In this blog post, we’ll show you how to recognize if your WordPress site has been hacked, how to restore it, and how to protect it better in the future.
1. Warning signs: Has your WordPress website been hacked?
2. Immediate action: Contain the damage & secure your site
3. Cleanup: Remove malicious code and regain control
4. Root causes: Why was your WordPress site hacked?
5. Prevention: How to protect your site moving forward
6. Emergency help: Restore a backup & get support
Conclusion: WordPress hacked? Don’t panic!
1. Warning signs: Has your WordPress website been hacked?
There are several common signs that indicate your website may have been successfully attacked. For example, the layout of your site might look completely different, possibly with strange content or broken formatting. Automatic redirects to suspicious third-party websites are also a major red flag. If you can no longer log in to your WordPress backend, or if unknown users with admin rights suddenly appear, you need to act immediately. Especially critical is when your website is marked as “not secure” – this damages not only your traffic but also your reputation.
In summary, here are the most common signs that your WordPress site may have been hacked:
- Unexpected changes in design or layout
- Automatic redirects to unfamiliar websites
- Inability to log in to the backend
- Unknown administrator accounts appearing
- Security warnings in the browser or in Google search results
2. Immediate action: Contain the damage & secure your site
If you suspect your WordPress site has been hacked, you should take immediate action:
Activate maintenance mode
This protects your visitors and helps prevent the spread of malicious content.
- Scan your own device
Run a full antivirus scan to make sure no malware on your device enabled the attack
These initial steps help you regain control of the situation and lay the foundation for cleaning up your website.
3. Cleanup: Remove malicious code and regain control
The next step is to regain control of your website and remove any malicious code. If you're unable to log into the backend, you can reset your password directly in the database using phpMyAdmin or the WordPress-Toolkit in Plesk. Once you’ve regained access, the following actions should be taken:
- Remove unknown users
Check under “Users” for suspicious accounts and delete them immediately.
Replace the WordPress core
Upload a fresh copy of the WordPress core files – without overwriting wp-config.php or the wp-content folder.
Update themes and plugins
Outdated extensions are a common entry point for attackers.
Change the security keys in wp-config.php
This will invalidate all active sessions and enhance login security.
This targeted cleanup is essential to restore your website to a secure state.
4. Root causes: Why was your WordPress site hacked?
A successful hack is often the result of avoidable weaknesses. The most common causes include:
Outdated plugins or themes with security vulnerabilities
Weak or reused passwords
Missing SSL certificate
Insecure file permissions on the server
No protection against brute-force attacks
The good news is that most of these issues can be resolved with relatively little effort. WordPress notifies you of available updates – make sure to follow these alerts and keep your installation up to date.
5. Prevention: How to protect your site moving forward
To keep your website secure in the long run, it’s important to combine technical measures with regular maintenance:
Use strong passwords
Avoid simple combinations and use complex, secure character strings.
Keep everything updated
Make sure WordPress, themes, and plugins are always up to date.
Limit login attempts
Plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded help prevent brute-force attacks.
Enable two-factor authentication
Adds an extra layer of security for your WordPress and Plesk admin logins.
- Set up an SSL certificate
With Plesk, you can easily activate a free Let’s Encrypt certificate to protect your data and boost your search ranking.
Use the latest PHP version
We recommend setting at least PHP 8.1 or higher – easily configurable in Plesk.
Set up regular backups
Automated backups keep your site safe. Many hosting providers – including us – create daily backups for their customers without extra effort.
A combination of solid technical measures and ongoing attention will make your WordPress site significantly more secure.
6. Emergency help: Restore a backup & get support
If your website still isn’t working properly despite all your efforts, it’s time to seek professional help. As a customer of our web hosting, you benefit from included support. Our team is happy to assist you personally in cases like this if you need help.
All websites hosted within our web hosting plans are backed up daily and stored for up to 30 days. In case of emergency, we can quickly restore a clean and working version of your site.
If your WordPress site was installed via Plesk, we also recommend the following:
- Regularly update your login credentials
Avoid using default usernames like “admin” or “webmaster”
Use the WordPress Toolkit to detect and resolve security issues more efficiently
Conclusion: WordPress hacked? Don’t panic!
A website hack is frustrating – but in most cases, it can be fixed. By following a clear process of analysis, cleanup, and prevention, you can not only bring your WordPress site back online but also make it more resilient against future threats. Regular maintenance, strong login credentials, and a reliable web hosting partner are the foundation of a secure WordPress setup.
