Ultimately at some point, there is a strong possibility that you will need WordPress Virus Removal Services. Unfortunately removing a virus comes with experience, as well as trial and error.  There can be times where you think the virus has been removed only to have it resurface because it existed in another file. We will cover the ways you obtain a virus, tips of removing it, and we will look at how to prevent it from happening.

What caused the virus?

There can be multiple reasons for why a WordPress site catches a virus, below we list our top 7 reasons.

Top 7 Reasons A WordPress Site Gets Hacked

  1. Outdated Plugins – It is important to keep all plugins up to date whenever possible.
  2. Outdated Themes – If a theme gets hacked it is much harder to recover from.
  3. Using Default wp_ – Using a default database table prefix of wp makes you a prime target for hackers.
  4. Installing Other Apps – A hack can not only come from WordPress, but it can also come from other PHP applications that have weak security.
  5. Code Injection – A hacker can inject code to attack your database in the text input field of a form for example.
  6. Spam Comments – Spam comments can contain malicious links.
  7. PHP Version – There are several vulnerabilities with older versions of PHP.

WordPress Virus Removal

To remove a WordPress Virus, first find out what caused the virus. We know this is not always easy to determine, so here are some of our suggestions. 

  • Restore your website to an earlier version, which is done usually through your host’s control panel. This may be the way to avoid WordPress Virus Removal altogether.
  • Add the WP_DEBUG to your wp-config.php file. This will put your WordPress site in debug mode which may tell you where the problem is.
  • Check your server for unusual files such as extra PHP files that aren’t part of the WordPress core, plugin, or theme files.
  • Perform a site scan with a free version of the WordFence Security Plugin.
  • Check the database for unknown table names, and malicious code.
  • Move each plugin from the wp-content/plugins/ folder and see if any of the plugins are causing the issue.
  • Activate another theme such as the WordPress 2016 Theme, and see if maybe the theme itself is the culprit.
  • Perform a website back up. Remove the wp-admin, wp-includes folder, and the root .php files; (except wp-config.php). Manually install WordPress (but not theme wp-content folder).

How To Prevent Future Infections

  • Never use a plugin that has not been updated in several months.
  • Install a trusted WordPress Security Plugin.
  • Set Themes and Plugins to automatically update if possible.
  • Use a secure password for your WordPress wp-admin login.
  • Use contact form plugins with built-in security features.

WordPress Virus Removal Services

We know that it is not always the easiest thing to remove a virus yourself, and can be a pretty big headache. Here at GA Media Solutions we specialize in the removal and prevention of viruses. If you have questions or would like us to take a look at the problem please contact us.