LiteSpeed Cache WordPress plugin installed on Hawkhost

* LiteSpeed Cache WordPress plugin was automatically installed on Hawkhost, without my approval?
I have been using Hawkhost for a few years without problem, except this problem occured a few days ago.
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I use their shared hosting. I have just found out that all of a sudden, without my approval, the "server admin" installed the LiteSpeed Cache WordPress plugin on my WordPress installs, without my approval. And the plugin was automatically activated. These are not brand new WordPress installs, these are already running WP sites.

Of course I can now deactive and delete the plugin, and it is free. However, couple of things:

1) how did they know that I don't already use another caching plugin?
2) how did they know that this plugin will be compatbile with the other plugins I already use?

I think it is very unprofessional they they install a WordPress plugin without my approval and they automatically activate it. I don't even know if it is allowed according to their terms of service.

My question: is it normal that a web hosting company installs a plugin without my approval, to my already installed WordPress sites?
That is NOT normal for sure.
Obviously it is not normal of plugin installed by admin without any tickets raised by the user or request by user. You must contact the hosting provider and also check their terms of services thoroughly.
-Sourav Gupta
Are you using some kind of "managed WordPress web hosting", that is one of biggest mysteries for me?
No, not managed WordPress hosting. This is a normal shared hosting.
Then host's action is unthinkable. But - are your sites performing better now?
I have been using Hawkhost for a few years without problem, except this problem occured a few days ago.
It caused you problems? What issues did you run into with LS Cache [beyond it being installed on your behalf without you asking for it].
I use their shared hosting. I have just found out that all of a sudden, without my approval, the "server admin" installed the LiteSpeed Cache WordPress plugin on my WordPress installs, without my approval. And the plugin was automatically activated. These are not brand new WordPress installs, these are already running WP sites.
LiteSpeed has the feature to scan for WordPress installations not using any caching and then gives the option to install. Here's a guide to give you an idea of how simple a process this is: https://www.interserver.net/tips/kb/...tes-in-cpanel/

Honestly these days if you're using shared hosting for Wordpress and you're not using any caching I'm surprised. Quality and properly configured caching is one of the bigger aspects of optimizing a WordPress site.
Of course I can now deactive and delete the plugin, and it is free. However, couple of things:
Yes, you can. You can also create a file called ".litespeed_flag" in the base of the installation and that will prevent mass-enabling in the future.
1) how did they know that I don't already use another caching plugin?
Because they have total access to the content of your account and it's really easy to check for a cache folder and the common cache plugins. There are some things most have in common such as the cache folder among others.
2) how did they know that this plugin will be compatbile with the other plugins I already use?
LiteSpeed works tirelessly on their caching plugins. I've seen issues I've reported fixed in minutes. While it is possible that you or somebody else could have faced issues - it's not common.
I think it is very unprofessional they they install a WordPress plugin without my approval and they automatically activate it. I don't even know if it is allowed according to their terms of service.
In this specific situation I personally don't see issues with it although it would be better, imho, if you were made aware of it before it happened and given the option to skip it [such as by adding that flag file].
My question: is it normal that a web hosting company installs a plugin without my approval, to my already installed WordPress sites?
It's not the first time I've seen this and I'm sure it won't be the last.

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At the end of the day this isn't something personal / not specific to your account. It has to do with them doing what they can to help their customers optimize, increase speed, and reduce resource usage.

They could go a different way as some providers have and enable server-wide caching you can't disable instead of installing and activating a caching plugin which you can remove or disable.
Great reply Michael, this post is a little over dramatized. The problem with WP is its a huge resource hog that is really why so many hosts are opting for lighter web engines like litespeed and nginx. More over the fact they perform better than Apache but it reduces the load on the server. So it is beneficial in all cases to use caching for the customer and the host to reduce recourse usage. And if the plugin can always be disabled as just explained.

To all that posts here, there is no reason to host bash to make your self look better to give the OP a panic attack, try to help the OP understand why maybe and the benefits.
I also want to thank @MikeDVB for an exhaustive explanation.

Regarding LiteSpeed cache - it must be praised for a reason, that's for sure. But I wouldn't ever want to turn any caching plugins for me. I always test theme and plugins thoroughly while I am sure they work together flawlessly. We all know, how messy WordPress installations might be and it is never good idea to turn on anything even not looking at it (maintenance mode could be the exception here). Perhaps I just have missed something in web hosting industry, like a few others in this thread.
this post is a little over dramatized.
That's exactly my thoughts here.

Too many people knee-jerk react, mind vomit into posts, and then walk away looking sheepish when the facts become known. However, if you look at the OP's past posts, it's par for the course. Sadly, that's just how some people are.
Are you using some kind of "managed WordPress web hosting", that is one of biggest mysteries for me?
Managed WordPress hosts would not install a plugin on a clients website without any form of notice, and usually the host would try to do the work from the server, and not from a plugin.
no it's not normal, you should talk with your provider to let you know that, so they may re-think of performing changes on their client's sites in the future.
I wouldn't use a hosting that makes a change on my site without my permission.
If you signup to a provider using Litespeed as the web server to run WordPress site it makes sense to also use a caching plugin from the guys who also made the web server. There are many tests where LScache outperforms the free alternative WordPress caching plugins. By a provider mass enabling LScache, it helps reduce the overall server load which in turn also helps customers websites be much more responsive.

