Why Website Security Should Be a Priority

When planning a website in Ireland, security is often overlooked in favour of flashy designs, interactive elements, and eye-catching features. In over a decade of overseeing hundreds of website projects across Ireland, it’s rare for clients to ask, “What about security?” Yet, as a website owner, ensuring the online security of your website should be a top priority, especially before considering aesthetics like sliders or animations.

With the increasing use of third-party plugins, themes and frameworks, website security is becoming even more critical. Over the past six months, we’ve seen a rise in hacked websites in Ireland, and we’ve been called in to fix a hacked website for many clients. The causes are often similar:

• Shared unmanaged hosting with no firewalls or basic security measures
• Outdated WordPress themes or plugins
• Websites that are rarely updated or maintained

This article will help you understand why websites in Ireland get hacked, how they become vulnerable, what to do if your website is hacked, and how to prevent future attacks.

Why Would Someone Want to Hack My Website?

It’s important to note that many website owners may not even realise their website has been hacked. Malicious code often works silently in the background, and it’s not until tools like Google’s malware check or antivirus programs such as Norton alert you that you become aware of it. By then, it’s usually too late.

This is why prevention and regular website maintenance are just as crucial as fixing a hacked website. If your site is vulnerable, you may need to fix a hacked website to protect your users. If you suspect your website has been compromised, see our hacked website repair page for immediate assistance.

To prevent future issues, don’t wait until you need to fix a hacked website take proactive steps now.

Your Website Could Be Hacked Without You Knowing

More often than not, it’s not a person directly hacking your website but automated scripts or crawlers searching for vulnerabilities. These bots typically look for:

• Outdated WordPress websites: Your site may be flagged if it runs outdated software, putting it on a list of vulnerable sites to exploit.
• Insecure hosting: Without proper security measures, your website is an easy target.

Common Reasons for Hacking a Website

• Stealing personal information: Hackers often seek personal data like credit card numbers or other sensitive information, especially on eCommerce websites.
• Redirecting traffic: They may redirect your visitors to malicious websites, earning commissions through shady sales.
• SEO manipulation: Hackers can create links on your site to boost the rankings of other websites, a practice known as black hat SEO.
• Malicious intent: Some attacks are simply meant to harm your business for personal amusement, though this is less common.

How Was My Website Hacked?

Figuring out how your website was hacked can be tricky, but the usual suspects include:

• Outdated software: Using an old version of your CMS, plugins, or themes is like leaving the door wide open for attackers. Newer updates close known security loopholes.
• Insecure hosting: Poor hosting setups are often a weak point for website security.

While identifying the exact cause requires investigation, 99% of hacks are due to poor hosting or outdated software. If you’re unsure about your hosting’s security, contact us for a free audit.

How to Fix a Hacked Website: What to Do First

The first step is simple: don’t panic. However, it’s crucial to act quickly. Delays can allow Google to detect the problem, resulting in your site being blacklisted. Once blacklisted, visitors will see warnings like “This site may harm your computer,” damaging your reputation and customer trust.

Our website development team specialises in helping you fix a hacked website quickly and effectively, ensuring your website is restored and secured as fast as possible.

Steps for Website Owners

1. Contact your developer or host: Explain the issue in detail.
2. Install a maintenance mode plugin: If using WordPress, a plugin like WP Maintenance Mode can prevent visitors from encountering malicious code and buy you time.
3. Check your local environment: Ensure your personal computer is malware-free, as it could have been the source of the attack. Run a thorough scan with tools like RogueKiller.
4. Change your passwords: Update all your login credentials as a precaution.

What Can Web Developers and Hosts Do?

If you’re a web developer or host, the following steps can help resolve the hack:

• Check FTP for modified files: Review the last modified dates to find affected files.
• Put up a maintenance page: Take the site offline to prevent further damage while fixing the issue.
• Avoid simply reverting to a backup: While a backup can temporarily restore your site, it won’t fix the underlying issue. The hacker will likely exploit the same vulnerability again.
• Run a virus scan: Use ClamAV or another reputable scanner to clean the site’s files.
• Search for malicious code: Look for techniques like base64 encoding that hide harmful code in your website files.
• Check file permissions: Ensure your files aren’t set to insecure permissions, such as 777.
• Update everything: Ensure that your CMS, plugins, and themes are all up to date.

How Can I Prevent This from Happening Again?

Preventing future hacks is straightforward but requires regular maintenance:

• Regular updates: Don’t ignore your website for months. Schedule updates and maintenance regularly.
• Secure hosting: Ensure your hosting provider offers strong security measures. If you’re unsure, contact us for a free audit.
• Website monitoring: Use tools like Pingdom to track any unusual activity on your site.
• Protect your local machines: Ensure your computer is protected with antivirus software like Malwarebytes.

Maintaining your website and ensuring it’s hosted securely are key to preventing hacks. If you suspect your website has been hacked or want to improve your security setup, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Affordable Websites. Visit our Hacked Website Repair page or give us a call — we’re here to help!

Article Address: Quickly fix a Hacked Website