With the advent of technology, the art of hacking has also undergone a huge metamorphosis. Today, in the event of the security of your WordPress site being compromised, it's impossible to tell from the first look that something has gone wrong. Instead of inserting some random text on the website, hackers have resorted to injecting harmful content directly into the backend. Before you know it, the security of your website is breached and the hackers have access to restricted information. Some of the most common reason is using outdated plugins and software, or downloading suspicious ones from malicious sources.
Hacking aims at stealing one's identity; hence before complete damage is done, you must have appropriate checks in place to safeguard your. This also means that you should have the right WordPress backup plan to ensure the safety of your data in case of a malicious activity.
Here's a look at the 5 sure-tell signs indicating that your website has been hacked:
Web Server Files: One of the most important preliminary checks is to see the log of files that have been either updated or uploaded. By comparing the data time stamp of the file log on the WordPress development web server with your own actions, you can tell the rogue files apart from the genuine ones. Unless you are technically proficient, do not attempt to delete any file lest it affects your website. Even if you find the rogue file, ensure that deleting it from the web server also deletes it from all hidden folders of the website.
Access logs of The Website: You could also check the backend log of the website to see any unusual activity or any suspicious visitors. This is a difficult task since it is hard to tell malicious visitors from the genuine ones, hence seek professional WordPress development help who can investigate the matter further.
Unwanted Content: You may also see unwanted content on your website like promotional ads of pornography, drugs, and other illegal products. Although this may still be rampant in some cases, hackers today are experts at hiding these from your sight by camouflaging content with the background palette and making them appear only via search engines. One of the best ways to combat this is to run "site:yoursite.com" on Google, which would display how the common public sees your website. If you do see anything worth reporting, reach out promptly to the WordPress development team.
Unusual Redirects: If the website redirects the user to an unintended, it is a sure-fire way of telling you that an urgent action needs to be taken. This can also happen if you see pop ups that you never implemented in the first place.
Users & Hosting Provider Complaint: If the regular visitors of your website complain of getting spam mails from your end or seeing unwarranted content take the matter seriously, even though you may not see them because hackers have excluded you from doing so. You may also receive an intimation from your hosting provider on the spam generated from your site or even be featured on Google's Blacklist.
The best way to keep your website safe and secure is to regularly update the theme and the software of your website using the right WordPress development platform or to seek professional help from WordPress experts.
