Discovering that your website has been hacked can be both alarming and frustrating. Hackers may use your site to spread malicious code, steal sensitive information, or redirect visitors to other websites. If you find yourself in such a situation, it is crucial to act quickly and systematically. Here, we go through the key steps you should take to mitigate the damage and restore security to your website.
1. Identify and Isolate the Problem
Check for Signs of Intrusion
First and foremost, you need to determine what has happened. Here are some common signs that your website may have been hacked:
- Unexpected changes in your site’s content
- Redirects to suspicious websites
- Browser or Google warnings indicating your site contains malicious code
- Unknown user accounts in your database or admin panel
- Increased server load or unusual traffic
Take Your Website Offline
If your website is infected with malicious code or if there is a risk that visitors may be exposed to harm, you should temporarily take it offline. You can do this by putting it in maintenance mode or disabling it via your hosting provider.
2. Contact Your Hosting Provider
Your hosting provider can often help you identify the problem and restore your website. Many hosting services have backups and can assist in restoring your site to a previous functional version. Inform them of the situation so they can take measures to prevent further damage.
3. Scan Your Website for Malicious Code
Use Security Tools
There are several security tools available to help you detect and remove malicious code from your website. Some popular options include:
- Sucuri SiteCheck
- Wordfence (for WordPress users)
- Google Search Console (Security Issues)
- ClamAV (for servers)
Run a scan of your website and identify any suspicious files or changes. If you use a CMS like WordPress or Joomla, also check for database changes and installed plugins.
4. Restore from a Backup
If you have regular backups, the easiest solution may be to restore your website to a previous version. Ensure that the backup is free from malicious code before restoring it, or you may reintroduce the issue.
If You Lack a Backup
If you do not have a clean backup to restore from, you may need to manually remove infected files or reinstall your entire website from scratch.
5. Update and Strengthen Security
Update Software and Passwords
After restoring your website, it is important to update all software, including:
- CMS (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.)
- Plugins and extensions
- Server software (PHP, MySQL, etc.)
Also, change passwords for:
- Website admin panel
- FTP and database users
- Hosting login
Use strong and unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible.
Clean and Review User Accounts
Check for unknown or suspicious user accounts on your website and delete them if necessary. Limit user permissions so that only trusted individuals have administrative access.
6. Prevent Future Attacks
Install a Security Plugin
If you use WordPress or another CMS, there are several security plugins that can protect your website from future attacks. Examples include:
- Wordfence (WordPress)
- iThemes Security
- All In One WP Security & Firewall
Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF can block malicious traffic before it reaches your website. Services like Cloudflare or Sucuri offer this type of protection and can help prevent future intrusions.
Monitor and Regularly Review Your Website
To avoid ending up in the same situation again, regularly review your website’s security. Some good practices include:
- Having a plan for regular backups
- Performing security scans at least once a month
- Keeping all software up to date
- Using a log manager to track suspicious activity