How to deal with the hacked WordPress website?

Discovering that your WordPress website has been hacked can be alarming, but taking immediate and effective action is crucial to restore your website’s security and functionality. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to deal with a hacked WordPress website, including identifying the hack, cleaning up the site, and implementing measures to prevent future attacks.

Table of Contents

1. Assess the Damage
2. Isolate the Website
3. Clean Malware
4. Strengthen Security
5. Restore from Backup

1. Assess the Damage

Understand the extent of the hack:

• Identify Defacement: Check if the site has been defaced or if malicious content is visible.
• Check Functionality: Test if critical functions, like login, are compromised.
• Scan for Malware: Use security tools to scan your website for malware and vulnerabilities.

2. Isolate the Website

Temporarily take your website offline:

• Maintenance Mode: Enable maintenance mode to display a temporary message to visitors.
• Change Passwords: Change all passwords, including WordPress admin, hosting, and FTP.
• Disable Plugins: Deactivate all plugins to prevent further vulnerabilities.

3. Clean Malware

Remove malicious code and files:

• Identify Malicious Files: Check for unfamiliar files or suspicious code in your theme and plugin files.
• Scan Database: Look for unauthorized changes in your database, especially in the wp_options table.
• Use Security Plugins: Utilize WordPress security plugins to scan and remove malware.

4. Strengthen Security

Implement measures to prevent future attacks:

• Update Everything: Update WordPress, themes, plugins, and scripts to the latest versions.
• Use Security Plugins: Install reputable security plugins to enhance protection.
• Regular Backups: Set up automated backups to restore your website if needed.

5. Restore from Backup

If you have a clean backup:

• Reinstall WordPress: Delete all files and reinstall WordPress from your clean backup.
• Import Content: Restore your database and upload your content and media.

By following these steps, you can effectively deal with a hacked WordPress website, restore its security, and minimize the risk of future attacks.