As a WordPress site owner, one of your biggest fears is finding out that your site has been hacked. This not only puts your data and your users’ information at risk, but it can also harm your reputation and SEO rankings. In this guide, we will explain how to identify if your WordPress site has been hacked, with a particular emphasis on scanning for malware and signs of infection.
WordPress is a widely used system for managing website content. It is used by more than 40% of all websites on the internet. However, because of its popularity, it is often targeted by hackers. It is important to regularly check your site for any signs of compromise to ensure its security and integrity.
1. Common Signs of a Hacked WordPress Site
Before we start the scanning process, let’s look at some common signs that your WordPress site might have been hacked:
- Unexpected changes to your site’s appearance
- Slow loading times
- Unusual admin user accounts
- Suspicious files or directories
- Unexplained spikes in traffic
- Your site is blacklisted by Google or other search engines
- Users report seeing malicious pop-ups or redirects
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to conduct a thorough scan of your site.
2. Scanning Your WordPress Site for Malware and Signs of Infection
Step 1: Use a WordPress Security Plugin
There are several reputable WordPress security plugins that can help you scan your site for malware:
- Wordfence Security: This popular plugin offers both free and premium versions with robust scanning capabilities.
- Sucuri Security: Known for its comprehensive security features, including malware scanning.
- MalCare: Offers deep scanning without overloading your server.
To use these plugins:
- Install and activate the plugin of your choice from the WordPress plugin repository.
- Navigate to the plugin’s dashboard in your WordPress admin area.
- Initiate a full site scan (the exact process may vary depending on the plugin).
- Review the scan results for any detected threats or suspicious files.
Step 2: Use Online Malware Scanners
In addition to WordPress plugins, you can use online malware scanners for an extra layer of security:
- Sucuri SiteCheck: A free online tool that checks for known malware, blacklisting status, and security issues. https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/
- Google Safe Browsing: Check if Google has flagged your site for malware by entering your URL at https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search
Step 3: Manually Check Critical WordPress Files
While plugins are helpful, it’s also important to manually inspect critical WordPress files:
- Connect to your site via FTP or file manager in your hosting control panel.
- Check the following locations for suspicious or unfamiliar files:
- WordPress root directory
- wp-content folder
- wp-includes folder
- Uploads folder
- Look for files with unusual names or recently modified dates.
- Check your
.htaccess
file for any suspicious code.
Step 4: Review Your Database
Hackers often inject malicious code into your WordPress database. To check:
- Use a tool like phpMyAdmin (usually available through your hosting control panel).
- Look for suspicious entries in tables like
wp_posts
andwp_options
. - Check for unknown admin users in the
wp_users
table.
3. What to Do If Malware Is Detected
If you detect malware or signs of a hack:
- Don’t worry, but act quickly: Time is important when dealing with a hack. Isolate the site: If possible, put your site in maintenance mode to prevent more damage.
- Change all passwords: Update passwords for your WordPress admin, FTP, database, and hosting account.
- Remove malicious code: If you’re good with technology, remove the bad code. Otherwise, think about restoring from a clean backup or getting help from a professional.
- Update everything: Make sure WordPress core, all themes, and plugins are up-to-date. Scan again: After cleaning, scan your site again to make sure all malware is gone.
- Report the incident: If your site was blacklisted, ask Google and other search engines to review it after cleaning.
5. Preventing Future Hacks
Prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips to prevent future hacks:
- Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated: Always use the latest versions.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Limit login attempts: Utilize a plugin to block repeated failed login attempts.
- Regular backups: Maintain frequent, off-site backups of your entire WordPress installation.
- Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF): This can block many common attack methods.
- Implement SSL: Ensure your site uses HTTPS to encrypt data transmission.
- Regularly scan your site: Set up automated scans and manually review your site periodically.
- Principle of least privilege: Only grant users the minimum access they need to perform their tasks.
- WordPress Hosting Server: To make your website more secure, consult a local expert who specializes in hosting servers for WordPress CMS.
Finally, to identify if your WordPress site has been hacked, you need to be careful and proactive. Regularly scan your site, stay alert for signs of compromise, and implement strong security measures to reduce the risk of a successful hack and ensure the safety of your WordPress site and its users. Consult with a local hosting server expert for WordPress hosting to secure your website. If you are hosting with Hosting Cambodia, please contact us today for support and consultation to ensure the safety of your website.