siteguarding2 – Security Blog https://blog.siteguarding.com Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:58:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5 https://blog.siteguarding.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/cropped-Logo_sh_last_2_last-32x32.jpg siteguarding2 – Security Blog https://blog.siteguarding.com 32 32 The Imperative Need to Keep Your Website Free from Blacklists and Viruses: A Comprehensive Guide https://www.siteguarding.com/security-blog/the-imperative-need-to-keep-your-website-free-from-blacklists-and-viruses-a-comprehensive-guide/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:56:16 +0000 https://blog.siteguarding.com/?p=672 Read More]]> 

In the digital age, maintaining a website that is free from blacklists and viruses is not just an option, but a necessity. This article aims to shed light on the importance of keeping your website clean and secure, focusing on the dangers of harmful content and the benefits of using Website Blacklist Removal services.

The digital landscape is fraught with potential dangers, with cyber threats evolving at an alarming rate. One of the most common issues faced by website owners is the presence of harmful content. This can include pages that attempt to deceive visitors into sharing personal information or downloading software that could potentially harm their systems. Such content not only poses a risk to your visitors but also tarnishes your website’s reputation.

The phrase “This site is unsafe” is a chilling warning that no website owner wants to see. This warning is often displayed by web browsers when they detect potentially harmful content on a website. It is a clear indication that your website has been blacklisted, a situation that can lead to a significant decrease in traffic and a potential loss of business.

Understanding the Consequences of Blacklisting

When a website is blacklisted, it is essentially flagged as unsafe by search engines and web security services. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including the presence of malware, phishing attempts, or spammy content. Once a website is blacklisted, it becomes difficult for users to access it, as their browsers will display warnings about the site’s safety.

The impact of blacklisting can be severe. It can lead to a significant drop in website traffic, as potential visitors are deterred by safety warnings. This can, in turn, lead to a loss of business and revenue. Moreover, being blacklisted can also damage your website’s reputation, making it harder to regain the trust of your visitors even after the issue has been resolved.

The Importance of Keeping Your Website Clean

Keeping your website free from harmful content is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures the safety of your visitors. By ensuring that your website does not contain any pages that try to trick visitors into sharing personal info or downloading software, you are protecting them from potential harm.

Secondly, maintaining a clean website helps to preserve your website’s reputation. A website that is known for being safe and secure is more likely to attract and retain visitors. On the other hand, a website that is known for containing harmful content is likely to be avoided.

Lastly, keeping your website clean can also help to improve its search engine ranking. Search engines like Google prioritize the safety and security of their users. As such, they are more likely to rank websites that are free from harmful content higher in their search results.

The Role of Website Blacklist Removal Services

Given the potential consequences of blacklisting, it is crucial to address the issue as soon as possible. This is where Website Blacklist Removal services come in. These services are designed to help website owners remove their websites from blacklists and restore their reputation.

Website Blacklist Removal services typically involve a comprehensive scan of your website to identify any harmful content or security vulnerabilities. Once these issues have been identified, the service provider will work to resolve them. This can involve removing harmful content, cleaning up any malware infections, and securing your website to prevent future issues.

Moreover, these services also often include assistance with submitting a review request to search engines and web security services. This is a crucial step in the process, as it can help to expedite the removal of your website from blacklists.

In conclusion, keeping your website free from blacklists and viruses is of paramount importance. It not only ensures the safety of your visitors but also helps to preserve your website’s reputation and improve its search engine ranking. By using Website Blacklist Removal services, you can effectively address any issues and ensure that your website remains safe and secure.

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How to Remove Malicious Code, Viruses, and Backdoors from Your Website https://www.siteguarding.com/security-blog/how-to-remove-malicious-code-viruses-and-backdoors-from-your-website/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:48:37 +0000 https://blog.siteguarding.com/?p=666 Read More]]> joomla protection

Malicious code can cause significant damage to your website and business reputation. It can lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and even legal issues. Therefore, it’s crucial to regularly scan your website for malicious code and remove it promptly.

