Thousands of WordPress Websites are faced with malware daily, causing issues like data theft, site crashes, or even harming visitors.
Indeed, 70% of the 40,000 WordPress websites listed in Alexa’s Top One Million are dangerous to hacking attempts. With 83% of them affected due to outdated plugins or themes.
Malware, short for malicious software, can compromise your website’s functionality, integrity, and even reputation. That’s why learning how to remove malware from your website is essential.
For years, Reliqus Consulting has been assisting WordPress administrators in dealing with hacked websites. Our guide isn’t exhaustive but can help you navigate many common infections. We’ll walk you through identifying and cleaning a hack, sharing tried-and-tested tactics from our wealth of experience.
Though our tips may not cover every possible scenario, they can form a solid foundation for securing your WordPress site. Hence, availing our WordPress malware removal services at just $79 for comprehensive protection against all malware threats. It’s time to take control of your site’s security.
Signs Your WordPress Site Is Infected With Malware
Detecting signs of malware on your WordPress site is crucial for swift action.
Unusual Website Behaviour
Unusual website behaviour, like unexpected pop-ups, redirects, or slow loading, could signal a malware infection on your WordPress site.
Sudden changes in appearance, new user accounts, or unexplained file modifications are also red flags. Regular checks and prompt action help address these issues swiftly.
Search engine warnings
Search engine warnings on your WordPress site may indicate malware. If search engines detect malicious content, they issue warnings, impacting your site’s reputation and SEO.
Over 60% of users avoid websites with security warnings, focus attention on the importance of timely malware removal to maintain trust and visibility.
Sudden Drop in Website Traffic
A sudden drop in website traffic can be a sign of malware affecting your WordPress site. Search engines discipline infected sites, leading to decreased visibility.
Studies show that a 50% drop in traffic can result from security issues, underscoring the impact of malware on user trust and site performance.
Be aware of signs of a malware-infected WordPress site includes security alerts from browsers, unusual account activities, and unexpected code.
Removing Malware from Your WordPress Site: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you suspect your WordPress site is infected with malware, swift action is essential to protect your website and its visitors.
Follow these steps for an effective malware removal process:-
Step 1: Identify the infected files and code
Removing malware from your WordPress site can be done through two methods.
One approach involves utilizing specific tools and plugins designed for malware removal. These tools automate the process, scanning and eliminating malicious code efficiently.
Another method is a manual process where you personally inspect your site’s files and code, identifying and removing any suspicious elements. This hands-on approach requires a careful review of critical files to ensure comprehensive malware removal.
Whether opting for automated tools or manual intervention, the key is to act promptly and decisively to secure your website and protect your visitors’ trust. But Malware removal plugins and tools can cost a lot, but not with Reliqus Consulting.
Our wordpress malware removal service is budget-friendly at just $79, making it the perfect choice for those who want quality without a hefty price tag.
Step 2: Backup Your Website
Understand the critical role of backups in protect your website. In the event of malware removal or unexpected issues, having a recent backup ensures you can restore your site to a stable state.
Take advantage of WordPress plugins designed for automated backups. These tools simplify the backup process, allowing you to schedule regular backups and secure your website data calmly.
Step 3: Isolate and Quarantine
In the process of removing malware from your WordPress site, it’s crucial to isolate and quarantine potential threats.
Begin by disabling any suspicious plugins and themes identified during the scan. These elements could be entry points for malware.
Additionally, isolate infected files by moving them to a designated quarantine area.
This step prevents the malware from spreading further and allows you to inspect and address the issues without affecting the overall functionality of your website.
By taking these safeguard, you create a controlled environment for thorough examination and subsequent removal of the detected malware
Step 4: Clean the Malware
You can clean your WordPress site from malware and operate smoothly again.
- Clean Hacked Website Files and Database Tables:
To begin, you’ll need to clean your hacked website files and database tables. This process requires access to the WordPress file structure and database, so ensure you’ve backed up your website entirely.
If you’re uncomfortable handling database tables or editing PHP, seek professional help. Infections in core files can be manually fixed by downloading a fresh installation from the official WordPress site and replacing the corrupted files.
However, do not overwrite the wp-config.php file or wp-content folder. Use a database admin panel or tools like PHPMyAdmin or Adminer to remove malware from the database.
- Secure User Accounts:
Reset all user passwords to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, verify the roles of each user account to ensure hackers haven’t created any fake ones.
- Remove Hidden Backdoors:
Hackers usually leave ‘backdoors’ to reenter your site. Look out for suspicious files in your plugin themes, upload directories and remove them.
Through careful steps, you can remove malware and ensure the future security of your WordPress site.
