Learn How to Remove Malware from WordPress Site

Malware injected into WordPress sites threatens severe disruptions like breaking site functionality, stealing admin credentials or visitor data, being indexed by search engines leading to site penalties, even the malware spreading from the infected site to visitors’ devices. Remove malware from WordPress, considering it an imperative, in case it is left unchecked in the WP environment.

It readily exploits vulnerabilities to further penetrate the site’s database, plugins, users etc. while escalating attacks on the site and visitors. Thoroughly cleansing malware from WordPress installs is vital to prevent irrecoverable harm befalling both the website itself and site visitors whose data faces exposure through these threats.

Read More: Malware Removal Services Vs. Website Security Services

Signs Your WordPress Site May Be Hacked

Wondering if your WordPress site has been hacked? Here are some telltale signs:

Slow Performance

Is your site suddenly dragging? Malware can hog resources, slowing everything down. Malware scripts often consume significant server resources, leading to sluggish performance. This can frustrate visitors, increase bounce rates, and negatively impact your SEO rankings.

Want to explore: Why is Your WordPress Site Slow?

Unexpected Redirects

Are visitors being sent to strange websites? That’s a red flag! Malware can hijack your site and redirect users to malicious sites, which can damage your reputation and result in search engines blacklisting your site. Immediate action is required to prevent further damage.

Unusual Login Activity

Notice multiple failed login attempts or new, unknown users? That’s a hacker trying to get in. Malicious actors often use brute force attacks to gain access to your site. Monitoring login activity and securing your login page are crucial steps to protect your site.

Altered Content

If you see changes you didn’t make, like weird links or content, your site might be compromised. Hackers can inject malicious code into your posts or pages, displaying unwanted ads or links. This can mislead your visitors and harm your credibility.

Security Warnings

Are browsers warning visitors about your site? That’s a major indicator that something’s wrong. Security warnings from browsers or search engines usually indicate that your site has been flagged for malware. This can deter visitors and needs immediate resolution to restore trust.

How Malware Infects WordPress Sites?

So, how does malware find its way into WordPress sites? Here’s the scoop:

Vulnerable Plugins and Themes

Using outdated or poorly coded plugins and themes can open the door to hackers. These vulnerabilities are often exploited by attackers to inject malicious code. Regular updates and using reputable plugins and themes can mitigate this risk.

Phishing Attacks

Clicking on malicious links or emails can unknowingly give hackers access. These phishing attacks can trick you into providing sensitive information or installing malware. Always verify the source of emails and links before clicking.

Outdated WordPress Core

Running an old version of WordPress? It’s like leaving your front door wide open for hackers. Outdated software lacks the latest security patches, making your site an easy target. Keeping your WordPress core updated is essential for security.

Take, for instance, the case of a site owner who didn’t update their plugins. Hackers exploited the vulnerability and injected malware, causing redirects and data loss. It’s crucial to stay updated!

Remove Malware from WordPress with Plugins

WordPress sites are unfortunately vulnerable to various types of malware infections like viruses, spyware, adware, and more. These malicious scripts can be injected into WordPress sites through vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, or WordPress core. The result is often a hacked site showing unwanted ads, redirecting visitors to spam sites, or being used to distribute malware.

Luckily, you can protect your WordPress site from malware. Using scanner and removal plugins available, you can avail help to clean up infected sites. Plugin examples include – Wordfence, Sucuri, and iThemes Security. These plugins can scan WordPress sites to detect infections, block known malicious IPs, and remove detected malware. Key features include file change detection, malware signature scanning, blacklist checking, and active blocking of attacks.

Subscribing to WordPress maintenance services is critical to remove malware from WordPress. The services include updating all WordPress plugins, themes, and core files to the latest versions. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated WordPress software to inject malware codes into sites. 

A hacked WordPress site inflicts grave consequences, from demolished search rankings and smeared reputation to compromised visitor safety. Malicious redirects to unsavory domains taint your brand while exposing readers to cyber threats. Most critically, entire databases face potential deletion at the hands of anonymous attackers. Hacked site repair services can bring these implications under control –  site integrity, audience trust, and content itself remains endangered without resolute defenses. 

Avoiding technical SEO issues and following best practices for WordPress maintenance, keep away malware from accessing the site. At the same time, this prepares site owners to quickly restore content in the event of an attack.

