A hacked website can be more than just an annoyance: It can lose you customers and business. If people get viruses and malware from visiting your site, or find that your site does not work correctly, they are not likely to come back later. That is why the first step to dealing with a hacked website (WordPress or not) is to maintain your software. Regular backups of your site’s files and database are also highly recommended.
Maintaining your website and software means making sure that all of your security is up to date. In addition, installing upgrades to your software can fix weaknesses that would let hackers in. Taking steps like these should make it more difficult for hackers to access your site. However, in case you do end up with a hacked WordPress site, it can be helpful to understand how hacking can happen and how to fix it.
How does hacking occur?
The important thing to remember is that anyone can be hacked. It does not matter whether you are running a site for a national brand or just setting up a small personal WordPress blog. It does not even matter if you have anything valuable on your website. Hackers might still attack your site. As a result, you need to be aware of how hacking can happen, and you need to be ready to deal with it if it happens to you.
Thanks to the many types of software, networks, and servers out there, there are a number of ways that hacking can occur. Following are a few of the ways hackers might use to alter your website:
Through a web hosting server issue
Some hackers get into your website through a problem with your web host’s servers. If you host with a reliable web hosting company, this is less common.
Through someone’s computer
Other hackers might gain access to your website through someone else’s infected computer. For instance, if your website manager’s computer or network has a security weakness, a hacker can use that weakness to get password information from their computer and connect to the website.
Through website software
Website software can also serve as a doorway for hackers. For instance, if you fail to update your WordPress software, hackers might be able to get into your site through the security holes in the old version of the software. One of the main reasons that WordPress releases frequently updated versions is to address potential security flaws, and they encourage webmasters to install the updates regularly.
Hackers can also use a couple of different strategies to damage your website. For instance, the hacker can manually get into your website and damage it. Alternatively, the hacker may create an automatic program that attacks your website as well as many other websites at the same time. Regardless of the doorways and methods used, however, hacking can cause serious problems on your website.
What kind of damage does hacking cause?
The problems that a hacker could cause, on your WordPress website or any other type of site, are numerous. Fixing a hacked WordPress website means first figuring out exactly what kind of damage has been caused. Many businesses engage the help of security companies such as Sucuri.net to help investigate and clean up an infected site.
Following are three examples of the problems hacking might cause. While not an exhaustive list, it does give you an idea of how hackers can affect your website, and what steps might be necessary to reverse the damage.
Malware uploaded through a faulty plug-in
If your website happens to use a faulty plug-in, a hacker might use it to upload malware to your website. Reversing the damage this malware causes requires you or your web development company to remove the malware and to upgrade or remove the faulty plug-in. Simply upgrading the plugin does not always fix the problem immediately; it is vital to remove the malware from the server. Malware comes in many forms, including programs that are used to attack other websites or attack visitors who come to your site.
Extra code added to the site
A hacker might also add extra coding or URLs to your website. These additions will then cause your website to malfunction, but the code can also be hard to detect. In order to reverse this damage, you will need to hire a website developer or security expert to examine your coding and identify the places where additions have been made. They will then need to remove or fix the coding to get your website operating smoothly again. Alternatively, you can use a recent backup of your website to restore your site to a version that is clean of the infection.
Site deleted and replaced with hacker content
In extreme cases, your website may be deleted and replaced with the hacker’s content. In these cases, visitors will encounter ugly messages or promotions for other sites. The best way to fix this problem is to use a recent backup of your website to replace the hacked content. You will then need professionals, such as those from your web development company or from a third-party security service, to strengthen your security measures and prevent similar damage from happening again.
What are the best ways to prevent a hacked WordPress site?
The previous examples are just samples of the impact hacking can have. The truth is, identifying the cause of a hack and fixing the hacking damage can be difficult. As a result, the best strategy is to be prepared and to prevent hacking opportunities whenever possible. Following are a few of the ways to do so on a WordPress website:
Upgrade software whenever possible
Software companies release frequent updates to their products. These upgrades often contain security patches and other fixes that address weaknesses hackers can use to get to your website. By staying current with your upgrades, you make it harder for hackers to get into your site.
Make frequent backups of your website files and databases
In the event that your site is hacked, you may need to use a backup of your website to repair the damage. Making frequent backups of your site means that you have the information necessary to make these replacements if needed.
Host the site with a professional web hosting company
Web hosting companies tend to have better security than you can put in place through your office computers (among many other advantages). As a result, using their services ensures better server security and resources.
Use a maintenance plan through your web development company
As mentioned above, performing routine maintenance on your website and software can help to prevent hacking. As a result, it may be beneficial for you to purchase a maintenance plan through a web development company. These plans help you to monitor your site and perform upgrades that might otherwise be overlooked. Check with your web development company to see if they offer these plans.
Install only reliable plugins to WordPress
Plugins are managed by their creators, and not by WordPress. As a result, make sure that any plugins you install have active creators who will maintain upgrades and support. These plugins should also come with an established history of security and reliability. By only using high-quality plugins, you decrease the risk of hackers gaining access to your site through vulnerabilities.
Fixing a hacked WordPress site starts with preventing the hacking in the first place. When you understand how hacking can occur, the damage it can cause, and how to prevent it, you are less likely to get hacked. If you do experience hacking, however, you should locate your backups and let your WordPress development professionals know so they can help you to identify the problem, fix the damage, and implement strategies to keep it from happening again.