WordPress Website Malware Removal

If you’re reading this article, it’s likely that you’re facing an issue with your website. One of the most common challenges, particularly for WordPress sites, is malware. Rather than focusing on what malware is and why it leads to website hacks, let’s get straight to the solutions you need.

How to remove malware from a website

Let me begin by saying that this isn’t an easy task, and prevention is usually the most effective strategy. However, if your website has already been compromised, there’s no reason to delay. Let’s explore the steps to take, but keep in mind that finding a solution isn’t always straightforward. You may often need to reach out to a developer, and if you wish, I can assist you with that process.

How did they hack my website?

The number of hacked websites is on the rise, often due to desperate circumstances. Frequently, this stems from inadequate website maintenance or subpar work by developers. We regularly find ourselves addressing hacks and eliminating malware for several reasons:

• outdated WordPress core
• neglected plugin updates
• and the use of NULLED THEMES—(essentially cracked templates)

In an attempt to save 60 or 70 euros, customers may choose these options, but as the saying goes, nothing is truly free, and they ultimately bear the consequences. Modern hacking techniques and malware can be particularly insidious; they may not disrupt the website’s functionality but can create hidden pages that link to disreputable sites. Search engines like Google can identify these issues, leading to penalties that result in a significant drop in traffic for the affected website.

6 Steps to Remove Malware from Website

Here are six straightforward steps to effectively eliminate malware from your website. It’s crucial to follow these steps in the order presented, as they are designed with a specific logic that will become clear by the end. Let’s dive into the six steps for removing a hack:

1. Backup your website

2. Update your plugins

3. Update WordPress

4. Clean your WordPress database

5. Replace the WP-ADMIN and WP-INCLUDES folders

6. Change ALL PASSWORDS!

Create a website backup

Once you’ve created a backup, you can confidently proceed to eliminate the malware from your site. Frequently, when a website is hacked, updating it can lead to errors, so having a backup enables you to revert to a previous state and possibly enlist the help of a developer. Here’s how to back up your website.

Update plugins

Once you’ve secured a backup of your website, you can proceed with updating your plugins. These updates typically include enhanced security measures. If your plugins were previously exploited for hacking, deleting them and replacing them with updated versions will replace the compromised files, effectively resolving the issue.

Update WordPress

Originally designed for blogging, WordPress is now less frequently used for personal blogs and is increasingly favoured for e-commerce and professional sites.

Consequently, updates typically focus on fixing minor issues, introducing new features, and addressing security vulnerabilities.

When you update WordPress, most files are replaced, which means there’s a significant chance that any infected files will be overwritten, ideally resolving the issue.

However, these measures often only tackle ‘minor’ malware; sometimes, a more hands-on approach is necessary to thoroughly clean the files. Unfortunately, there are no definitive guides for this process—it’s either a matter of knowing what to search for or it becomes a daunting task akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Clean up WordPress database

The next task is to tidy up your WordPress database. There’s no need to worry about losing your content; you’ll simply be removing unnecessary remnants that WordPress retains without your knowledge. You won’t need to be familiar with MySQL or complex queries for this process. Just install the WpSweep plugin, and you’re good to go.

Once you’ve installed the free plugin available at this link WpSweep, navigate to the ‘wp sweep’ option within the tool. Scroll down and select ‘sweep all.’

I highly recommend backing up your website first, so if anything goes awry, you can easily revert to the previous state.

Replace the WP-ADMIN and WP-INCLUDES folders

If your WordPress site has been infected with malware, one of the most effective ways to clean it is by replacing the wp-admin and wp-includes folders—these core directories are rarely modified, making them prime candidates for a safe refresh.

By swapping them out with fresh copies from the official WordPress release, you can eliminate hidden malicious code while preserving your content and customizations. Here’s how to do it:

1. First, back up your entire site (just in case!).
2. Download the latest version of WordPress from wordpress.org.
3. Unzip the package and locate the wp-admin and wp-includes folders.
4. Using FTP or your hosting file manager, delete the wp-admin and wp-includes folders from your live site.
5. Upload the fresh wp-admin and wp-includes folders from the new WordPress download.
6. Clear your site cache and test your site to ensure everything is working correctly.

This process wipes out most deeply embedded malware in core files while keeping your themes, plugins, and content intact. It’s like giving your WordPress engine a clean slate—no code clutter, just a smooth, secure reboot.

Installing a Plugin with Wordfence

We’re almost there!

After you complete the steps outlined above, you’ll be ready to install a plugin that scans your website to ensure the issue is resolved.

I recommenced WordFence to project your website, which you can find more information about by following this link.

This plugin also provides real-time protection against any new threats, allowing you to focus on your business and website.

Remember, it’s crucial to follow these steps in the specified order.

If you need further help, I’m here to help you resolve the issue the same day at an affordable price. I also highly recommend setting up a maintenance and support plan afterward—it’s always better to prevent issues than to fix them later.

It’s important that your customers don’t encounter unreliable sites when visiting yours.

Website Malware Removal: Conclusion

Your website should now be secure and free from malware.

It’s important to perform regular maintenance to keep it that way.

While removing malware and addressing potential hacks can be challenging, this guide will help you navigate the process with ease.

Don’t forget to check your website’s sitemap to identify any unusual redirecting pages.

If you’re unsure how to locate it, simply search for your site on Google using the format site:yoursitename.extension, such as site:armandoferrandino.it, and you’ll see a complete list of indexed pages, making it easier to spot any new malicious content.