Step by Step Instructions to Remove Malware from WordPress

Malware is one of the most serious problems that can happen to your WordPress site. Removing malware from a hacked site can seem daunting, but knowing the proper steps can be straightforward. By following the instructions outlined in this guide, you can easily remove malware from your site and strengthen its security to prevent such incidents in the future.

In this tutorial, I will explain the steps to remove malware from a WordPress site in two different ways and discuss practical methods to keep your site safe in the future.

Step-by-step guide: Removing malware from WordPress

1. Malware removal process
Take a site backup.
Install a malware scanner plugin.
Identify the source of the threat and remove it.
2. Ensure security
Keep all plugins and themes updated.
Use a strong firewall.
Run regular site scans.
3. WordPress Security: Easy Solutions to Remove Malware
To keep your WordPress site free from malware and avoid such problems in the future, follow the steps mentioned in this guide and keep yo

How Malware Puts Your WordPress Website at Risk

WordPress is a robust and versatile platform, but its popularity makes it a prime target for hackers. Attackers often look for vulnerabilities on WordPress to gain unauthorized access. Therefore, ensuring the security of your WordPress site is a crucial responsibility.

There are several ways to detect and confirm malware on your WordPress website. However, to effectively remove malware, it is essential to identify its root cause. Here are some typical indicators of a malware infection:

  • Sensitive Data Compromise: User credentials, payment details, or personal data are exposed.
  • Unauthorized Changes: Unexpected access or modifications to your site’s content.
  • URL Redirects: Your site redirects visitors to suspicious or illegitimate websites. Spam Content is the insertion of unwanted spam or malicious links into your site, sometimes hidden in dark backgrounds to evade detection by visitors but visible to search engines.
  • Email Spamming: Your site is used to send spam emails and display spammy content to visitors or search engine crawlers.
  • Excessive Resource Usage: Unusually high consumption of server resources.
  • Security Warnings: Google or browsers flagging your site as “unsafe” can negatively impact your SEO ranking.

To avoid these issues, prioritize your site’s security. Regular updates, security plugins, and proper configurations are vital for protecting your WordPress site.

Pro Tip:

If you’re looking to build your WordPress site but can’t afford to hire a developer, consider using the Template Toaster WordPress Theme Builder. It provides ready-to-use free themes, enabling you to effortlessly create a professional WordPress website.

By taking these steps, you can secure your site, prevent malware attacks, and maintain a safe and functional online presence.

How to Manually Remove Malware from a WordPress Website?

Opt for the manual method if you’re willing to dedicate time and effort to securing your WordPress website. This approach offers valuable insights into how the breach occurred, allowing you to take measures to prevent future attacks. Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to assist you in removing malware from your WordPress site.

Follow these easy steps to eliminate malware from your WordPress website.

 Step 1: Backup Your Website Once you confirm that your site has been infected with malware, you should first create a backup. You can use an FTP client, your web hosting provider’s backup service, or a backup plugin to download a full copy of your site, including website files, media, databases, themes, plugins, and more. Be cautious, as your hosting provider may delete your entire site if they detect malicious content, which is often a standard precaution to prevent network infection. Once you have a backup, you can proceed with the following steps, knowing you have a copy of your site in case anything goes wrong.

Step 2: Scan Your Website and Backup Files for Malware. First, scan your locally downloaded backup. Use a sound antivirus system and malware scanner like McAfee to identify and fix malware-related issues with your website files. 

If the scan completes successfully, eliminate any detected viruses or malware from your WordPress files, update your passwords, and re-upload the cleaned site files. Alternatively, you can use an antivirus WordPress plugin to find and remove malware from your hosting provider.

Step 3: Remove Detected Malware WordPress stores login data in the “wp-config.php” file and files in the “wp-content” folder. In this step, I recommend deleting all WordPress files except these two. Remove all files and folders from your site directory except for wp-config.php and WP – content. Then, open wp-config.php and compare its contents with the same file from a fresh installation or wp-config-sample.php. Look for any strange or suspicious long strings of code and remove them. Next, go through the WP – content directory and do the following for each folder:

Themes: Inspect for suspicious code or remove all themes except the one you’re currently using.

Plugins: Keep a list of your installed plugins and delete the subfolders. Later, you can re-download and reinstall your listed plugins.

Uploads: Look for any files you didn’t upload previously and remove them.

Step 4: Download the Latest Version of WordPress. Once you’ve finished cleaning your site’s core files, upload the latest version of WordPress to your website using an FTP client or file manager tool. Navigate to the upload section, browse for the WordPress zip file on your computer, and click upload. After the successful upload, right-click and choose the “Extract” option. Specify the directory for the extracted files, and copy everything (except the zip file) to the public_html folder.

Step 5: Change WordPress Default ‘Admin’ Account and Password. If you have multiple admin users on your WordPress site, it’s possible that one of the accounts was compromised. Reset the password for each admin account and log out every user. Additionally, remove the default ‘admin’ username, as it is often the first guess for hackers. Look for any suspicious user accounts and delete them. Also, change usernames and passwords from generic to long, randomized strings that brute-force attacks cannot break. Generate strong passwords using a password generator tool. Don’t forget to change your database password and update the config.php file.