In this article, we will discuss how to remove malicious code, viruses, and backdoors from your website. We will cover the following topics:

  1. Understanding Malicious Code, Viruses, and Backdoors
  2. Signs of a Compromised Website
  3. Steps to Remove Malicious Code, Viruses, and Backdoors
  4. Preventing Future Attacks
  5. Conclusion
  6. Understanding Malicious Code, Viruses, and Backdoors

Malicious code refers to any code that is designed to harm a website or server. It can include scripts, iframes, and other types of code that cybercriminals inject into a website to steal data, redirect visitors, or spread malware.

Viruses are a type of malicious code that can replicate itself and infect other files or systems. They can cause significant damage to a website, including data corruption, system crashes, and loss of functionality.

Backdoors are a type of malicious code that provides cybercriminals with unauthorized access to a website or server. They can be used to steal data, modify files, or launch further attacks.

  1. Signs of a Compromised Website

Before you can remove malicious code, viruses, and backdoors from your website, you need to identify whether your website has been compromised. Here are some signs of a compromised website:

  • Unusual traffic patterns, such as a sudden spike or drop in traffic
  • Unexpected changes to your website’s content or design
  • Unauthorized users or accounts in your website’s admin panel
  • Slow website performance or frequent crashes
  • Search engine warnings or blacklisting
  • Customer complaints about unusual behavior or suspicious activity on your website
  1. Steps to Remove Malicious Code, Viruses, and Backdoors

If you suspect that your website has been compromised, follow these steps to remove malicious code, viruses, and backdoors:

Step 1: Backup Your Website

Before you start the cleanup process, backup your website’s files and database. This will ensure that you can restore your website if anything goes wrong during the cleanup process.

Step 2: Identify the Malicious Code

Use a malware scanner to scan your website’s files and database for malicious code. There are many malware scanners available, both free and paid, such as Sucuri, Wordfence, and SiteLock.

Step 3: Remove the Malicious Code

Once you have identified the malicious code, remove it from your website’s files and database. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially if the malicious code is embedded in multiple files.

If you are not comfortable removing the malicious code yourself, consider hiring a professional website security service to do it for you.

Step 4: Change Your Passwords

Change all passwords associated with your website, including admin panel passwords, FTP passwords, and database passwords. This will prevent cybercriminals from regaining access to your website.

Step 5: Update Your Website’s Software

Update your website’s software, including CMS, plugins, and themes, to the latest version. This will patch any vulnerabilities that cybercriminals may have exploited to inject the malicious code.

Step 6: Monitor Your Website

Monitor your website for any signs of reinfection. Use a malware scanner to regularly scan your website’s files and database for malicious code.

  1. Preventing Future Attacks

Preventing future attacks is crucial to maintaining your website’s security. Here are some best practices to follow:

  • Keep your website’s software up to date
  • Use strong passwords and change them regularly
  • Limit user access to your website’s admin panel
  • Use a firewall to block malicious traffic
  • Regularly scan your website for malicious code
  • Educate your employees about website security best practices
  • Consider hiring a professional website security service to monitor and protect your website
  1. Conclusion

Removing malicious code, viruses, and backdoors from your website is a complex and time-consuming process. However, it’s crucial to maintaining your website’s security and protecting your business reputation.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can remove malicious code from your website and prevent future attacks. Remember to regularly scan your website for malicious code, keep your website’s software up to date, and follow website security best practices.

Investing in a professional website security service can also provide peace of mind and ensure that your website is protected against cyber threats.

FAQs

  1. How do I know if my website has been compromised?

Signs of a compromised website include unusual traffic patterns, unexpected changes to your website’s content or design, unauthorized users or accounts in your website’s admin panel, slow website performance or frequent crashes, search engine warnings or blacklisting, and customer complaints about unusual behavior or suspicious activity on your website.

  1. How can I remove malicious code from my website?

To remove malicious code from your website, backup your website’s files and database, identify the malicious code using a malware scanner, remove the malicious code from your website’s files and database, change all passwords associated with your website, update your website’s software to the latest version, and monitor your website for any signs of reinfection.