Step 5: Strengthen Security Measures
As the final step in your WordPress malware removal process, strengthening your security measures is crucial. The goal is not just to fix the issues that allowed the malware to infiltrate your site, but also to enhance your site’s overall security.
- Patch out-of-date software:
Keeping your software up-to-date is paramount; outdated software is a leading cause of infections. Make sure to update all software on your server, including plugins, themes, Apache, cPanel, PHP, WHM/cPanel, and WordPress.
After a hack, it’s smart to reinstall all plugins and extensions to ensure they’re fully functional and malware-free.
- Change user passwords to prevent reinfection:
It’s vital to change passwords for all access points to your WordPress site, such as user accounts, FTP/SFTP, SSH, cPanel, and the database. Aim to reduce the number of admin accounts and practice the concept of least privilege.
Use a password generator and manager to help create and store strong, unique passwords. Create strong combinations like “P@ssw0rd2023” by incorporating uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Remember, a good password is long, diverse, and unpredictable
- Generating new secret keys
This is important because WordPress uses browser cookies to keep user sessions active for up to two weeks. If a hacker has gotten hold of a session cookie, they could still access your site, even after you’ve reset the password. You can prevent this by forcing all users to log off with a plugin and resetting the WordPress secret keys using a secret key generator.
- Harden your WordPress site
There are countless ways to do this, starting with reducing entry points for attackers by limiting public access to crucial parts of your website.
Regularly update your software and servers to prevent potential infections. Use secure passwords and multi-factor authentication for administrative access.
If you run multiple websites, consider isolating each into its own hosting plan to avoid cross-contamination. Remember, a single compromised admin password can infect all sites on the same hosting plan.
- Schedule regular backups for your WordPress site
Backups serve as a safety net for your WordPress site, offering a clean slate in case of hacking.
– Store backups off-site to prevent them from being an entry point for attackers and consider multiple locations for added security.
– Set up automatic backups at a frequency that suits your site’s needs. Understand the concept of redundancy, having emergency backups for catastrophic events.
– Test backups for malware and functionality before relying on them. Be aware that some file types might be excluded from backups, ensure all vital files are included.
- Scan your computer for malware
In tackling a hacked WordPress website, it’s not just your website that needs attention. It’s also imperative to run a comprehensive malware scan on your computer.
Why, you ask? Simply because WordPress can be compromised if a user with an infected computer has access to the dashboard. Some nasty malware infections are designed to leap from your computer into text editors or FTP clients.
So, it’s crucial to run a malware scan on your computer with a reputable antivirus program.
When it comes to paid antivirus software, top choices include Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Sophos, and F-Secure. Alternatively, if you’re looking for free yet reliable solutions, consider using Malwarebytes, Avast, Microsoft Security, or Avira.
- Use a website firewall to help prevent malware
Website firewalls filter out malicious requests, preventing future hacks, blocking brute force attacks, and mitigating DDoS attacks. They also offer virtual security updates by patching software vulnerabilities even if security updates haven’t been applied.
Additionally, firewalls can optimize your site’s performance through features like caching. With functionalities such as time delays, limiting login attempts, and blocklisting IP addresses, a robust website firewall serves as a reliable shield against malware.
Why Do WordPress Sites Get Hacked?
With WordPress powering over 40% of websites, it’s no wonder it’s a magnet for cybercriminals. The most common WordPress hacks include spam infections and credit card stealer attacks.
There are several reasons why your WordPress site could be targeted.
1. Vulnerable CMS, plugins, or themes
Vulnerabilities in your Content Management System (CMS), plugins, or themes can provide an easy route for attackers. To mitigate this, ensure your CMS and any third-party components are always updated with the latest patches.
2. Weak passwords
Brute force attacks can quickly guess weak or easily guessable credentials. It’s crucial to use robust passwords and install a website firewall to deter these types of attacks.
3. Incorrect file permissions
If file permissions are too relaxed, hackers can modify your website files with ease. You should set appropriate file permissions to prevent unauthorized access.
Conclusion
Dealing with malware on your WordPress site can be a daunting and potentially damaging experience. With the increasing number of websites being targeted by hackers, it’s crucial to take immediate action to protect your website and its visitors. Outdated plugins or themes are often the main culprits behind these security breaches.
At Reliqus Consulting, we understand the importance of maintaining a secure and trustworthy online environment. Our WordPress malware removal service is designed to thoroughly and efficiently eliminate malware from your website, ensuring that your site remains safe for both you and your visitors.
Don’t let malware compromise the integrity of your website. Take action now by contacting us. Our team of experts is ready to assist you in removing malware from your WordPress site and restoring its security.
Together, we can safeguard your online presence and provide peace of mind for both you and your visitors.
Call Now:- +1 (424) 999-8252