How to Fix a Hacked WordPress Website: The Right Tools and Services

Is your WordPress site hacked? Learn how to fix a hacked WordPress website with the right tools and services. This guide will help you identify, clean, and secure your site. Follow our step-by-step approach to get your site back to normal and protect it from future threats.

Key Takeaways

• Identify early signs of a hacked WordPress site, such as unauthorised access, unusual redirects, and browser warnings. To rectify these, take immediate actions like changing passwords and putting the site in maintenance mode.
  
• Use essential tools like security plugins, malware scanners, and file integrity monitors to scan for, identify, and remove malicious code.
  
• Post-hack recovery involves updating all WordPress components, implementing strong password policies, setting up a firewall, and considering managed WordPress hosting for enhanced security and continuous monitoring.

1. Identifying Signs of a Hacked WordPress Site

Recognising the signs of a hacked WordPress site early on can save you from significant damage and downtime. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Unusual behaviours, such as redirects to unknown pages or unexpected content changes
• Unauthorised access, like unknown user accounts with admin privileges
• Increase in spam emails
• Suspicious activities like spam ads and pop-up notifications

If you notice any of these signs, it could indicate a compromised website. SEO and traffic issues, such as sudden traffic drops or slow loading times, can also signal that your site has been hacked.

• Inability to Login: One of the most alarming signs of a hacked website is being unable to log into the WordPress admin dashboard. If you find yourself locked out despite using the correct credentials, it’s likely that attackers have changed your login details or deleted your account. This can also happen due to file corruption, changes in permissions, or injected scripts on your WordPress dashboard. Recognising this early can help you take immediate action to regain control.

• Unexpected Content Changes: If you notice unauthorised modifications to your website’s content, themes, or plugins, it’s a strong indicator that your site has been compromised. Hackers often inject spammy content or ads into your site’s pages, which can damage your reputation and lead to further security issues.

• Browser and Search Engine Warnings: Browser warnings and search engine alerts are clear signs that your site has been flagged for malware or suspicious activity. Google Chrome, for instance, may display a ‘Deceptive site ahead’ warning if your website’s security is compromised. Similarly, Google may show a ‘This site may be hacked’ warning if it detects a compromised website.

Learn about: Strategies for WordPress Maintenance, Care and Risk Management

2. Immediate Steps to Take After a Hack

Once the hacking of your WordPress site is confirmed, immediate action is necessary to mitigate the damage.

• Put Your Site in Maintenance Mode: Activating maintenance mode can help manage your site’s reputation during recovery. If you can’t log in to your WordPress site, consider using a plugin like SeedProd to put the site into maintenance mode. This measure is important to prevent visitors from encountering compromised content as you repair the site.

• Change All Passwords: Resetting all passwords associated with your site is a critical step in securing it. Here are the passwords you should change: WordPress admin, database, SFTP, and hosting provider accounts.

This also includes updating the wp-config file and replacing the current SALT keys with new ones to prevent hackers from deciphering the password. Using strong passwords and ensuring no password is reused across different accounts can also significantly enhance security.

• Backup Your Current Site: Ensure a backup of your site’s current state is made before initiating any changes. This is crucial for a full recovery, particularly if the database has been compromised. Regular backups can help restore your website to a previous state, avoiding data loss in case of a hack. Plugins like BlogVault can be used to create a comprehensive backup of your WordPress site.

Related: Top WordPress Backup Plugins for UK Businesses

3. Professional Services for Hacked Site Repair

Opt for professional services like Seahawk specialising in hacked site repair for a thorough clean-up and time efficiency.

Dealing with a hacked website can be a nightmare, but Seahawk’s Hacked Site Repair (HSR) services offer a swift and effective solution. Starting at just £249 (billed once), Seahawk ensures your website is restored to its optimal state.

Firstly, our team of experts conducts a thorough analysis to identify and remove any malware or malicious code. This guarantees your site is clean and secure. Furthermore, we take preventative measures to bolster your site’s defenses, reducing the risk of future attacks.

In addition, we provide detailed reports on the vulnerabilities found and the steps taken to resolve them. With Seahawk, you have a reliable partner committed to maintaining your website’s integrity and security. So, when your website’s security is compromised, trust our HSR services to get you back on track swiftly and securely.

4. Tools for Fixing a Hacked WordPress Site

Various tools are imperative to efficiently clean and secure a compromised WordPress site. Security plugins, malware scanners, and file integrity monitors are some of the key tools that can help in this process. 

• Security Plugins: Installing a high-quality security plugin like BlogVault can protect your site against multiple threats. These WordPress plugin features can scan your website for malware and vulnerabilities, block malicious IP addresses, and provide comprehensive protection. Sucuri’s free version includes malware scanning and security hardening tools, making it another reputable option for securing your site.
  
• Malware Scanners: Malware scanners are crucial for detecting and removing malicious code from your site. Tools like Malcare Scanner can be installed and activated from the WordPress plugins section. These scanners run on the cloud, making them faster and more efficient, and provide detailed reports of their findings.