Step 6: Reinstall Themes and Plugins After cleaning your site’s core files and removing malware from your WordPress site, it’s time to reinstall the plugins and themes you had. I recommend removing any plugins that are no longer supported by their developers or haven’t been updated in a long time. Plugins or themes like these can expose your site to security risks and vulnerabilities. While you’re at it, I suggest installing WordPress and enabling some security plugins to protect your site. Having security plugins in place can help prevent future infections. Also, check out these 10 tweaks that can boost your WordPress website’s overall security.

Step 7: Strengthen Your WordPress Security

Enhance the security of your WordPress site with these essential tips:

  • Choose a Reliable Hosting Provider: Opt for a hosting service with top-notch performance and robust security features.

Use Trusted Themes and Plugins: To address security and performance issues, select reputable, actively maintained, and updated themes and plugins.

  • Avoid the ‘Admin’ Username: Avoid using “Admin” as your username, as it’s a common target for hackers.
  • Create Strong Passwords: Use a password generator to create strong, unique passwords to safeguard against brute force attacks.
  • Enable Secure Protocols: Use secure transmission methods like HTTPS or SFTP to protect your site’s data over the network.
  • Limit Login Attempts: To prevent unauthorized access, set a limit of three login attempts. Legitimate users typically don’t need more than three tries, and this restriction can stop hackers.
  • Explore Security Hardening: Refer to detailed guides for more advanced tips on securing your WordPress site.
  • For additional help, check out the best WordPress website builders to simplify and enhance your site’s security features.

Step 8: Audit User AccountsInspect all user accounts for unauthorized or unfamiliar access. Remove suspicious accounts immediately and update passwords for legitimate users to ensure ongoing security.

How to Use a Plugin to Remove Malware from a WordPress Website?

If you prefer a quick and less technical way to remove malware from your WordPress website, consider using a reliable plugin. Plugins like Secure or Word fence are excellent options for this purpose. I recommend Word fence for securing WordPress websites. It offers free and premium versions, is backed by a reputable source, and has over 2 million active downloads. Word fence provides a comprehensive suite of features to secure your site and prevent security breaches.

One of its standout features is a robust malware scanner that regularly scans your site to protect it from infections. The plugin checks your WordPress plugins, themes, core files, and other content for malicious code. Additionally, it includes a strong two-factor authentication feature, further enhancing your website’s security.

For this tutorial, I’ll use Wordfence as an example to demonstrate how to remove malware from a WordPress site using a plugin. If you’re using another security plugin, the process should be similar to the steps outlined below:

Steps to Remove Malware Using Word fence:

  1. Install and Activate the Plugin
  2. Download and install the Word fence plugin, then activate it on your site.
  3. Scan Your Website for Malware
  4. Use the Word fence malware scanner to scan your WordPress site. It will identify any malicious code or malware present.
  5. Replace Compromised Files

The scanner will detect compromised files and provide an option to replace them with clean, original copies.

Check for Blacklisting

After cleaning your site, the plugin will check search engine databases to ensure your website hasn’t been blocked.

Enhance Your Site’s Security

Once your site is clean, Word fence helps fortify its defenses to prevent future malware attacks.

Using a reliable security plugin like Wordfence simplifies securing your WordPress website. Install the plugin and follow these steps.

The plugin will cover the rest, ensuring your site remains protected.

Clear blacklist warnings once the malware has been removed from your WordPress website.

Google has implemented a 30-day review restriction to discourage repeat offenders from distributing malware. However, this doesn’t mean you should abandon your website if it’s compromised. When your site is infected, Google displays a “site infected” warning to inform visitors that they are about to access a compromised site. After cleaning your website, it’s essential to inform Google.Essentially, you’ll request a review of your site, and after Google verifies that it’s no longer compromised, the “infected site” warning will be removed.

Take these steps to remove the warning label from your website:

Steps to Request a Google Review:

  1. Access Google Search Console
  2. Access Google Search Console and register your website.
  3. Verify Ownership
  4. Verify your website through the URL prefix or domain verification method.
  5. Locate Security Issues

Scroll down the left-hand menu to find “Security & Manual Actions.” Click the dropdown and select “Security Issues.”

Review the Security Report

Review the report for any security vulnerabilities. If your site is clean, request a review by choosing the relevant option.

Ensure Your Site is Fully Secure.

Make sure your website is fully secure before submitting a review request. Failure to address these can result in your site being labeled as a repeat offender, preventing further review requests for 30 days.

Additional Tips for Prevention:

Poorly coded WordPress themes can also serve as entry points for hackers. To minimize risk, ensure your theme is obtained from a reputable developer or company. Alternatively, you can create your theme or website using a reliable WordPress theme generator. Many free WordPress themes are also available for users looking for secure and professional designs.

By taking these steps and maintaining a proactive approach, you can protect your website and promptly address security concerns.

Conclusion: Removing Malware from Your WordPress Website

 As you can see, removing malware from a WordPress website isn’t as complicated as it seems. By following the steps outlined, you should be able to restore your site with ease. This guide has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please comment below. I’m always here to assist you!

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