Essential Steps After Your WordPress Site Has Been Hacked

This article is designed to help SilverServers clients—and anyone with a hacked WordPress website—take proactive steps after a hack. While our team manages the recovery process for SilverServers clients, these steps can guide you in collaboration with your own hosting provider.

Hacks can be stressful and frustrating, but with the right actions, you can regain control and significantly reduce the chances of being targeted again. At SilverServers, we act quickly to clean and secure your site, but understanding your role in prevention is essential.

What We Do When Your WordPress Site is Hacked

When our team responds to a hacked website, we follow a detailed recovery process designed to eliminate threats and secure your site. This includes:

• Taking the site offline to prevent further damage.
• Backing up all files and databases securely.
• Analyzing the breach to understand how the attacker got in.
• Running malware scans and removing malicious files.
• Completely wiping the server to ensure no hidden threats remain.
• Restoring your site using a clean, verified backup.
• Updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins to the latest versions.
• Changing all passwords and security keys.
• Installing firewalls, monitoring tools, and other security measures.
• Documenting the attack and taking steps to prevent future incidents.

While we manage the technical side, there are several key actions you can take to secure your site and reduce vulnerabilities moving forward.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Site

1. Assess the Damage

Understanding how your site was hacked is critical to closing security gaps.

• Check Logs: Look for suspicious activity in WordPress logs, such as unauthorized logins or unexpected file changes.
• Review User Accounts: Confirm that all administrative accounts are legitimate and remove any you don’t recognize.
• Audit Permissions: Limit administrative privileges to only trusted users who need them.

2. Secure Your Devices

Hackers often gain access through compromised devices.

• Run Malware Scans: Use a trusted antivirus tool to scan all computers and devices that have accessed your site. Clean any infections found.
• Update Passwords: Change all WordPress, hosting, FTP, and database passwords. Use strong, unique passwords for each service.

3. Update Your WordPress Site

Outdated WordPress files are a common target for hackers.

• Update Core Files, Plugins, and Themes: Always keep your WordPress installation up to date to benefit from security patches.
• Remove Unused Plugins and Themes: Unnecessary or outdated plugins and themes can create vulnerabilities. Delete anything you no longer use.

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Adding 2FA is one of the easiest ways to protect your site.

• Install a 2FA Plugin: Several WordPress plugins make it easy to enable 2FA for all users.
• Require 2FA for Admin Accounts: Ensure administrators use 2FA for added protection against unauthorized access.

5. Set Up Regular Backups

Backups are your safety net in case of future problems.

• Use Automated Backup Tools: Plugins like UpdraftPlus or VaultPress can create daily or weekly backups of your files and database.
• Store Backups Securely: Save backups in a secure, offsite location to avoid losing them in the event of a server attack.

6. Train Your Team

Human error is one of the biggest causes of security breaches.

• Educate on Phishing Scams: Teach your team how to identify and avoid phishing emails that attempt to steal credentials.
• Enforce Best Practices: Encourage the use of strong passwords, avoiding shared accounts, and logging out of WordPress when finished.

7. Monitor Your Site

Ongoing monitoring helps you detect and respond to threats quickly.

• Install Security Plugins: Tools like Wordfence or Sucuri can alert you to suspicious activity, block malicious IPs, and scan for malware.
• Enable Alerts: Set up notifications for failed login attempts or unauthorized file changes so you can act immediately.

8. Preserve the Hacked Version

We’ll preserve a copy of the hacked version of your site for analysis. Understanding how the breach occurred helps us strengthen your site’s defenses and prevent future attacks.

Prevention is Key

Once your website is back up and running, the real work begins: prevention. By implementing these steps, you’re taking active measures to protect your site, your team, and your visitors from future hacks.

If you’re unsure about any of these recommendations or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to the SilverServers team. Together, we can safeguard your site and keep your online presence secure.

By staying vigilant and proactive, you can ensure your site remains a trusted, safe space for your visitors and customers.

For related content, visit the technical support section of our blog.