Learn More: Malware Removal Services Vs. Website Security Services

Top Plugins to Remove Malware from WordPress

A malware infection can wreak havoc on a site. Yet, many site owners don’t know where to begin cleaning up the mess. Protect WordPress site from malware by using the right tools. Good news is, they are easy-to-use plugins, specially designed to seek out and destroy WordPress malware lurking in your site’s code and databases. 

Instead of taking drastic measures like completely reinstalling WordPress, you can leverage these malware scanners to quickly eradicate bugs while preserving your content and customizations. 

In this guide, we will share the top anti-malware plugins proven to pulverize WordPress infections while safeguarding your site architecture. Read on to learn how these security reinforcements can turn the tide against your site’s attackers!

Read More: Common WordPress Security Mistakes to Avoid

WordFence Security

WordFence is a WordPress security plugin powered by a dedicated global team focused exclusively on WordPress threats. It provides a firewall, malware scanner with real-time updates, brute force protection, vulnerability checks, and content safety scans to fully secure sites.

Key Features:

• Smarter Scans: Customize scans to pinpoint vulnerabilities without dragging down performance
• Nonstop Security: Schedule automatic probes on your timeline, with premium plans providing unlimited 24/7 sweeps
• Performance First: Adjust settings so security enhances, not hinders, site speed and hosting resources
• Fortified Foundation: Multi-layered defenses like login protection and firewalls structurally integrate with WordPress to deny unauthorized access

Jetpack Scan

Jetpack Scan is a free WordPress plugin that provides comprehensive scanning to detect and fix vulnerabilities. It scans posts, comments, files, and other content for malware, checks plugins/themes for issues, monitors uptime, and offers one-click fixes. Its wide range of preventative scans strengthens defense against attacks.

Key Features:

• Broad coverage: Scans content, plugins, themes, web apps for threats
• Automated scans: Daily and on-demand sweeps to catch issues
• Malware monitoring: Detects infections and suspicious content
• One-click fixes: Resolve problems like out-of-date software in one click
• Uptime monitoring: Get alerts if site goes down to respond quickly

Security & Malware Scan by CleanTalk

CleanTalk is a cloud security service protecting websites from threats, providing security tools to control site security. It offers detailed stats for all features enabling full security control, storing logs for 45 days.

Key Features:

• Fortified Gateway: Multi-layer firewall filters traffic to block attacks but allow access.
• Vigilant Guardian: Antivirus engine scans and removes malware infections automatically.
• Non-Stop Security Patrol: 24/7 scans detect subtle vulnerabilities missed in routine checks.
• Breached Wall Alerts: Alert systems notify administrators of unauthorized access detections.

All-in-one Security (AIOS)

All-in-One Security by UpdraftPlus is an easy WordPress plugin providing free advanced security including login protocols blocking attacks, real-time threat detection via a Web Application Firewall, and anti-spam and content scraping defenses to protect sites beyond conventional measures.

Key Features:

• Login Shield: Fortifies access points from brute force attacks.
• Sentry Firewall: Automatically blocks security threats in real-time.
• Anti-Theft Protection: Safeguards content from scraping.
• Spam Blaster: Obliterates comment spam.
• Malware Scanner: Routinely scans files and databases for vulnerabilities.

SecuPress

SecuPress enhances WordPress security with IT-grade protections including firewalls, malware detection, vulnerability scans, and more without needing technical expertise; key highlights are one-click security hardening, continuous backend monitoring, transparent site encryption, and 2FA login authentication.

Key Highlights:

• One-click security hardening tools instantly boost site protection
• Continuous backend monitoring consistently verifies site health
• Transparent site encryption secures visitor connections
• 2FA login authentication adds impenetrable access control

Security Ninja

Security Ninja is an intuitive WordPress malware scanner providing automatic site scans that detect vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, web apps, and databases, then notifies administrators of security issues via dashboard warnings and email reports so they can quickly address threats.

