Here's what we do
1. Find and remove the malware
We compare your file system against WordPress originals, scan your database for hidden payloads, and strip out everything the attacker left behind. No off-the-shelf scanner does this thoroughly enough.
2. Check the server itself
An infected site is bad. A compromised server is worse. We check for hidden cron jobs, suspicious processes, and backdoors the attacker set up outside your WordPress install.
3. Lock it down
We harden file permissions, secure wp-config, remove unused accounts, update everything safely, and close the entry point they came through. Cleaning without locking down just means they'll be back.
4. Keep it clean
We monitor file integrity, watch for unexpected changes, and track login attempts so nothing slips through again.
Why this happens
The WordPress ecosystem is a double-edged sword. Thousands of developers building plugins and themes means you can do almost anything with your site. The flip side: every piece of third-party code is a potential entry point if it's not kept current. Most hacks are not personal - they're automated bots scanning for known vulnerabilities in outdated software.
It happens to careful people running good sites. The question isn't whether you could have prevented it. It's what happens now.
What to do right now
Don't panic. In the vast majority of cases, your site can be cleaned without permanent damage.
Don't try to fix it yourself unless you know what you're doing. We've had to undo amateur cleanups that made things worse - backups restored over infected databases, hidden admin accounts missed, backdoors left open. A bad cleanup is harder to fix than the original hack.
Talk to someone who does this regularly. We've handled WordPress malware removal and security hardening for years. We know where attackers hide things, and we know how to stop them coming back.
Think your site's been compromised?
Tell us what's happening and we'll get back to you fast. Straight advice, no obligations.
Get help now