What to do if your website is hacked

Imagine arriving at work one morning to find that your website has been hacked, defaced and leaving a very bad impression on visitors. With around 30,000 websites hacked every single day, that nightmare is alarmingly common. Cybercriminals are always lurking, making it crucial for website owners to know how to act quickly and effectively if their site is compromised.

It’s not always obvious if your website has been hacked. Signs can range from suspicious activity to your content and admin area to alarming browser warnings. They can even show you your original website (if you are logged in) and visitors a defaced version. Recognising these indicators could be the difference between a minor headache or a full-blown catastrophe for your online presence.

Signs of a hacked website

Spotting the signs that your website might be hacked can be a bit like discovering a sock missing from a fresh load of laundry— Not obvious at first but frustrating and possibly even alarming. Sometimes it’s blatantly obvious with a completely new home page, other times they’re sneaky little clues tucked away in the shadows. Whether the damage is catastrophic or just plain annoying, recognising some of the following signs early can help you remove the problem before it snowballs.

Changes to the website itself

The home page or other pages on the site could have changed, extra unknown links added or unfamiliar content pops-up. If strange new pages appear without your creative touch or the site begins to redirect visitors to far-off places in Internet-land, your site’s likely been compromised. Throw in a bunch of unexpected ads plastering your content, and you’ve got the classic hallmarks of a hacking attack.

Changes to the admin area

The admin area of your website is your digital control panel—it should feel like your trusted sanctuary. When you start seeing failed or unusual login attempts in your logs, it’s like someone rattling the doorknob of your home. Even more unsettling are the ghosts of new admin users that pop up, or security breaches to those precious core files. Find new plugins or themes? An steathly visitor might be at play.

Technical changes

Ever feel like your website’s turning into a resource-hogging monster all of a sudden? If you notice sudden, unexplained spikes in server resources or the bandwidth it’s consuming, your site might be dealing with more guests than it can handle. Also, keep an eye on those access logs. Any shady modifications or mysterious processes running on your server that weren’t there before signal that you’re in the midst of a hacker shindig.

Browser warnings

Your web browser can be your first line of defence against hackers. If a search engine labels your site “suspicious” or “hacked,” don’t shrug it off. Listen! If antivirus software is throwing up red flags or if your visitors are encountering SSL certificate warnings, it’s time for a little sit-down to sort things out. These warnings aren’t just pesky interruptions—they’re waving a big red flag at you to check on your website’s health.

By keeping an eye out for these signs, you’re not only protecting your website but also safeguarding the trust of your visitors.

What to do first when you suspect a hack

Spot some of these signs? Don’t panic — you’ve got this! Let’s roll up our sleeves and tackle this mess together. First thing on the agenda? Evaluate how bad the damage really is. Is it a full-blown catastrophe or just a minor hiccup? If you’re feeling lost without a plan, no worries! We’ve got 6 steps to guide you through.

1. Change all passwords associated with the website

Passwords are like keys to your website. If you’ve been hacked, your first move should be to change ’em all, pronto! Every user account, every admin. Even your Aunt Ethel if she has access! Make sure you use strong passwords — I’m talking about a mishmash of letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t skimp here; this is no time to get lazy with “letmein”. Also, if you can, turn on two-factor authentication. This extra layer of security will further keep your site safe and make it harder for hackers to get in again.

2. Contact your hosting provider for assistance

Next up, get in touch with your hosting provider. They’re basically your tech-savvy friend who knows all the ins and outs of your website’s infrastructure. They can help take your site down temporarily and might even provide backups or FTP access if your usual admin access is out of whack. Trust me, they’ve seen it all before, and we’re here to help.

3. Temporarily take the site offline to prevent further damage

You know that saying: “Better safe than sorry?” Well, it’s time to put that into practice. Temporarily taking your site offline can prevent further damage and save your rep in the meantime. It’s like hitting pause on a bad movie. You don’t want the internet to see your site in this state, so flip the switch and get things under control.

4. Identify and remove malware or suspicious code

Now comes the dirty work: hunting down that nasty malicious code lurking in your site. Fire up a malware scanner and get to searching. And remember, like the stubborn weed in your garden, there might be more than one piece to yank out. Malware attacks can happen many days before hackers use them for malicious activity. If you find digital nasties, remove them with extreme prejudice.

5. Restoring your website

Got backups? Brilliant! Restore your site from that safe snapshot. But double-check — you don’t want to resurrect malware and play out a zombie apocalypse scenario. If backups aren’t your thing, reach out to your web developer or hosting provider for help. Sometimes the hack was sneaky and happened before you even noticed, so be thorough – you may need to go back several backups or days before the original hack.

6. Securely update all software, themes, and plugins

Last but definitely not least, update everything — outdated software, themes, plugins, the whole shebang. This downloads and updates the latest security patches and closes any known security vulnerabilities in the software. Also, take a peek at your user roles. Spot any mysterious new users? Remove them like yesterday’s stale bread. Double-check file permissions, too, ensuring everything is locked down tight.

How Xposure’s ‘No Hack’ guarantee helps

Why roll the dice when it comes to your website’s security? It’s not worth the stress and potential chaos. Xposure’s ‘No Hack’ guarantee is like a safety net that lets you breathe easy, knowing your site is in good hands. Who wouldn’t want the pros stepping in to look after the nitty-gritty? This guarantee isn’t just about providing help when you need it—it’s about making sure you never have to face a hack attack alone.

Proactive protection

Picture this: constant eyes on your website, catching those sneaky code changes and nipping security issues in the bud. That’s what Xposure brings to the table. With daily backups stored for a rolling 30 days, we ensure your data is never lost in the ether. Our proactive stance doesn’t stop there. We carry out regular checks for any malware trying to sneak its way in and stay ahead of the game by tracking security updates and known plugin vulnerabilities. It’s like having a digital bouncer who’s always on duty.

Immediate response

Let’s say the unexpected happens—don’t freak out! Xposure jumps into action right away. Offensive or defaced content? Consider it history. We quickly roll out a temporary holding page with your business contact details, making sure your clients still have access to you. Meanwhile, our team digs in, hunting down and removing any malicious code. Before you know it, your site is cleaned up and back on track, like nothing ever happened.

Peace of mind

What’s better than knowing you’re covered without extra bills sneaking up on you? Xposure includes security services in your hosting package, meaning there’s no additional cost for that peace of mind. By minimising the risk of successful attacks, we lift that weight of worry from your shoulders. You’re free to stash away the stress and focus on what you’re truly passionate about—running your business like the pro you are.

Risk mitigation

Now, let’s be real for a moment. Can anyone promise 100% hack-proof security? Not quite, but Xposure sure does its best to minimise the risks. Our security experts is all about taking proactive measures to keep your website as secure as humanly possible. And if something should go wrong despite all precautions, we’ve got a specialised crew working flat out to get your site back to its original, functioning glory. With Xposure, you’re not just reducing risks—you’re conquering them!

Guarding against future attacks

Read our guide on how to prevent further attacks so you don’t have to go through the pain and anguish again.