Detecting Website Hacked: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Experienced E-commerce Agency for Magento/ Adobe Commerce/ Shopify/ Shopware Development

Websites today play a significant part in our lives, serving as gateways for information, business, and social contact. However, as the internet develops, so do the risks it harbors. The number of hacked websites, which is rising, is one of the most severe threats.

According to Astra, there are around 30.000 websites hacked every day. So, if you are looking for warning signs, action steps, and tips to protect your website from cyber-attacks, you’re in the right place!

This article sheds light on the persistent and evolving threat posed by hacked websites. We’ll discuss the strategies hackers use to break into websites, the effects of such breaches, and the precautions people and businesses can take to protect their online presence. Ready to explore? Let’s delve into it!

What is a hacked website?
Why do hackers target your website?
7 signs of a hacked website
Step-by-step guide when a website is hacked
6 security tips to protect your website
Conclusion

What is a hacked website?

A hacked website is a website that has been intentionally accessed, compromised, or manipulated by an individual or a group of individuals. By passing a website’s security measures, hackers can access its databases, files, or other sensitive data illegally.

When a website is hacked, it often implies that its security measures or vulnerabilities were exploited, giving unauthorized people access to the website or its resources. This can result in various harmful consequences, such as:

Defacement. Hackers can modify a website’s content, images, or layout to negatively affect its credibility and reputation.
Data breach. Hackers can access sensitive information stored on websites for identity theft, fraud, or malicious purposes.
Malware distribution. Hackers can inject malicious code or links into websites, leading visitors to download malware designed to steal information or gain control.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) spam. Hackers can use hacked websites to manipulate search engine rankings, redirect users to malicious websites, and promote illegal content.

In summary, it is important to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of a hacked website. To discover what these action steps require, keep scrolling down!

Why do hackers target your website?

Websites are targeted by hackers for a variety of reasons, depending on their goals and motivations. Here are some typical motives for website hacking:

Financial gain. Hacking is motivated by financial gain, as it can lead to the theft of sensitive financial information. This information can be sold on the black market or used for fraudulent activities.
Data theft. Hackers frequently target websites to gain access to valuable data because these data can be used for competitive advantage, extortion, or to sell to interested parties.
Defacement. Hackers target websites to deface or vandalize them for personal reasons. They may modify the website’s content, replace it with their own messages or graphics, or display their “hacker” signature as a form of recognition or publicity.
Resource exploitation. Hackers can exploit websites for their own purposes. These purposes can be hosting illegal content, distributing malware, sending spam emails, or launching attacks on other websites or systems.
SEO spam. Hackers may manipulate search engine rankings by injecting malicious links or content into websites to redirect visitors to other websites or promote illegal services, generating traffic and profiting from fraudulent activities.

However, it’s important to remember that not all hackers act intentionally. In order to find errors and help improve security, legal hackers or security researchers also examine websites for vulnerabilities.

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7 signs of a hacked website

Before taking action to save your website, let’s take a closer look at these signs to be sure whether your website is hacked or not. Here are some to look out for:

1. Unexpected or suspicious content

When browsing a website, if you come across content that seems out of place, irrelevant, or inconsistent with the website’s usual style or purpose, it is essential to exercise caution.

For instance, if you notice inconstant new pages, posts, or advertisements that you didn’t create, it could be a sign of a hack. This unexpected content may also include strange pop-ups or uncharacteristic links leading to suspicious websites.

These signs should not be ignored because they could mean hackers have accessed the website, putting users’ devices or personal information in danger. If you encounter such content, avoid interacting with it and promptly report the issue to the website administrators or owners.

2. Defacement

Defacement serves as one of the most apparent signs of a hacked website. This can involve changes to the website’s layout, color scheme, or logo, along with the addition of unauthorized images, text, or banners.

Defacement often aims to spread a message or showcase the hacker’s skills. Particularly, hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the website’s security to gain unauthorized access, enabling them to deface the site with their own messages, images, or malicious content.

Defacement is a sign of a website’s integrity being compromised, potentially causing reputational damage. Therefore, prompt action is needed to restore functionality, remove defacement, and reinforce security measures to prevent future breaches.

3. Unauthorized user accounts

Unauthorized user accounts are a clear indication of a hacked website. If you notice new user accounts on your website’s admin panel or backend that you didn’t create, it could indicate unauthorized access.

Hackers create and manipulate user accounts to gain unauthorized access and exploit sensitive information, allowing them to maintain control over the compromised website, enabling malicious activities, data theft, and further attacks.

So, detecting and removing these unauthorized user accounts is important to restore the security and integrity of the hacked website.

4. Increased network traffic or bandwidth usage

A sudden rise in network traffic or unusually high bandwidth usage can indicate a hacked website. Hackers may use the compromised website to distribute malware, send spam emails, or host illegal files, resulting in increased network activity.

However, this strange development of bandwidth usage can be observed through traffic monitoring tools or by noticing a significant increase in data transfer or server resource consumption.

Recognizing such abnormal network behavior is crucial in identifying a hacked website and taking immediate remedial actions to mitigate the security breach and safeguard its users.

5. Phishing warnings

If users encounter warnings from web browsers or search engines when browsing a website, it may indicate that the website has been hacked. These warnings are used to protect users from malicious content or activities associated with a hacked website.

Cybercriminals use phishing techniques to deceive visitors and steal sensitive information. Therefore, warnings are issued when suspicious activities or phishing attempts are detected.