  1. How can I prevent future attacks on my website?

To prevent future attacks on your website, keep your website’s software up to date, use strong passwords and change them regularly, limit user access to your website’s admin panel, use a firewall to block malicious traffic, regularly scan your website for malicious code, educate your employees about website security best practices, and consider hiring a professional website security service to monitor and protect your website.

  1. Can I remove malicious code from my website myself?

Removing malicious code from your website can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially if the malicious code is embedded in multiple files. If you are not comfortable removing the malicious code yourself, consider hiring a professional website security service to do it for you.

  1. How often should I scan my website for malicious code?

You should scan your website for malicious code regularly, ideally daily. This will help you detect and remove malicious code before it causes significant damage to your website and business reputation.

  1. What is a backdoor in website security?

A backdoor is a type of malicious code that provides cybercriminals with unauthorized access to a website or server. It can be used to steal data, modify files, or launch further attacks.

  1. How can I protect my website from viruses?

To protect your website from viruses, keep your website’s software up to date, use strong passwords and change them regularly, limit user access to your website’s admin panel, use a firewall to block malicious traffic, regularly scan your website for malicious code, educate your employees about website security best practices, and consider hiring a professional website security service to monitor and protect your website.

  1. How can I secure my website’s admin panel?

To secure your website’s admin panel, limit user access to only those who need it, use strong passwords and change them regularly, implement two-factor authentication, and regularly scan your website for malicious code.

  1. What is a malware scanner?

A malware scanner is a tool that scans your website’s files and database for malicious code. It can help you detect and remove malicious code from your website.

  1. How can I recover my website after a malware attack?

To recover your website after a malware attack, backup your website’s files and database, identify the malicious code using a malware scanner, remove the malicious code from your website’s files and database, change all passwords associated with your website, update your website’s software to the latest version, and monitor your website for any signs of reinfection. Consider hiring a professional website security service to assist with the recovery process.

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The Safe Route to Buying Mods and Modded Accounts for GTA 5 https://www.siteguarding.com/security-blog/the-safe-route-to-buying-mods-and-modded-accounts-for-gta-5/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:56:00 +0000 https://blog.siteguarding.com/?p=661 Read More]]> In the vast, dynamic world of Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5), mods and modded accounts have become hot commodities. They offer players unique experiences, unparalleled power, and a shortcut to the riches and ranks that could otherwise take countless hours to achieve. However, navigating the market for these enhancements can be as treacherous as the streets of Los Santos. Here’s your comprehensive guide to safely purchasing mods and modded accounts for GTA 5, ensuring your gaming experience remains enjoyable and your personal information secure.

Understand What You’re Buying

Mods are modifications made to the game that can alter gameplay, graphics, add new content, or provide players with various advantages. Modded accounts, on the other hand, are pre-modified GTA 5 accounts that come with added benefits such as high levels, abundant resources, and unlocked achievements.

The Risks Involved

Purchasing mods and modded accounts come with inherent risks. These range from scams, where buyers lose their money without receiving anything in return, to the potential for receiving banned accounts from game developers for violating terms of service. Protecting yourself starts with knowledge and caution.

