How to Tell If Your Website Has Been Hacked and What to Do Next

A hacked website can lead to data breaches, lost revenue, damaged reputation, and penalties from search engines. The sooner you detect and address a hacking incident, the better chance you have of minimizing its impact. But how can you tell if your website has been hacked, and what steps should you take to recover and secure it?

This guide will walk you through the common signs of a hacked website, how to confirm an attack, and what actions to take to restore and protect your site.

“IN TODAY’S WORLD, ENDPOINT PROTECTION IS NO LONGER A LUXURY; IT’S A NECESSITY. FAILING TO SECURE ENDPOINTS IS LIKE LEAVING THE FRONT DOOR OPEN FOR CYBERCRIMINALS, EXPOSING BUSINESSES TO THEFT, DISRUPTION, AND FINANCIAL LOSS.”

Raj Samani, Chief Scientist at McAfee

Signs Your Website May Have Been Hacked

Hackers often leave telltale signs when they gain unauthorized access to a website. Look for these red flags:

1. Unexpected Website Changes

• Defaced pages: Your homepage or other pages display unfamiliar or inappropriate content.
• Unauthorized links: Strange links redirect users to unknown or malicious websites.
• Unapproved ads: Pop-ups or advertisements appear without your consent.

2. Drop in Website Performance

• Slow loading speeds or frequent crashes may indicate a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or malware overload.

3. Search Engine Warnings

• If Google or another search engine marks your site as “unsafe” or blocks it from search results, it’s a strong indicator of malware or phishing scripts on your site.

4. Suspicious Activity in Your Analytics

• Traffic spikes from unexpected regions or strange patterns in user behavior can signal malicious bot activity.

5. Unfamiliar Accounts or Plugins

• New admin accounts, plugins, or themes that you didn’t install could indicate unauthorized access.

6. Visitors Report Issues

• Customers or visitors may report warnings from their antivirus software, redirects, or unusual behavior when visiting your site.

7. Blacklisted Email Domain

• If your website’s email server is sending spam, your domain may be blacklisted, reducing email deliverability.

Step 1: Confirm the Hack

Once you suspect your site has been hacked, take the following steps to confirm the issue:

Scan Your Website

• Use tools like Sucuri SiteCheck, Wordfence, or Google Safe Browsing to scan your website for malware or security issues.

Check Your Hosting Account

• Log in to your hosting control panel and look for:
  • Unfamiliar files or directories.
  • Unusual resource usage or server logs.

Inspect Website Files

• Download your site’s files via FTP and look for:
  • PHP files with suspicious names or recent changes.
  • Code containing eval(), base64_decode, or other potentially malicious functions.

Review Google Search Console

• Check the Security Issues report in Google Search Console for warnings or detected vulnerabilities.

Step 2: Take Immediate Action

Take Your Website Offline

If your site is actively serving malicious content or being used for phishing, temporarily take it offline to prevent further damage.

Change Your Passwords

Reset all admin, hosting, FTP, and database passwords. Use strong, unique passwords to block unauthorized access.

Back Up Your Site

Before making changes, back up your website, including files and databases. This will allow you to restore the site if needed during the cleanup process.

Step 3: Remove Malware and Fix Vulnerabilities

1. Remove Malicious Code

• Manually inspect files or use a security plugin like Wordfence or iThemes Security to remove infected files.
• Restore clean versions of corrupted files from your backups.

2. Reinstall Core WordPress Files

• If you’re using WordPress, download a fresh copy of the platform and replace all core files (except the wp-content folder) to ensure there’s no malicious code in the core installation.

3. Delete Suspicious Plugins and Themes

• Remove plugins or themes you didn’t install or suspect to be compromised. Reinstall trusted versions if necessary.

Step 4: Secure Your Website

Once your site is clean, take these steps to prevent future attacks:

1. Update Everything

• Update your CMS, plugins, themes, and server software to their latest versions. Security patches often address known vulnerabilities.

2. Use a Security Plugin

• Install a security plugin like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri to monitor your site and block suspicious activity.

3. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

• A WAF can block malicious traffic and prevent hacking attempts. Popular options include Sucuri’s firewall or Cloudflare.

4. Limit Admin Access

• Restrict admin accounts to trusted users and remove unnecessary accounts. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for added security.

5. Secure Your Hosting Environment

• Ensure your hosting provider follows best practices for server security.
• Consider switching to a managed WordPress hosting provider for better security.

Step 5: Inform Stakeholders

If the hack affected your customers or users, communicate the situation transparently. Let them know what happened, the steps you’re taking to address the issue, and any actions they should take, such as changing their passwords.

Step 6: Monitor and Stay Vigilant

Regular Scans

• Run periodic malware scans using your security plugin or external tools like Sucuri SiteCheck.

Log Monitoring

• Keep an eye on server and website logs for unusual activity.

Stay Updated

• Subscribe to security blogs or forums to stay informed about the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Red Flags to Avoid in Recovery

• Restoring from an Infected Backup: Always scan your backup files before restoring them to ensure they’re clean.
• Ignoring the Root Cause: Find and fix the vulnerability that allowed the hack to occur, or it could happen again.
• Overlooking User Accounts: Malicious users often create new admin accounts to regain access.

Conclusion

Discovering your website has been hacked is stressful, but quick action can mitigate the damage and secure your site. By recognizing the signs of a hack, taking immediate steps to address it, and implementing preventative measures, you can protect your website and its users from future attacks.

The key to website security is vigilance—regular updates, strong passwords, and proactive monitoring will keep your site safe from most threats. If you’re unsure how to proceed, consider hiring a professional to clean and secure your site. With the right approach, your website can recover and thrive.