Finding out your website is hacked is scary. You log in and find strange ads or broken links. Maybe Google shows a red warning screen. Your traffic drops, and you feel panic.
But don't worry. A hacked site is not the end of the world. You can clean the mess and secure your data. In this guide, we will show you how to Fix Hacked WordPress Site. We will cover how to find the hack, clean the files, and stop it from happening again.
Signs Your Site is Hacked
Sometimes a hack is obvious. Your home page might look totally different. But many hacks are hard to see. Hackers often want to stay hidden. They use your server to send spam or steal resources.
Look out for these signs:
Strange Ads: Your visitors see pop-ups for illegal stuff.
Slow Speed: Your site takes forever to load.
New Accounts: You see admin users you did not create.
Traffic Spikes: You get a lot of visitors from strange places.
Google Warnings: Search engines tell users your site is unsafe.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Backup
First, make a backup before you touch anything. This might sound odd since the site is broken. But cleaning involves deleting files. If you delete the wrong file, you could break the site completely.
Take a snapshot of your site now. You can use your hosting panel or a tool like FileZilla. Download your wp-content folder and your database. This keeps you safe if something goes wrong.
Step 2: Scan Your Website
Now you need to find the bad code. Malware often looks like real WordPress files. It might hide in your uploads folder. It might hide in your header or footer files.
You can use plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to scan your site. These tools check your files against the official WordPress versions. If a file looks different, the plugin tells you.
You can also use online scanners like VirusTotal. These tools show you what visitors and search engines see.
Step 3: Replace Core Files
A great way to clean a site is to replace the main files. Hackers often change these files to keep access.
Download the latest WordPress version from WordPress.org.
Unzip the file on your computer.
Connect to your server using FTP.
Upload the wp-admin and wp-includes folders. Let them overwrite the old ones.
Note: Do not overwrite your wp-content folder or your wp-config.php file. These hold your themes, plugins, and settings. Replacing the core files removes any backdoors hidden in the main software.
Step 4: Clean Themes and Plugins
Plugins and themes are common ways for hackers to get in. Old software often has weak spots.
Check your wp-content/plugins folder. Look for folders that look strange. If you find a bad plugin, delete it right away. For important plugins, delete the current version. Then, install a fresh copy from the official source.
Do the same for your themes. If you have a free theme you do not use, delete it. Only keep the themes you use.
Step 5: Check the Database
Sometimes, hackers put bad code right into your database. They might add spam links to your posts. They might make fake admin accounts.
Log in to your database tool (usually phpMyAdmin). Look at your wp-users table. If you see admin accounts that should not be there, delete them. Also, look for strange tables that do not belong to your plugins.
Step 6: Reset Passwords
Once the files are clean, you must lock the doors. Hackers likely stole your passwords.
Change user passwords: Reset the password for every user, especially admins.
Update hosting passwords: Change the password you use to access your files.
Change Salt Keys: In your wp-config.php file, there are special security keys. Go to the WordPress Salt Keys generator online. Get new keys and paste them into your file. This logs out every user instantly.
Step 7: Request a Review
If Google flagged your site, you need to tell them it is clean. Go to Google Search Console. Go to the "Security" section. If you see an issue, click "Request Review."
Tell them what you did to fix the site. Be honest. Google will scan your site again. If it is clean, they will remove the warning.
When to Call a Pro
Fixing a hack is technical work. If you do not like editing code, you might break something. Sometimes, malware creates "backdoors." These let the infection come back even after you delete it.
If the hack returns, or if you want to be sure you are safe, hire experts. A pro service can deep clean the site. They can set up a firewall to stop future attacks. If you need help fast, you can trust experts to Fix Hacked WordPress Site. They know how to remove malware completely.
Conclusion
A hacked site is stressful, but you can fix it. If you act fast and follow these steps, you can get your site back. Remember to keep your plugins updated. Use strong passwords and make regular backups. Security is a job that never ends. Take control of your website today.
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