How to Safely Purchase Mods and Modded Accounts

  1. 1. Research Sellers. Start with thorough research. Look for sellers with positive reviews, a good reputation within the GTA community, and a history of successful transactions, we recommend you to take a look at our partners Mods.Monster. Forums, social media groups, and gaming communities are excellent resources for recommendations and warnings about certain sellers or websites.
  2. Verify Authenticit. Ensure the mods or modded accounts come from a reliable source. Authentic sellers should provide detailed descriptions of what their product offers, including screenshots or video proof. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true—they usually are.
  3. Secure Payment Methods. Use secure and traceable payment methods that offer buyer protection, such as PayPal or credit cards. Avoid wire transfers or cryptocurrency payments, as these methods offer little to no recourse in case of fraud.
  4. Understand the Terms of Service. It’s crucial to understand that using mods, especially in online modes, can violate Rockstar Games’ terms of service, potentially leading to account bans or suspensions. Ensure you are fully aware of these risks before making a purchase.
  5. Backup Your Game Files. Before installing any mods, always backup your game files. This precaution allows you to restore the original state of the game if anything goes wrong during the mod installation process.
  6. Install Mods Carefully. If you’re installing mods yourself, follow the instructions carefully. Incorrect installation can lead to game crashes, corrupted files, or even make your system vulnerable to malware.
  7. Use Dedicated Modded Accounts Responsibly. If you purchase a modded account, consider keeping it separate from your main account. This way, if the modded account is banned, your primary account and progress remain unaffected.
  8. Stay Informed About Updates. Game updates can sometimes disable mods or lead to account flags for modifications. Stay updated on any news from Rockstar Games regarding mods and modded accounts to avoid unwanted surprises.
  9. Consider the Ethical Implications. Understand the impact that heavily modded accounts can have on the gaming experience for others. While mods can enhance your gameplay, they can also disrupt the balance and fairness of online play for others.
  10. Customer Support. Opt for sellers who offer post-purchase support. Having access to assistance if you encounter issues with your mod or modded account is invaluable.

Conclusion

Mods and modded accounts can significantly enhance your GTA 5 experience, but they come with risks that necessitate careful consideration. By conducting thorough research, understanding the potential consequences, and following best practices for security, you can enjoy the benefits of mods and modded accounts while minimizing the risks. Remember, the aim is to enhance your gaming experience without compromising your account’s security or violating the gaming community’s trust.

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A Detailed Review of Magento CMS https://www.siteguarding.com/security-blog/a-detailed-review-of-magento-cms/ Tue, 02 Jun 2020 09:28:25 +0000 https://blog.siteguarding.com/?p=642 Read More]]> Magento is the fastest growing online shopping platform. This platform was created in 2008 and is quickly establishing. By 2011, nearly 66 thousand sites were dealing with this platform.

People, who manage any organization, sooner or later face the question of creating their website. This topic is especially relevant for private entrepreneurs who, in one way or another, are associated with the trade. Online stores are becoming more practical every day, in some ways even more convenient than ordinary retail outlets. But unlike a regular store, to create and debug the right operation of an online store, you need to have unique knowledge and useful skills. But you can develop an online store yourself. To do this, you need to use any of the available platforms for producing web content. Magento Content Management System is the best choice.

The Target Audience

CMS Magento is created to launch large trading tasks. Using it for a shop with a lot of items is ineffective – just hang out studying and establishing. At Magento, you need to do something big, with worldwide reach or a minimum of uncommon functionality – otherwise why such flexibility of tools and access to the source code.

Functionality

Magento is written in PHP and is open-source, which increases the possibilities for deep customization of the engine. But often this is not essential: the basic setup of CMS has enough tools to launch an online store and handle sales. You can expand the performance through add-ons presented in the official Magento store.

  1. The engine allows you to create multiple sites and manage them from a single interface.
  2. Key features of Magento CMS:
  3. Optimization for the requirements of search engines.
  4. Built-in marketing tools to increase sales and increase the attractiveness of the site.
  5. Support for various payment and delivery methods.
  6. Support for multilingualism, which allows you to create different versions of the site, opening depending on the location of the visitor.
  7. A powerful personal account of the buyer through which he can manage orders, payment, and delivery, as well as view statistics.
  8. Granting wide powers to users who can give ratings for forming ratings, leave reviews, make wish lists.
  9. Built-in system for managing discount programs and promotions.
  10. Advanced features of product filtering and site search.
  11. Detailed statistics, which are collected based on data on the work of the store, sales, and behavior of site visitors.

Of course, having these advantages, the system has increased requirements for hosting performance (the infrastructure in which it is located) and for the qualifications of the programmers creating the project. Let’s consider these moments in more detail:

  1. High requirements for server resources. Magento platform will not work well on cheap servers and shared hosting, and therefore requires installation only on high-quality hosting. However, hosting costs these days are not so high. You will agree that the small cost of renting a quality server will pay off many times during the operation of the online store.
  2. A small number of specialists who could create a high-quality online store. The Magento system requires highly qualified developers (understanding the object-oriented approach in the PHP language), so you will have to attract professionals to create such an online store.