Recognizing these phishing warnings is essential in safeguarding one’s online security and avoiding falling victim to identity theft or other fraudulent activities.

6. Unexpected redirects

Unexpected redirects can be a clear indication of a hacked website. Hackers can use malicious code or modify the website’s configuration to redirect users to malicious or fraudulent web pages without their consent.

Plus, redirects to unfamiliar or suspicious web pages without action are a cause for concern, as they can lead to phishing sites, malware-infected pages, and other harmful destinations, compromising the website’s security and posing a risk to visitors.

Hence, if you encounter unexpected redirects, it is vital to address the issue promptly to protect both the website and its users.

7. Unusual server logs or error messages

Suspicious activities, such as an unusually high number of failed login attempts from different IP addresses, can be detected when analyzing server logs, and error messages, which indicate unauthorized access, file modifications, or database queries, are red flags.

Additionally, it may be a sign of a security breach if server logs reveal a sudden increase in traffic or strange patterns of access to essential parts of the website.

Review your server logs frequently and keep an eye out for any odd behavior, or error messages that can point to attempted unauthorized access or other questionable activity. These logs can offer important information about potential security breaches.

Step-by-step guide when a website is hacked

Even though dealing with a hacked website might be frustrating, it’s important to take action immediately in order to limit the damage and restore the security of your website. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you handle the situation:

Step 1: Identify the hack

Find out how your website was hacked and how much harm was done. After that, search your website for any unexpected or illegal changes, such as changed pages, malicious code injections, or unauthorized access.

Step 2: Take your website offline

If you have the chance to shut down your website, do it right away. By doing this, you will be able to stop further damage and safeguard your visitors from any potential dangers.

Step 3: Change passwords

All user accounts connected to your website, such as the admin account, hosting, and database, should have new passwords. Change passwords for all of them, but remember to use a strong and different password for each.

Step 4: Update all software

Ensure all of the software you use, including your plugins, themes, and content management system, is up to date. Frequently, hackers like to take advantage of vulnerabilities in out-of-date software.

Step 5: Scan for malware

You should use a trustworthy security plugin or online scanner to do a thorough malware scan on your website. This makes it easier for you to spot any dangerous software or files.

Step 6: Restore from a backup

If you have recent website backups, restore them to a clean version before the hack occurred. In addition, remember to scan the backup files for malware before restoring them.

Step 7: Remove malicious code and files

If you can identify the specific files or code injected by the hacker, remove them from your website. Provided that you’re unsure about the dangerous elements, you might need to speak with a security expert.

Step 8: Strengthen security measures

They say prevention is better than cure, so let’s enhance your website’s security to avoid future attacks. Here are some steps to consider:

Use a reliable security plugin to monitor and block suspicious activities.
Implement a web application firewall to filter out malicious traffic.
Use strong passwords and 2FA (two-factor authentication) to secure user accounts.
Regularly updating all software is essential for a successful website.
Limit user privileges to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Remove any unnecessary or outdated plugins and themes.
Perform regular security scans and audits.

Step 9: Monitor for further issues

Keep your eyes out for any indications of further compromise on your website. Remember to spot any strange behavior, and concentrate on your website’s access logs, user accounts, and file integrity.

Step 10: Communicate with your users

Inform your users about the situation and the precautions they should take if your website is compromised and user data is possibly exposed. Additionally, be honest about the problem and give clear guidance. Remember, it’s essential to act quickly and methodically to minimize the damage and restore the security of your website.

6 security tips to protect your website

1. Keep software up to date

Remember to update the content management system, plugins, themes, and any other software you use regularly because updates frequently come with security updates that address errors.

2. Strong and unique passwords

Use strong, complex passwords for all user accounts connected to your website, including administrators and contributors. To increase security, prevent using commonly utilized passwords and consider using two-factor authentication.

3. Conduct security audits and vulnerability scans

Review your website’s architecture, configurations, and code for any potential security weaknesses. Moreover, use security scanning tools to identify potential vulnerabilities, such as outdated software, misconfigurations, and known vulnerabilities.

4. Regular backups

Make regular backups of the databases that power your website. Backups should be safely stored elsewhere or using cloud storage services. You can return your website to its prior, clean configuration in case of a security incident or data loss.

5. Limit file uploads

Ensure the files are posted to another location with restricted access if your website permits file uploads. To avoid submitting harmful files, take steps to scan and validate file types, sizes, and contents.

6. Monitor website activity

Implement logging and monitoring mechanisms to keep track of website activities, such as login attempts, file alterations, and suspicious behavior. Review logs frequently for any indications of unauthorized access or suspicious activities.

Remember that maintaining website security is an ongoing mission, so it’s essential to be on alert and adjust to any new dangers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the hacking of a website serves as a reminder of the cybersecurity threats businesses and individuals face, so organizations need to prioritize security measures and regularly update their systems to eliminate the risk of cyber attacks.

Furthermore, website owners must quickly detect and respond to security breaches to limit damage and reduce potential harm. Implementing a comprehensive incident response plan can help organizations minimize the impact of a website hack.

Ultimately, a collective effort from website owners, users, and the cybersecurity community is needed to address website hacking and create a safer digital world.

So let’s eliminate those cybercriminals together!

Summer Nguyen

Marketing Manager of Mageplaza. Summer is attracted by new things. She loves writing, travelling and photography. Perceives herself as a part-time gymmer and a full-time dream chaser.