• File Integrity Monitors: File integrity monitors help check the integrity of core WordPress files to identify unauthorised changes. Security plugins like Wordfence can compare hacked files against original WordPress core files and plugins, enabling one-click repair or deletion. These tools ensure that no unauthorised changes remain in your core WordPress files.

Find out: Top Reasons to Partner with a Specialist WordPress Agency in the UK

5. Guide to Cleaning a Hacked WordPress Site

Cleaning a hacked WordPress site includes multiple steps, such as scanning for malware, deleting malicious code, and restoring clean core files. Follow this detailed guide to ensure your site is free from harmful elements and secure.

Scan for Malware: After discovering a hack, it’s crucial to scan your WordPress site for malware. To ensure an accurate and comprehensive scan, it’s recommended that you use a reliable WordPress security plugin. Thoroughly scan the site for malware and follow the plugin’s guidelines.

Remove Malicious Code: Identifying and removing malicious files and code is a critical step in the cleanup process. Common places hackers hide malware include:

• Themes
• Plugin directories
• Uploads directory
• wp-config.php
• wp-includes directory
• .htaccess file

Use SSH commands like ‘find . -mtime -2 -ls’ to locate files modified in the last two days, indicating potential malicious changes. The ‘Grep’ command can also be used to search for suspicious code patterns like ‘base64_decode’ in WordPress files.

After identifying malicious files with tools like BlogVault, use its repair feature to restore them to their original, clean versions. This ensures that all malicious code is fully eliminated and the site is secure.

Restore Clean Versions of Core Files: Restoring clean versions of core WordPress files from the official WordPress repository is essential to ensure all infected files are replaced with secure ones. Use file integrity monitoring tools or security plugins to verify that no unauthorised changes remain in your core WordPress files. Plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri can facilitate this process, ensuring a thorough and complete clean-up.

Learn more: Ultimate WordPress Website Maintenance Checklist for Optimal Performance

6. Post-Hack Recovery: Securing Your WordPress Site

After cleaning your hacked site, you must secure it to avoid future attacks. Regularly updating WordPress, themes, and plugins is essential to patch vulnerabilities and prevent exploits. Implementing strong password policies and setting up a firewall are also critical steps in enhancing your site’s security.

• Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins: To patch security issues and stop hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities, it’s vital to keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated regularly. Installing the latest version of WordPress and updating all plugins and themes can eliminate potential security risks. Further, outdated themes and plugins should be patched or removed to minimise vulnerabilities.

• Implement Strong Password Policies: Strong passwords that combine numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters can significantly enhance security. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added protection.

• Set Up a Firewall: Configuring a firewall can help prevent malicious scripts and unauthorised access attempts. Sucuri’s website firewall can block attacks before they reach your server, providing an extra layer of security for your site.

Find out: Signs Your UK Website Needs Professional Website Maintenance

7. Choosing the Right Hosting Provider

Selecting a trustworthy hosting provider is crucial to maintaining your WordPress site’s security. Look for providers that offer features such as free SSL certificates, web application firewalls, and regular backups.

Managed WordPress Hosting: This provides the following benefits:

• Enhanced security features
• Specialised server settings to optimise performance
• Server security patches and maintenance to ensure site security
• Controls for caching and performance enhancements

Regular Backups and Monitoring: Regular backups simplify the recovery process from a hack. Managed WordPress hosting providers like WP Engine typically offer nightly backups that can be restored with one click. Providers like Hostinger and DreamHost offer weekly backups, ensuring your site can be restored if needed. 

Continuous monitoring by hosting providers can help quickly identify and mitigate potential threats. Cloud hosting providers like Pressable often include automatic failover protection for continuous uptime monitoring, providing an extra layer of security to ensure your site remains online and secure.

Also read about: WordPress Website Maintenance Costs in the UK

8. Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Hacks

Implementing robust security measures to safeguard your site is easier than recovering from hacking damage. Some of the key preventive measures that can help protect your site from future attacks are:

• Regular Security Audits: Conducting regular security audits can help identify and fix potential vulnerabilities. Our WordPress maintenance and support services include comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, including real-time monitoring and regular updates to ensure your site remains secure.

• Limit Login Attempts: Limiting login attempts can protect your site from brute force attacks. Plugins like Login LockDown can be used to limit login attempts on a WordPress website, providing an extra layer of security against multiple random login attempts.

• Use Secure FTP: Secure FTP protocols, such as SFTP or FTPS, ensure that data transmitted during file transfers is encrypted. This prevents unauthorised access to the files and enhances the overall security of your site.

Further reading: How to Secure a UK WordPress Site with Content Delivery Network

Summary

In summary, dealing with a hacked WordPress site requires swift and decisive action. Recognising the signs of a hack, taking immediate steps to secure the site, using essential tools for clean-up, and implementing preventive measures are all critical components of the recovery process. By following this guide, you can effectively fix a hacked WordPress site and fortify it against future attacks.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. So, regular updates, strong passwords, and robust security measures can go a long way in keeping your WordPress site safe.

FAQs About Hacked WordPress Website