The appearance of the page home builder made it possible to modify the website content on Magento in visual mode; however, it shows abilities are needed to control the engine. At the very same time, the structure of the system is developed in such a way that it is extremely tough for novices to master it, and experienced designers charge a lot more than to deal with other CMS.

Designs and Work With Templates

After setting up the engine on the site, a standard style is readily available, which is required exclusively to show the abilities of Magento. Then you need to discover a suitable style alternative, upload it to the server, and configure it to your liking. There are complimentary options, but the normal choice will just be if you want to pay for the design.

You can use several design templates in the store interface. This is particularly helpful when creating a multilingual site. You can personalize the design templates so that the screen of the material will change depending on the area of users.

SEO Optimization and Promotion

Technically, Magento is well enhanced for the requirements of search engines. But for premium promo, he, like any other engine, needs enhancement on the part of the user, which relates to content settings. The following functions are offered in the fundamental CMS functionality:

  • Filling page meta tags.
  • CNC setting.
  • Including alt and title for images.
  • Automatic generation of a sitemap in XML format with a restriction of the number of pages and file size, as well as concern setting.
  • Built-in caching system.
  • Short and long description for each item.

Choosing a reliable hosting is just one of the steps to configure the engine. To optimize the engine, experienced developers are also advised to carry out additional activities that reduce the load on the server.

  • Use GZIP compression and caching on the side of site visitors.
  • Store multimedia content on CDN servers.
  • Disable unnecessary Apache and PHP modules.
  • Remove extensions you are not using.
  • Install CMS updates.

In the latest version of Magento, the developers optimized the database with new query management technologies, so the work is ongoing. But some things, in any case, remain on the shoulders of webmasters.

Advantages and Disadvantages

We have currently said that the main benefits of Magento are functionality and flexibility, which is achieved through open source code and plenty of extensions. Amongst other benefits of the CMS, we note:

  1. An outstanding set of functions out of package for producing functional online stores
  2. A large number of templates and extensions.
  3. Efficient security and performance tools.
  4. Capability to manage numerous stores from one admin panel.
  5. PWA support for developing sites that work as an application.
  6. Built-in page builder with the visual editor.
  7. Convenient tools for handling goods and rates.
  8. The distinction of rights in the administrative panel.
  9. An effective analytics system that permits you to get different reports: on the movement and balance of products, user habits, page popularity, and so on.

Amongst the disadvantages of CMS, we keep in mind:

  1. High-quality hosting requirements.
  2. The intricacy of configuration and administration compared to popular open-source CMS like WordPress or Joomla.

What’s new in Magento 2.3

The most recent variation readily available for download is Magento 2.3. The following features appeared in it:

  • Two-factor authentication. Now you can use users to verify their identity using a code sent out to the phone in SMS.
  • Protect crucial web pages from bots and intruders with Google ReCAPTCHA.
  • Advanced cache controls: extra authorizations and gains access to control.
  • PHP 7.2 assistance with improved security, increased performance, and access to updated tools.
  • Support for PWA, the innovation by which a website operates as a web application, getting rid of the need to create a mobile variation of pages.
  • Adding GraphQL Question Language to utilize the API. Its application was due to the increased number of requests in different projects.
  • Elasticsearch – expanding the search abilities on the website with filtering by characteristics. Formerly, it was offered only in the paid construct of Magento, now developers dealing with Open Source can use it.
  • Multi-Source Inventory – a function for the reliable management of products and stock. It enables you to manage items and their quantity from several sources: shop, storage facility, circulation center, third-party suppliers.

Another extremely crucial innovation in Magento 2.3 – the look of a visual editor. Thanks to it, assistance for dragging user interface items utilizing the mouse appeared, as well as a sneak, peeks of the outcome, permitting users with a low level of technical preparation to customize pages.

