How Do I Know If My Website Has Malware?

Malware, i.e., malicious software, is meant to harm computers, websites and data. It is also routinely used to steal sensitive business info including customers’ personal and financial details.

Once this data makes its way into the wrong hands, hackers can use it to hold businesses for ransom. Other times, malware can target confidential government and municipal websites to wreak havoc on public facilities.

Either way, it’s never good news.

That’s why it is essential to let your website’s visitors know that your site is safe to browse and won’t endanger their safety, online or offline, in any way.

Big websites usually always invest in website malware protection services, and that's why cybercriminals don’t target them as much. But the smaller websites, those built on ecommerce and WordPress platforms, are more susceptible to malware attacks.

Cybercriminals know these small ecommerce site owners do not prioritize adequate WordPress malware protection until after the damage has been done.

That’s where we step in.

Here at Epitome Digital Marketing, our WordPress Security specialists know just how to secure your website, no matter how big or small it may be. We can detect possible security loopholes and if necessary, perform WordPress malware removal services to ensure your complete peace of mind.

But before you invest in our services, let us help you figure out if there’s anything to be worried about.

Signs Of Malware Infection On Your Website

While website defacement is an obvious malware indicator, there are several other clues that your WordPress website is infected.

62% of compromised environments are subjected to SEO spam, and 47% keep getting re-infected via unprotected backdoor channels.

What makes malware so useful is its ability to disguise itself from the website owner. That’s why WordPress malware removal can be challenging if it has gotten deep into your website.

Still, it’s important to look out for the following signs:

• A drastic reduction in site traffic and speed
• Frequent crashes where your site stops loading at all
• You suspect that search engines have blacklisted your site
• The website files seem to have been modified or may even be missing
• Your hosting service has entirely disabled your site, citing security issues
• The site’s displaying suspicious pop-ups or malvertising
• It has been defaced in some way

Let’s explore these indicators in further detail:

Search Engines Have Blacklisted Your Website

If any visitor to your site sees a prompt that your site contains malware, is hacked or does not have a security clearance, you can safely assume your website security is compromised.

Search engines like Google, Mozilla, and Opera use Google’s blacklist to warn users that the site they are entering contains malware. These search engines scan WordPress files for malware and flag content and source codes they find suspicious.

If your website is linked to the Google search console, you will receive an email alerting you that Google has detected malicious code, suspicious activity, or spam content from your website.

Your Hosting Company Has Disabled Your Website

Website hosting companies like WordPress scan their servers for malicious code. If they notice any irregularities, they disabled the compromised website to prevent the malware from spreading to other sites on their server.

If they find any malicious code or spam emails sent from your site, they will disable your site. Webhosting platforms also rely on search engines for verifying your website. If your site happens to be blacklisted by Google, your web hosting platform might follow suit and disable it as well.

The Pages Are Taking Forever To Load

If you notice your website has gotten very slow, such as a page that took 5 seconds to load now takes 20 seconds, your security may have been compromised.

Malware hijacks and utilizes your server resources slowing down your website operations. Whenever a visitor requests to load your page, the malware will load directed files from another server to load alongside. A useful WordPress malware cleaner tool will help you combat this problem.

Your Website’s Files Have Been Modified

Another indicator of malware on your website is that your files have changed from their earlier versions. You notice suspicious file names and server-side script files in upload directories; these could be to run malicious code, send spam email, or create a backdoor to your website.

If you notice that your site shows a blank page, redirects users to malicious websites, or your .htcaccess file keeps getting modified, it’s an indicator that you have been infected with malware. The hacker might have created backdoors on your website files. Cryptic strange-looking JavaScript codes in your web page source could be another indicator that your website is infected.

Have an expert examine your database, codes, and files for changes regularly. WordPress malware cleanup doesn’t take long but saves you a lot of stress and money.

Site Traffic Has Changed Drastically

Hackers might use your server and website to send out spam emails to pages created by them for spam advertising purposes. This can cause a spike in your traffic levels. Once the hacker sends out enough spam, your website will be tagged as spam.

Hackers use malware to vandalize blogs, websites, and forums with hyperlinks to get a higher ranking for their own sites. Any reputable website malware removal service will prompt you if it notices unusual activity or traffic on your site.

Get Prompt WordPress Malware Removal Help

Websites built on the WordPress platform accounted for 90% of all hacked sites in 2018.

When investing in security and preventative measures against malware, know that these tools are only good if they can keep up with the ever-evolving types of malware.

That’s why you need to work with reliable website security specialists who have access to a comprehensive database of the most recent and also the most persistent malware threats. This is the only way to ensure that your website has the most up-to-date protection available.

There is no denying that being proactive about your website security is the best defense for it.

Get in touch with a trusted web security expert at Epitome Digital Marketing to protect your site from WordPress malware. Call (980) 404-9250 to set up an appointment today!