Malware Cleanup Guide: 7 Successful Tricks to Remove Malware from WordPress Site

free wordpress malware removal – WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used today. Its ease of use and customization has made it the preference of many web developers around the world.

It powers millions of websites, including small personal projects, enterprise websites, large e-commerce shops, and everything in between. It is no surprise that WordPress becomes an attractive target for hackers.

Hackers love to target open-source software and WordPress is no exception. The fact that they can perform attacks anonymously and easily at zero cost makes it irresistible. This has created a demand for malware cleanup services especially with the increased number of cyber security threats these days.

Hackers might break into your WordPress site using any of the following ways:

1. Exploitation of WordPress theme vulnerabilities
2. Using security holes in WordPress plugins
3. Attack through WordPress hosting providers
4. Compromising your FTP account password
5. Using brute force attack on WordPress admin panel to get access to WP-admin dashboard
6. Automated malware infection using hacking tools like Shellshock, etc.

The above possible ways in which hackers can get access to your website show that you can never be 100% secure. However, there are 7 Successful Tricks to Remove Malware from WordPress Site:

1. Use Security Solutions

There are many security solutions available for WordPress. These can help you in implementing security measures and hardening your WordPress website. Some of the best security solutions include:

1. DataDome Bot Detection 
2. Sucuri
3. Jetpack Security
4. BulletProof Security
5. iThemes Security
6. MalCare security.
7. Wordfence

These security solutions will help you lock down all the vulnerabilities on your WordPress website and make it difficult for the hacker to break-in.

2. Use Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication ( 2FA ) is a security method that involves using two different components like knowledge, possession, in addition to something you know (like a password). This means that even if your password is hacked, it would be very difficult for them to gain access. There are many Two-Factor Authentication ( 2FA ) plugins available which you can use on your WordPress website like:

1. Google Authenticator plugin
2. Two Factor Authentication Plugin
3. Yubikey security plugin
4. SecurEnvoy
5. Security Authentication for WordPress Plugin.

Two-factor authentication will make it difficult for the hacker to gain access to your WordPress site. However, you will need to ensure that your login process is secure and adequately locks out hacking attempts (especially brute force).

Also Read : How To Fix 0x0 0x0 Windows Error Code

3. Keep Your Plugins Updated

Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated WordPress plugins very frequently. This is one of the easiest ways for them to gain access to a WordPress website. Therefore, it is very important to keep your plugins updated regularly. Some of the best practices for this include:

1. a) Keep a copy of all your plugin files in one location and update them manually through the FTP client whenever you find an update available for them. This way you can keep track of all plugin updates.
2. b) Create a separate WordPress installation for testing plugins. This is because some of the plugins may break your website and will be very difficult to fix on your live site.
3. c) You can also defer plugin updates. This can be done using the WordPress admin panel under the ‘Updates’ section.

4. Use Strong Passwords for Your Credentials

Strong Passwords are the backbone of your WordPress website security. It is important to use strong passwords for your WordPress username and FTP account. Some tips you can keep in mind when creating a strong password:

1. a) You should change default WordPress usernames like admin, administrator, etc. which hackers commonly exploit.
2. b) Also, it’s important to change the default FTP username and password which you have provided to your web hosting service.
3. c) You should use at least 12-15 characters for your login credentials, including uppercase, lowercase, digits, and special characters. Also, try to mix up character types like using both uppercase letters as well as lowercase letters in your passwords.
4. d) Also, don’t use personal details like date of birth or names for your password.
5. e) Don’t forget to change the default WordPress username and FTP credentials provided by your web hosting service.

5. Backup Regularly

This is very important for your WordPress website. A backup will help you get back to your website in case of any emergencies or hacks. Some of the best practices for backing up include:

1. a) Keep a complete copy of your website files regularly on your computer, through an FTP client or another convenient method.
2. b) Also, keep a copy of all your plugins, themes, and uploaded content in a different secure location. This way you can easily retrieve them in case of a hack or problem with your website.
3. c) You should keep the backup to be accessible from outside your local area network (away from home) so that if there is damage done to your website files, you will still be able to restore them.
4. d) It’s also important to test your backup files regularly. This is because sometimes errors can occur during the course of creating a backup file and you should know if they are working properly or not, without causing any problems with your live site.
5. e) You should also use different file hosting services like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. for your backup files so that you have a backup copy available in all different forms.

6. Monitor Your Website Regularly

Regular website monitoring is important because it’s the best way to be able to easily know when someone tries to hack into your site and therefore take necessary steps as soon as possible. Some of the different website monitoring services include:

1. a) Google Alerts – which you can use to track your WordPress website and its performance. It’s important because if there is any problem with your site, it will send an email to your registered email id. This will enable you to take the necessary steps for restoring your site quickly.
2. b) Notifications from different website hosting companies – WordPress website owners often get notices regarding issues with their sites from different website hosting services. This is because some website hosting companies like GoDaddy, SiteGround, etc. provide notifications for different kinds of errors, including hacking issues.

7. Clean Up Your WordPress Site Regularly

Regular site cleaning is very important for preventing security issues. It can be done using different plugins like WP-Optimize, which helps you clean up your posts, comments, trackbacks, etc. This plugin also allows you to schedule automatic cleanup of these items, to keep your website free from any security concerns. You should also use a plugin to clean up your WordPress database from time to time so that you have more space on your website.

Conclusion – Malware Cleanup Guide

As we have seen, in this WordPress Malware Guide, there are different types of malware attacks on WordPress sites. You can protect your website from these by taking regular steps like updating, securing, monitoring, and cleaning up the site regularly. These are important for you to keep your WordPress site secure.