The designer assists to produce brand-new pages, modify product and category cards and customize the look of areas of the website without editing the code. You can also insert mini-galleries and widgets to visually present material.

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SiteGuarding CY Ltd. is a Top-Rated Web Development & Security Services Agency! https://www.siteguarding.com/security-blog/top-rated-clutch/ Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:34:56 +0000 https://blog.siteguarding.com/?p=629 Read More]]> What sets SiteGuarding CY Ltd. apart is that we not only develop cutting-edge websites, but also ensure that they’re protected against unknown unknown viruses and threats. In today’s digital age, we know that a well-developed, aesthetically-pleasing website isn’t enough; as cyber-attacks become more sophisticated and prolific, a website must also be fully secure.

siteguarding

We develop the highest-grade security tools to provide maximum website protection, without exception. With 10+ years of experience and 50+ IT professionals, we’re well-equipped to deliver groundbreaking software solutions. We’ve worked with businesses of all sizes across a variety of industries, delivering a personal approach to every customer and every project.

We’re excited to announce that we recently began partnering with Clutch, a B2B platform and reputable connector of buyers and sellers. We appreciate receiving feedback from clients so that we can continuously improve our processes, and we also know that client reviews are helpful to those interested in our services.

Our most recent review on Clutch came from an office and home solutions company that contracted us to make sure their website complied with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We came on board and, upon checking their website, found some core problems with the code. We fixed those issues and made changes to the site to make it quicker and more functional. Our team also helped reduce the amount of spam that the company was receiving.

clutch

We continue to provide 24/7 protection, and the client reports that they’re “completely happy” with our services and the results we’ve delivered. They’re pleased that the website now works well and is even bringing them more leads.

Another 5-star review came from Egroup Services Ltd., a web design, development, and information security company. They didn’t have enough time or expertise to deliver on certain projects, so they hired us as an outsourcing partner.

We’ve contributed to a number of projects for them, and we’ve become their go-to resource for e-commerce development. For example, Egroup needed to build an e-commerce site for a wine company, but they weren’t familiar with their CMS, so we created an independent payment gateway for the site. For another project that was especially complex, we helped create an online app for 3D models of naval ships and architectural designs.

“They’ve done an excellent job—they’re professional and reliable. Our clients are always happy, so we’re happy. I’ve tested their work a few times too, and it’s always solid.” — CEO, Egroup Services Ltd.

clutch.coHaving worked with unreliable freelancers in the past, EGroup reports that our project management capabilities have exceeded expectations. Since they also maintain a high level of tech expertise, they’re pleased to know that we’re delivering quality work to their clients.

We’re thankful to our clients for helping us establish a positive online presence and digital reputation, and we look forward to collecting more reviews on Clutch! If you have any questions about our past work or the services we provide, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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What to Do if Your Site Has Been Hacked https://www.siteguarding.com/security-blog/if-your-site-has-been-hacked/ Tue, 10 Dec 2019 14:11:17 +0000 https://blog.siteguarding.com/?p=543 Read More]]> Every webmaster at one point or another has to face the fact of their website being hacked. If you haven’t had this kind of problem yet, then you’ve either been using a custom CMS or have just recently started working with sites. In this article, we will go point by point to easily explain what you need to do if your site has been hacked or if malicious code has been inserted into your site.

Relax, it’s not that bad

First of all, you shouldn’t panic or do anything rash. Webmasters frequently turn to immediately restore a backup copy of their site and thereby lose the content that they’ve posted over the preceding days. There’s nothing wrong with doing this, except for one “but”: the site is restored, but the backdoor through which the site was hacked isn’t closed. This means that it is only a matter of time until your site will be hacked again and you’ll have to face the same problem all over again.

There is no need to panic and make rash decisions, you just need to get out of the situation with minimal losses and act so as to ensure that your site will be an impregnable fortress to hackers in the future.