If you don't want or need LSCache then there is no point paying extra and signing up for web hosting plan powered by Litespeed and you might as well signup for web hosting plan running Apache with a free caching plugin. Or if you want to keep using Litespeed but not use LSCache then you can just put the .litespeed_flag file within the install folder. Simple as that really.
I'm yet to find a decent theme/plugin that doesn't work with Litespeed cache default settings. One exception is the Booking Calendar plugin - booking pages need to be excluded from any caching.

Having said that - personally I wouldn't like provider installing anything on my WordPress installations.
On the other hand, on a LiteSpeed server: I would like the same provider to install Litespeed cache to all the other customers' WordPress installations sharing the same server - to reduce the server load and improve performance (of both theirs and my sites).
See how hypocritical I am?
But it does boil down to that: better performance and stability at the cost of some intervening, or the other way round.
Mostly harmless?
See how hypocritical I am?   But it does boil down to that: better performance and stability at the cost of some intervening, or the other way round.
You know precisely what would be the best for you and you make decisions based on your wealth. That is understood. When other people make such decisions for you, that is at least questionable.
You know precisely what would be the best for you and you make decisions based on your wealth.
Not really. Definitely not always.
Mostly harmless?
If you aren't using any Cache plugin, Your site would start using more resources.
Yes, you can. You can also create a file called ".litespeed_flag" in the base of the installation and that will prevent mass-enabling in the future.
Sure, and what else must I do? Next time they install another plugin, and then I have to create another flag. I think it is unprofessional that they touch my WordPress install without my permission. They could send me a support ticket asking for installing the plugin. I haven't even received any notification about this plugin install. This plugin just appeared out of blue. Just don't touch my WordPress install, I know better than the host what plugins to install, it is my website, not the website of the hosting company. I will install the cache plugin if necessary.
Other hosts, please don't do this practice, not nice.
I have to agree with the this statement, but I do have a question that may have been missed, and I can look at this from both sides.

From the developer mindset...a host just changing things around with asking...it's not any different than renting an apartment to someone, and then going in and moving around there furniture without asking. Not cool, and can break many things in place. There's a recent thread of someone moving WordPress websites and things breaking. Not exactly related, but a nightmare to correct things.

Going from being a developer and becoming a host, I can see where at times even wrongs actions may be justified, but still wrong.

To just slap a cache plugin without asking...wrong...but there's no mention of resource usage or traffic. If this was a new or small to medium website, then a cache is not always needed...but being with them for years, has your traffic increased over those years? Was there something that triggered the need for them to step in like a promotion on this website, or a surge of traffic? I've seen websites that stayed within their own average over years, gaining a following, and a promotion went beyond what they expected and resources needed to be added.
Other hosts, please don't do this practice, not nice.
Exactly. And no more dramas for hosts and customers.
The mass enable feature for WordPress should only work if the customer is not already using a caching plugin for WordPress. If one is already detected then it skips the install.
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Sure, and what else must I do? Next time they install another plugin, and then I have to create another flag. I think it is unprofessional that they touch my WordPress install without my permission. They could send me a support ticket asking for installing the plugin. I haven't even received any notification about this plugin install. This plugin just appeared out of blue. Just don't touch my WordPress install, I know better than the host what plugins to install, it is my website, not the website of the hosting company. I will install the cache plugin if necessary.

Other hosts, please don't do this practice, not nice.
I understand how you must feel. Wouldn't like having anyone mess with my WordPress installs - especially not on a non-managed shared hosting.

But there are other angles as well. Several points for discussion (not sure what to think of them myself, but they are worth considering IMO):

1)
Apart from the LiteSpeed cache on a LiteSpeed server, is there any reason to expect the provider to install other plugins?
Wouldn't expect that. Again - I agree that messing with (tricky and far from stable) WordPress plugins installs without your approval is not the nicest thing.

2)
In my experience, 90% of the people are complete idiots about 90% of things - very few know well their field of expertise, even fewer have a bit wider knowledge.
Hence, I would expect, on a shared hosting server, that 90% of customers wouldn't install LiteSpeed caching plugin. Which increases server load and makes all the websites run slower. Possible solutions?

A host could put fewer customers per server - which increases costs - and the prices customers pay.
They could impose stricter resource limits - but that would drive many customers away.
They could encourage customers to install caching plugins - this is a good way to go IMO. Perhaps even offering an opt-in for automatic "LiteSpeed website speed boost for free!"
They could offer an opt-out from automatic LiteSpeed install (this is tricky, previous option is less likely to cause any problems with people being upset).
Finally, they could do what your host did. That takes the least effort and (costly) time I suppose. Hosts have thousands of clients.

Of course, caching benefits could be used for better customer website performance, or for piling up even more customers on a single server. So it boils down to hosting company reputation and quality of service they aim for.

My stance on that is: I'm paying for what you're offering. Ask for more money, ask me to enforce your policies, or even ask me to leave, but don't intentionally mess with my hosted stuff without consulting me at the very least.
However, I'm not sure all the people think the same way. Perhaps someone would just say: "That's for more speed? Jee, thanks - best host ever!"

It's a very competitive market and the power of marketing is great (having signed with an EIG host for three years in advance, I certainly am one of the idiots biting  ). Boils down to what works for the hosting company with most customers. Perhaps, in a few years time, we'll see similar LiteSpeed installs becoming more common on shared hosting accounts, who knows?
Last edited by bikegremlin; 05-19-2019 at 03:39 PM. Reason: bid inglish
Mostly harmless?
Why are we even discussing it here like we have a choice?
Consent should always be asked for such actions pretty simple if they are going to require the plugin be installed at lest send a email or as a last resort move hosts
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