My Site Has Been Hacked: Causes and Solutions

Category: Files & FTP

Potential Causes of a Hacked Website

If your website has been hacked, there are several potential causes:

• Stolen FTP Credentials: If FTP login details are stored on your local computer, they might have been compromised by malware or spyware, allowing hackers access. To resolve this, scan your computer for malware and update your FTP credentials in the Files > FTP Accounts section of your control panel.
• Control Panel Password Breach: If someone gains access to your control panel credentials, your website may be at risk. Change your control panel password via My Account > Change Password to secure your account.
• Vulnerable Scripts: Popular scripts like WordPress and Joomla can be exploited if not kept up-to-date. These open-source applications, if outdated, may allow hackers to find and exploit security gaps.

Steps to Secure and Recover Your Site

If you discover your website has been hacked, follow these steps to secure and restore it:

1. Take Your Site Offline: Temporarily disable access until you confirm the issue is resolved.
2. Assess the Damage: Determine the purpose of the hack and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious files, FTP accounts, or email accounts that may have been created.
3. Complete Re-installation: Reinstall applications from trusted sources. This is the best way to ensure any malicious changes have been removed.
4. Restore a Clean Backup: Use a recent, verified backup of your site to restore content. Ensure the backup is free from malware or hacked files.
5. Update Software and Passwords: Ensure all software packages and scripts are up-to-date. Change passwords for your application admin, hosting account, and FTP.
6. Request Malware Review: Use Google’s phishing removal tool or stopbadware.org’s review tool if your site has been flagged for phishing or malware.

Preventative Measures

To prevent future incidents, consider implementing these best practices:

• Regularly update all installed scripts and plugins.
• Use strong passwords for FTP, admin, and control panel access.
• Limit access to trusted devices and avoid public computers for sensitive logins.
• Use security plugins and monitoring tools to alert you of suspicious activity.

Additional Resources

For more information on securing your site, review articles and guides specific to your script or hosting environment.