Imagine you are trying to access your website, and nothing is working. The website doesn’t load, so you get a server error and cannot identify the reason. It’s a nightmare, isn’t it?
WordPress powers over 43% of websites and is the most used CMS platform worldwide. But with popularity comes some drawbacks! Due to its widespread use, WordPress is more prone to cyber-attacks and hacking.
This is why when our client Gabriela reached out for help with her website, anappleadaycatering, we knew the website hack was the culprit. With our Hacked Site Repair service, our expert team helped transform the client’s site from vulnerable to virtually unbreakable.
Want to know how we did it? Let’s get into the details and cover our teamwork with our case study below.
Project Overview
- Website: anappleadaycatering
- Project Duration: 2 days
- Location: Park Avenue, Glencoe, Illinois
- Service: Catering service
- Competence: Food and Beverage
- Issue: Hacked site
- Solution: Hacked site repair
Problem Statement
When the client reached out to us, they were facing a situation no business ever wants to experience. Their website, which is central to everything they do—whether it’s welcoming guests to Meg’s Cafe, helping customers send gift baskets, or allowing people to browse their Box Lunches Menu—had suddenly stopped working.
The site just wouldn’t load, leaving them in a difficult spot, worried about how this might affect their customers and their business.
No one knew exactly how the hack happened, but what was clear was that they needed help and fast. Their website is a vital part of their connection with customers, and without it, they risked losing out on important orders and the trust they had built over the years.
Understanding how crucial their online presence is, we got to work immediately. In just two days, we fixed all the issues causing the website to malfunction. But we didn’t stop there—we also strengthened the site’s security so something like this wouldn’t happen again.
Our Solution: Hacked Site Repair
When the client reached out to us with their website issues, we knew how important it was to get them back online quickly and securely. We immediately got to work, following our trusted process of hacked site repaire and ensure it was stronger than ever.
Restrict Public Site Access
The first thing we did was lock down the site to keep it safe from further attacks while we worked on the repairs. Using .htaccess, we restricted access to just our team’s IP address so no one else could tamper with the site while we assessed the situation.
This allowed us to focus on the repair without worrying about additional damage. Once the site was fully repaired, we removed these restrictions so everything could return to normal.
Initial Site Review
With the site secure, we dove into an initial review to figure out exactly what needed fixing. The first step was cleaning up key WordPress files like index.php and wp-config.php, which often get targeted by hackers.
We carefully removed any malicious code and reset all file permissions to their proper settings. This was a crucial step to stabilize the site and make sure everything was set up correctly for the rest of the repair process.
Reset All User Logins
To protect the site from any further unauthorized access, we reset all user login credentials. This meant that any compromised accounts couldn’t be used to sneak back in. We kept the client in the loop throughout, setting clear expectations and outlining the timeline for the repairs.
Before making any major changes, we backed up the website and database to ensure nothing was lost. Then, we conducted a thorough scan to identify and remove any remaining malicious code. If we could, we restored the site from a clean backup, making sure to preserve all essential dynamic content like e-commerce orders.
WP User Password Reset
Next, we reset all WordPress user passwords to make sure the site was secure. If the hack involved weak WordPress.com credentials or Jetpack as an entry point, we temporarily disabled the Single Sign-On (SSO) feature until the client could update their passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This added layer of security helped ensure that the site wouldn’t be vulnerable to similar attacks in the future.
Prep Work for Hacked Site Repair
Our team then reviewed the server logs to spot any signs of malicious activity, like attempts to upload harmful scripts or access backdoor entries. We used tools like WP-CLI to verify all WordPress plugins and check for any suspicious files.
Clean Database
We took a deep dive into the site’s database, using specialized scripts to find and remove any traces of malicious code. This involved some detailed work, including using patterns to identify and clean infected code within the database tables.
Once we were sure everything was clean, we re-imported the sanitized database back into the site. This made sure the site was free from any lingering threats and ready to go back online.
Reinstall WordPress
To give the site a fresh start, we reinstalled a clean version of WordPress. We carefully transferred any essential themes, plugins, and media files from the old installation, making sure each one was free from any malicious code before moving it over. This step ensured that the site was functioning correctly, secure, up-to-date, and ready for business as usual.
Post-Repair Cleanup
Once the main repair work was done, we ran a final cleanup script to double-check that everything was in order. We verified that all WordPress core files were intact and scanned for any remaining malicious code.
Finally, we created a secure backup of the repaired site and provided the client with a full report detailing everything we did and the steps we took to prevent future issues.
Client Feedback
The client was incredibly pleased with the outcome of our work. They were especially impressed that we managed to get their website back up and running in just two days with our priority support. The client expressed their satisfaction, noting that working with us was a seamless experience.
They highlighted our team’s excellent communication skills and the quality of the work delivered, mentioning that Seahawk has been a fantastic partner for their business.
They appreciated our dedication and expertise, which made the entire process smooth and stress-free, allowing them to focus on their catering services without further disruption.
Wrapping Up
In just two days, we were able to take An Apple A Day Catering’s website from being completely down to fully restored, secure, and back in action with our hacked site repair service. We followed a careful and proven process to make sure every bit of malicious code was removed, every vulnerability was patched, and the site was stronger than ever before.
We knew how important their website was for keeping their business running smoothly day in and day out. Our team worked quickly but with great care to ensure that the website could get back to doing what they do best: creating delicious meals and providing exceptional service to its customers.
