Is your website acting strange? Maybe it redirects visitors to spammy sites, or strange ads appear out of nowhere. If you see these signs, you likely have a hacked WordPress site.
Finding malicious code on your website is scary. You worry about your data and your visitors. But do not panic. You can fix this. This guide shows you how to remove WordPress malware and secure your site again.
Step 1: Backup Your Website Immediately
Before you change anything, save your current site. Even a hacked site is better than no site if something goes wrong during the cleanup.
Use a backup plugin or go to your hosting dashboard. Download a full copy of your files and your database. This step is critical. It gives you a safety net.
Step 2: Scan Your Site for Malware
You need to know exactly where the virus hides. A good WordPress malware scanner helps you find the infected files.
Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri. Run a full scan of your website. The plugin compares your files against the official WordPress repository. It alerts you if it finds changed files or suspicious code. Note down the filenames of any infected files.
Step 3: Clean the Hacked Files
Now you must remove the infection. You have two main options to clean your hacked website:
Automatic Removal: Many security plugins offer a "repair" or "delete" button. This is the easiest way for beginners.
Manual Replacement: If you are comfortable with files, connect to your server using FTP. Delete the infected core files. Then, download a fresh copy of WordPress from the official website. Upload the clean files to replace the old ones. Do not overwrite your wp-content folder or your wp-config.php file, or you will lose your site data.
Step 4: Check Your Database and Remove Backdoors
Hackers often leave a backdoor in your site. This allows them to re-enter even after you delete the malware.
Check your wp-content/uploads folder. You should only see media files (like images) there. If you see any PHP files in the uploads folder, delete them immediately. They are likely malicious.
Also, look for new user accounts with "Administrator" access. If you did not create them, delete them.
Step 5: Update Everything
Outdated software is the number one reason websites get hacked. Vulnerabilities in old plugins let attackers in.
Go to your dashboard. Update your WordPress core, all your themes, and every single plugin. If you have plugins you do not use, delete them. They are a security risk.
Step 6: Reset Your Passwords
You cleaned the files, but the hackers might still have your passwords. You must change the password for every administrator user on your site.
Also, change your database password and your FTP password. This ensures the attackers cannot use old credentials to reinfect your site.
Keep Your Site Secure
Cleaning a hacked site takes time and effort. Once you finish, you want to stay safe. Install a firewall and keep your backups running.
For a more detailed breakdown of these steps and advanced recovery tips, check this guide on how to remove WordPress malware.
Security is an ongoing process. You can learn more about protecting your investment by reading these WordPress security best practices.
By following these steps, you regain control of your website. Stay vigilant and keep your software updated to stop future attacks.
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