Contact your hosting provider

First and foremost, find out from your hosting provider whether your site could have been hacked because of a server vulnerability. If you use regular hosting and not a dedicated server, then it is by all means possible that the hacking was the fault of your hosting neighbor. In other words, the hacker gained access to one of the client sites on the same server as yours, and thereby gained administrative rights to the whole server. When a hacker gets administrative rights, they can install a virus on any website on the whole server.

Find out from your hosting provider whether the server has software that lets you scan your site for malicious code. Many hosting providers buy antivirus protection for their servers from us so that their clients can check their sites for viruses for free. But in most cases things are still a little different: most of hosting providers either do not use antivirus software at all, or use free versions which are very ineffective.

Tell your hosting provider that you are aware of the virus and are already working on getting rid of it. This is necessary because many hosts, upon seeing a virus on a client site, simply block and disconnect the site from their network. As a result, you might lose clients and search engine positions while your site is unavailable.

Ask your hosting provider if their administrators can help you delete the virus from your site. It is possible that your hosting seller offers such a service which you just don’t know about.

Restore an earlier version of your site

website restore

If you have backed up your site at least once a week, then it should be no problem for you to simply restore a copy of the site from before it had malware injected. This is the easiest way to eliminate a virus and then install additional site protection.

Check your work computer for viruses

According to our statistics, 20% of site hacks occur due to negligence towards the security of one’s work PC or employees’ computers. If you use Windows at your workplace, be sure to install a firewall (WAF – Web Application Firewall) and antivirus. Check your computer and employees’ computers for viruses, and then consider transferring your employees working on the site to Linux or Unix OS.

Change passwords

The most cunning hackers know that as soon as you detect a hack and unauthorized access to your site, the first thing you’ll do is change all your passwords. So they create additional users within the site administration, and sometimes inside the cPanel. Make sure that you do not have new administrators and FTP accounts, and if you do find them, simply delete them.

Templates, modules, and plugins

Go to the administrative section of your CMS and view the installed modules. Delete all the ones you don’t need. Attention!: Don’t simply deactivate them, but delete them from the hosting so that these modules’ files aren’t on your server. Check to see if the plugins you need are updated to the latest versions. If you haven’t updated them in a while, be sure to check with the developer what the latest version is and update them. A lot of Magento Extension Development companies warn you if your website has extensions that are not up to date.

Do the same with your templates. If you only use one version of a template on the site, then delete all the unneeded ones and update the ones you need to their latest version.

Google Webmaster (Search Console)

search console

If you still haven’t installed Google Search Console, then be sure to do so. Check if there aren’t any notifications for you. Both Google and MSN generally send notifications when their algorithms detect a virus on sites. If you have notifications, be sure to contact both after you delete the viruses. Then, submit a request to review your site.

Indexed Pages

Open Google and type in the search bar site:site_name.com. View all the pages in the MSN and Google indexes. If you find any unknown pages, send a request to have them removed through Google or MSN Webmaster.

To quickly block spam pages, you can use the file robots.txt which can be found in the root folder of your site and is available at the address of your_site.com/robots.txt. Open the file in any of your favorite text editors and add the following lines for all robots:

Disallow: /spam.php
Disallow: /hacked/malware.html
Disallow: /malware_folder/

Naturally, instead of the above pages, you should specify the pages you found in the search results.

Here is an example of Japanese spam which is installed on hacked user sites:

Japanese Spam

Find and eliminate viruses on the site

It should be added that simply deleting a malicious code is not enough. You need to find out how your site was hacked and where the vulnerability is on your site, so as to protect yourself from future hacks. Let us draw your attention to the fact that if you have more than one site on a hosting, you need to check all of them for viruses and vulnerabilities. If an attacker gained access to one of your sites, it is likely that a malicious code can also be found hidden in any of the others.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter which CMS you use or what traffic your site has, you should always devote time to the security of your resources. Ensuring site security is just as complicated and difficult work as is building or promoting a site in search systems. It takes time and energy, but modern reality is such that if you don’t dedicate enough time to securing your server, you will most likely lose time searching for and deleting viruses and restoring sites following a hack.

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