Key Highlights:

• Intuitive Scanning – User-friendly automatic site scans detect vulnerabilities
• Broad Protection – Scans plugins, themes, web apps, databases, and files
• Alert System – Dashboard warnings and email reports notify of security threats
• Vulnerability Checks – Outdated software, suspicious code, malware, backdoors

Manual Malware Removal Process

Ready to roll up your sleeves and tackle malware manually? Here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide:

1. Put Your Site into Maintenance Mode

First things first, let your visitors know you’re working behind the scenes. Use a plugin to put your site into maintenance mode. This way, you can address the issues without alarming your visitors or causing them frustration from encountering broken pages.

2. Scan Your Computer

Before diving into your website, make sure your own device is clean. Run a malware scan on your computer to ensure it isn’t infected. This step helps prevent any reinfection from your own device while you’re working on the site.

3. Back Up Your WordPress Core Files and Database

Next, backup your important files and database. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Ensure you have a recent backup before the infection. This backup acts as your safety net, allowing you to restore your site if anything goes wrong during the cleanup.

4. Download and Examine Backup Files

Check that you have all the necessary core files backed up and safe. Download them and examine closely to ensure no malware has crept in. This step ensures that your backups are clean and can be relied upon if needed.

5. Delete All Files in the public_html Folder

Time to purge! Delete all files in the public_html folder to manually remove any hidden malware. This step clears out all the old, infected files, giving you a fresh start with a clean slate.

6. Reinstall WordPress and Reset Database Credentials

Now, reinstall WordPress and update your database credentials. Download the latest version of WordPress and upload it via FTP, ensuring your database details match in wp-config and your server. This reinstalls a clean version and secures your database connection.

7. Reset Permalinks

Head to WordPress’s Settings tab, then Permalinks, and save changes to reset your site’s links. This ensures that all your URLs function correctly after the reinstallation. It’s a quick step that can solve many link-related issues.

8. Reinstall Plugins and Themes

Revisit the plugin and theme libraries to reinstall only the necessary software. Avoid reinstalling everything to keep your site streamlined and secure. This helps prevent the reintroduction of any vulnerable plugins or themes.

9. Reupload Your Images

Refer to your backup for all the images and either reupload them or find better-quality alternatives. Make sure they are clean and free from malware. This step ensures that your media library is restored without any compromised files.

10. Install and Run Security Plugins

Finally, install security plugins like Sucuri or Jetpack to secure your site and run a scan for malware. These plugins provide ongoing protection and monitor your site for any future threats. Regular scans help keep your site secure and malware-free.

Preventative Measures to Secure Your WordPress Site

Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips to keep your WordPress site secure & safe:

Regular Updates

Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated. Regular updates ensure that you have the latest security patches and features, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.

Strong Passwords

Use complex passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Strong passwords make it harder for attackers to gain access, and two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security.

Regular Backups

Regularly backup your site to recover quickly if needed. Automated backups ensure that you always have a recent copy of your site, which can be crucial in case of an attack or failure.

Limiting Login Attempts

Use plugins to limit login attempts and block suspicious IPs. Limiting login attempts can prevent brute force attacks, and blocking IPs can keep known attackers at bay.

SSL Certificates

Implement SSL certificates to encrypt data and enhance security. SSL certificates protect data transmitted between your site and its users, ensuring privacy and security.

Learn: WordPress Security Mistakes to Avoid

In-Depth Look at Seahawk’s Hacked Site Repair Services

At Seahawk, we specialize in repairing hacked WordPress sites. If your site’s been compromised, we’re here to help:

1. Malware Removal Request: We access your site and clean out the malware.
2. Initiate Baseline Scanning: Our team scans your WordPress data to find and fix vulnerabilities.
3. Secure Backups: We back up your data before making changes and keep you updated throughout the process.
4. Total Removal: Using advanced tools, we remove malicious codes and files completely.

Service Packages:

• Standard: $299, billed once.
• Priority: $399, billed once.

We aim to have your site clean and trouble-free within 24-48 hours. If we can’t fix it, you’ll get a full refund. Contact us for a free consultation and see how we can assist you.

Conclusion

Malware poses a severe threat that can deeply damage WordPress sites. Use security plugins like for automatic malware detection and removal. 

also, consider hiring a WordPress Maintenance Service to perform regular vulnerability scans, update old plugins/themes, and implement firewalls and 2FA. Following these WordPress security best practices proactively protects your site from attacks. Remain vigilant with ongoing maintenance to deny malware endless opportunities before it causes harm.

FAQs on WordPress Malware Removal and Site Security