Remove Malicious Code From Your WordPress Website

Cleaning a WordPress virus involves several steps to identify and remove malicious code from your website. Here's a general guide:

1. Identify the Infection:

   • Scan your website using security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri, or MalCare to identify infected files and malware signatures.
   • Look for unusual or suspicious files, unexpected changes in file sizes, unauthorized users, and unfamiliar code in your WordPress files and database.

2. Take Your Site Offline:

   • If possible, take your website offline to prevent further damage or spreading of the virus.
   • Use a maintenance plugin to display a temporary maintenance page or switch your site to maintenance mode.

3. Backup Your Website:

   • Before making any changes, create a backup of your entire WordPress website, including files and the database.
   • Backup solutions like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy can help automate this process.

4. Access Your Website Files:

   • Use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or a file manager in your hosting control panel to access your website files.
   • Look for suspicious files, especially in the /wp-content/, /wp-includes/, and root directories.
   • Pay attention to files with unusual names, such as random strings of characters or names similar to legitimate WordPress files.

5. Remove Malicious Code:

   • Manually review your WordPress files and remove any malicious code or files identified during the scanning process.
   • Look for unfamiliar JavaScript, PHP, or other executable code injected into your files.
   • Restore any core WordPress files that may have been modified by the virus to their original state.

6. Update WordPress and Plugins:

   • Ensure that your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are up to date. Outdated software can be vulnerable to attacks.
   • Update all themes and plugins to their latest versions from trusted sources.
   • Remove any inactive themes and plugins from your WordPress installation.

7. Reset Passwords:

   • Change all passwords associated with your WordPress website, including admin passwords, database passwords, FTP passwords, and hosting account passwords.
   • Use strong, unique passwords and consider implementing two-factor authentication for added security.

8. Scan Your Database:

   • Use security plugins or database scanning tools to search for and remove any malicious code or entries in your WordPress database.
   • Look for suspicious user accounts, unauthorized database tables, or unfamiliar content.

9. Check File Permissions:

   • Review file permissions on your server to ensure they are set correctly. Restrict write access wherever possible to prevent unauthorized modifications.

10. Monitor and Harden Security:

    • Install and configure a security plugin to monitor your website for future attacks and vulnerabilities.
    • Implement security best practices such as limiting login attempts, using SSL encryption, and regularly scanning for malware.

11. Request Reconsideration (if applicable):

    • If your website has been blacklisted by search engines, submit a reconsideration request after cleaning up the infection and securing your site.

12. Stay Vigilant:

    • Regularly monitor your website for suspicious activity and perform security audits to ensure ongoing protection against malware and hackers.

If you're not comfortable cleaning the virus yourself, consider hiring a professional web developer or security expert who specializes in WordPress security to assist you.