Recovering your hacked WordPress site is a great achievement, but your work is not over. Once you get access again and remove malware, you need to do more to make your site secure, regain trust, and prevent future attacks.
Hackers would leave behind hidden vulnerabilities, which can be exploited again if they are not properly fixed. To keep your site safe and operational, execute these essential post-recovery steps.
1. Update All Passwords and User Credentials
One of the most important security measures after recovering your site is updating all login credentials. Hackers might have stolen your login details, so changing passwords is a necessary precaution.
- Change passwords for WordPress admin, hosting, FTP, database, and email accounts associated with your website.
- Use strong, unique passwords that combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security, so that only valid users can access your site.
- Reset all user passwords and remove suspicious or inactive accounts if your site has multiple user accounts.
Why It’s Important:
Attackers have a tendency to leave backdoors in order for them to be able to access later. Password changes and the use of strong authentication mechanisms get rid of these threats.
2. Scan Your Site for Hidden Backdoors
Even after sanitizing your website, hackers may have left behind some hidden entry points (backdoors) to which they can get back. Scanning deep into security finds and removes any hidden threats.
- Run security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri, or MalCare to scan for vulnerabilities and malware.
- Scan your database, core files, themes, and plugins for hidden admin users, malicious scripts, or unauthorized file modifications.
- Manually scan your.htaccess, wp-config.php, and index.php files for malware.
- Scan your database’s wp_users table to see if anyone has been added in who shouldn’t have been added.
Why It’s Important:
The backdoor will help hackers regain access, and thus your site can be attacked multiple times. Removing all evidence of malware and unauthorized scripts protects your site.
3. Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins
Old WordPress core files, themes, and plugins are hacker favorites. Keeping your site up to date ensures any security vulnerabilities that are well known are addressed.
- Update WordPress core to the latest version.
- Upgrade all installed plugins and themes to their latest versions.
- Delete any unused or abandoned themes and plugins that could be security risks down the road.
- Make sure all the plugins and themes come from reputable sources like the WordPress repository or established developers.
Why It’s Important:
Most WordPress hacks are a result of outdated software. Patches in updates render vulnerabilities more difficult for the intruder to utilize on your site.
4. Secure Website with Plugins and Firewalls
After your site is restored following a hack, the installation of extra layers of security stops future occurrences and secures your site.
- Use plugins like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri to scan for and block suspicious activity.
- Integrate a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter bad traffic before your site.
- Enforce reCAPTCHA on logins and contact forms to prevent bots from attempting brute-force assaults.
- Restrict login attempts so that malicious IPs cannot make consecutive failed login requests.
Why It’s Important
Security firewalls and plugins guard your website in real time against brute force attacks, malware, and rogue logins, making your site safe.
5. Restore Website Credibility and User Trust
If Google blacklisted or labeled your website as malware, you need to take action about regaining trust and making visitors feel safe on your website.
- Check your website’s safety status as per Google Safe Browsing by going through Google’s Transparency Report.
- If you had a blacklisted site, submit a security review request through Google Search Console.
- Monitor website traffic and performance to recognize any unusual trends.
- In case individual user data was hacked, inform your users and explain what actions were taken to secure the site.
- Request users to clear their browser cache to remove remaining security notifications.
Why It’s Important:
A compromised site damages your reputation, lowers visitor trust, and lowers search engine ranking. Moving fast to regain integrity helps in restoring visitor confidence in your site.
6. Take Periodic Backups
Backups are a part of site security. If your website is hacked again, having a backup that is up-to-date means you will restore it very quickly.
- Take automated backups using backup plugins such as UpdraftPlus, Jetpack, or BackupBuddy.
- Store backups in secure offsite storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or a single-use cloud server.
- Back up your site on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the frequency of updates on your site.
- Back up core files, themes, plugins, and the database for full restoration.
Why It’s Important:
A good backup system enables you to easily recover from security attacks without downtime and data loss.
7. Use Continuous Monitoring
Website security is not a one-time solution—it requires continuous monitoring to identify potential threats before they become huge issues.
- Use real-time security monitoring with security plugins.
- Configure email notifications for failed login, file modifications, and security risks.
- Review audit logs periodically to track user actions, login, and system modifications.
- You can also use a website uptime monitor to receive notification if your site is down.
Why It’s Important:
Anticipatory monitoring puts you in front of threats and prevents hackers from entering your website again.
Final Thoughts
Getting your hacked WordPress website back up is just the beginning. To keep your site safe, you need to establish ongoing security measures, including software updates, secure authentication, security plugins, and threat monitoring on your site.
By implementing these best practices, you can keep your WordPress website secure, safe your users, and maintain your reputation online.
