing tools
- Slower website performance
- Poor customer experience
- Reduced conversion rates
At some point, you're not paying for progress anymore, you're paying to keep the lights on when that budget could be spent growing your business instead.
Check your safety net.
Hate to break it to you, but even the best cyber insurance isn't a guarantee because most policies still rely on you maintaining reasonable security practices.
If you're under the spotlight after a breach linked to unsupported software, your insurer may start asking whether you held up your side of the deal. Every policy is different, but it's another reason we wouldn't recommend taking the risk.
So, what's next?
You've seen the risks. The good news is you don't need to rip everything up overnight. What matters is having a plan and knowing where to start.
A sensible next step is to:
- Understand the health of your current platform.
- Prioritise the biggest security risks.
- Build a realistic roadmap to a supported platform.
- Start treating your website as a growth tool, not just another business expense.
The goal isn't just to modernise your technology. It's to reduce risk, build customer confidence and give your business a platform that's ready for whatever comes next.
Let's talk about growth instead.
The reality is, most businesses only start thinking about their ecommerce platform when something goes wrong. We'd much rather help you get ahead of it.
A modern ecommerce platform isn't just about better security or shiny new features. It's about giving your business a stronger foundation to grow, making life easier for your team and creating a better experience for your customers.
If you're still running PrestaShop 1.6, now's a great time to ask whether your website is helping your business or becoming the next difficult conversation around the boardroom table.