If your WordPress site has been hacked, don’t panic. You can clean it and make it safe again. Here are simple steps to remove malware from your WordPress site.
1. Put Your Site in Maintenance Mode
First, stop visitors from accessing your site while you clean it. You can use a maintenance plugin to show a message that the site is being fixed. This helps protect your visitors and gives you time to work.
2. Backup Your Site
Before you make any changes, back up your entire site. This includes your files and your database. Even if it’s infected, it’s useful in case something goes wrong.
3. Scan Your Website for Malware
Use a security plugin like Wordfence, Sucuri, or MalCare to scan your website. These tools can find infected files and show you where the problems are.
4. Delete Infected Files or Code
If the scan finds malware, delete or clean the infected files. If you see strange code (like long strings of random letters or code you didn’t write), remove it. Be careful not to delete important WordPress core files. If needed, replace them with fresh copies from WordPress.org.
5. Check for Suspicious Users
Go to your WordPress dashboard and check the list of users. If you see unknown users, especially with admin roles, delete them. Only trusted people should have admin access.
6. Change All Passwords
Change the passwords for your WordPress admin, hosting account, FTP, and database. Also ask other users to change their passwords. This helps stop hackers from coming back.
7. Update Everything
Make sure WordPress, themes, and plugins are updated to the latest versions. Old versions may have security holes that hackers can use.
8. Install a Security Plugin
After cleaning your site, install a security plugin to protect it in the future. These plugins can block attacks, scan for malware, and alert you if something is wrong.
9. Ask for Help if Needed
If the problem is too big or you are unsure, you can hire a WordPress security expert or contact your hosting company for help. Many hosts also offer malware removal.
