Unfortunately, WordPress websites are a common target for hackers. If you are not prepared, it could be a big disaster. Stolen data, weird links, or something even worse— your site has completely vanished.
Panicking at the last second won’t change anything. In case you suspect that your website has been hacked, there are many proven methods to fix it. Let’s check it out.
How Do I Know If My WordPress Website Has Been Hacked?
All suspicious activities may not be hacks. Some of them may be simple bugs or update issues. Here’s how to make sure whether your website is hacked itself:
- Your site crashes down without any reason.
- A red warning screen with the message: “This site may be hacked”.
- You can’t log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Your website redirects to weird pages.
- Spam emails are being sent from your domain without your knowledge.
5 Ways To Fix Your Hacked WordPress Website
Check out some quick tips to retrieve your website from the hackers:
1. Change All Passwords
The moment you suspect a hack, take your website offline temporarily. It can protect your visitors from security vulnerability.
Reset all your passwords as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. You can do this through the control panel of your hosting. Make it as strong as possible with a combination of uppercase, lowercase characters, and numbers. In case you notice some suspicious admins, remove them at once.
Remember, hackers may also have access to your FTP. So, change them also.
2. Scan Your Site for Malware
Hackers may have injected some malicious scripts into your files. Many tools like Wordfence or MalCare can scan your site for malware free of cost. If something is found, follow its instructions to remove the malware.
Similarly, check the file manager in cPanel to see if something new was added. Delete suspicious files at once. You can also do an extra check by comparing your current files with a fresh WordPress install to see if anything is modified.
3. Update Everything
Outdated software is the top loophole for hackers to infiltrate your website. To fix this:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard to install the latest version.
- Update all your plugins. It must be done only from credible sources.
- Delete any unused or outdated plugins as they pose a security risk.
4. Restore The Backup
Restoration of a backup is perhaps the simplest way to fix a hacked WordPress site. You can use your hosting provider’s backup tool for that. Many hosts like SiteGround, Bluehost, WP Engine, etc., offer daily backups. You can also restore from a third-party backup plugin. Always test your backup on a staging site before restoring it live to make sure that everything works smoothly.
5. Install a Firewall
Hackers often have a tendency to re-attack a website even after fixing it. To avoid that, follow these steps:
- Install an authentic firewall to prevent attacks in the future.
- Implement two-factor authentication for WordPress.
- Turn off file editing by adding this to the ‘wp-config.php’.
define(‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT’, true);
- Prevent brute force attacks by limiting failed login attempts.
- Regularly backup your data.
Sometimes, Google may flag your website after the hacking attempt. Once you are completely confident that your website is free from any vulnerabilities, you can request Google to remove it. For that, click ‘Request for Review’ under the Security Issues section in the Google Search Console.
Conclusion
Tried everything but still can’t fix the issue? Perhaps, the hack is pretty complex. The longer you wait, the worse it can get. You need to contact a competent technical team as soon as possible to protect against further damage.
At Total WP Support, we have a team of seasoned experts who know how to recover your website even from the toughest hacks. We’ll clean up the mess and get it back on track instantly. Contact us now!