Is My Website Hacked? How to Tell and What to Do

Introduction

If you’ve found yourself wondering, “Is my website hacked?”, it’s a valid concern. Cyber threats are on the rise, and WordPress sites, due to their popularity, are prime targets for hackers. The longer a hack goes unnoticed, the more damage it can cause, from data theft to being blacklisted by search engines like Google. Fortunately, knowing how to spot the signs early on can help you act quickly and protect your site.
In this post, we’ll help you identify the early signs of a hacked WordPress site and show you the steps you can take to secure it. We’ll also explain how Inwebify’s secure and optimized WordPress hosting can prevent these issues from happening in the first place.
Common Signs Your WordPress Website Might Be Hacked
Broken Functionality and Error Messages
One of the first signs that your WordPress site might have been hacked is broken functionality. This includes pages failing to load properly, forms not submitting, or buttons and links not responding as expected. If your WordPress website is functioning strangely—slower than usual or showing unexpected error messages—there’s a chance something’s wrong behind the scenes.
Malicious code inserted by hackers can cause core elements of your site to break down. If you notice these issues, it’s a good idea to check the health of your site’s files and verify they haven’t been altered by unauthorized users.
Unwanted Redirects and Spammy Popups
A classic sign of a hacked site is unwanted redirects. If your website suddenly begins redirecting visitors to unfamiliar, suspicious, or spammy sites, you may be dealing with a hack. Hackers often inject malicious code into your WordPress site to redirect visitors to phishing sites, malware downloads, or advertisements without their consent.
You can check for these redirects by carefully reviewing the source code of your site’s pages and looking for suspicious links that don’t belong. Be cautious if you notice sudden changes in your site’s behavior that weren’t part of your updates or changes.
Unexplained File Changes and Size Modifications
Changes in the size or modification dates of files can also indicate that your site has been compromised. Hackers may upload scripts that alter your WordPress core files, including the wp-config.php file, theme files, and plugin files. These modifications can make it difficult to detect malicious activity, as hackers often disguise their malware to make it harder to trace.
If you suspect your site has been hacked, log in to your hosting account via FTP or a file manager to inspect any recent file changes. Pay particular attention to files in the wp-content directory, as these are often where hackers inject malicious code.
New Themes or Plugins You Didn’t Install
If you notice a new theme or plugin that you didn’t install, it could be a sign of a hack. Hackers often install new, malicious plugins to create backdoors into your website. If your site suddenly features themes or plugins you don’t recognize, it’s essential to investigate them.
Before reinstalling or removing these components, check the source website of the plugin or theme to verify its legitimacy. If you're unsure, it's safer to remove them until you can confirm they're trustworthy.
Suspicious Activity in Your Website’s Logs
Your server logs can provide valuable insight into any suspicious activity that could indicate a hack.
Common signs of a hack include:
- Brute force attacks: Hackers may attempt to gain access to your WordPress admin by using automated tools that repeatedly guess your login credentials.
- SQL injection attempts: Hackers may try to manipulate your database by injecting malicious code into your website.
- Cross-site scripting (XSS): Hackers may inject malicious scripts into your webpages, which can steal data from visitors or damage your reputation.
By regularly reviewing your logs for abnormal activities, you can spot potential threats before they escalate into full-blown hacks.
How Inwebify Keeps Your WordPress Site Secure
At Inwebify, we understand that keeping your WordPress site secure is a top priority. That's why our managed WordPress hosting is built with advanced security features to help you avoid asking “Is my website hacked?” in the first place. Our hosting environment is designed to be robust and optimized, with multiple layers of protection against hacks and cyber threats.
Here’s how Inwebify goes above and beyond to ensure your website stays protected:
- Advanced Firewall Protection: Our state-of-the-art firewall technology acts as the first line of defense against malicious traffic. We block harmful bots, DDoS attacks, and other common threats before they even reach your website.
- Real-Time Malware Scanning: Security threats are constantly evolving, which is why we offer real-time malware scanning. Our system actively monitors your website for potential vulnerabilities, ensuring that any malware or suspicious activity is detected and dealt with immediately.
- Automatic Daily Offsite Backups: In the unfortunate event of a breach, you don’t need to panic. We take automated daily backups of your website, ensuring that no matter what happens, you have a recent, clean copy of your site to restore. This minimizes downtime and prevents data loss.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and reCAPTCHA Protection: We implement robust login protection with two-factor authentication (2FA) and reCAPTCHA to safeguard your admin area from unauthorized access. This adds an extra layer of security to your login process, significantly reducing the risk of brute force attacks.
- Regular Updates and Security Patches: We manage and update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins regularly, ensuring that your website is always running the latest security patches. This proactive approach prevents vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers.
- Isolated Hosting Environments: Each website hosted with Inwebify is placed in its own isolated environment, ensuring that even if one site is compromised, the others are safe. This isolation minimizes the risk of cross-site contamination, protecting your data and reputation.
- Expert Malware Cleanup and Recovery: If your site is ever compromised, we don’t just leave you hanging. Our team is here to help. We provide full malware cleanup services, restoring your site to its original, secure state. We also provide comprehensive recovery solutions, ensuring your site gets back up and running as quickly as possible.

Contact Us Today for a Secure WordPress Solution

Securing your WordPress site is critical to maintaining your online presence and protecting your users' data. At Inwebify, we understand the complexity of WordPress security, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Whether you’re experiencing security issues or just want to ensure your site is fully protected, Inwebify has the expertise and tools to secure your WordPress website. We’re committed to providing a hosting solution that’s optimized, secure, and reliable, so you don’t have to worry about the technical side of things.
If you’re asking yourself, “Is my website hacked?” or want to take proactive steps to avoid future issues, reach out to us today. Let’s find the right solution for your WordPress website and ensure its security and success. https://www.inwebify.com/?p=28434