What to Do If Your Website Gets Hacked: A Step-by-Step Guide

A hacked website can be a nightmare — especially when your homepage (index page) is compromised. Whether you're running a business website, blog, or e-commerce store, the impact is serious: lost trust, damaged SEO, and potential data breaches.

If your website has been hacked, don’t panic. Here's a step-by-step action plan to help you regain control and prevent future attacks.

⚠️ Why Hackers Target Websites

Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in websites to:

• Inject malicious code

• Redirect users to spam or phishing sites

• Gain access to sensitive data

• Damage brand reputation

Common causes include:

• Outdated software or plugins

• Weak passwords

• Unsecured admin access

• Poor server-side security

✅ Step-by-Step: How to Fix a Hacked Website

1. Take the Website Offline (Temporarily)

• Activate maintenance mode or disable the index page.

• This prevents visitors (and search engines) from seeing compromised content.

2. Identify and Remove Malicious Code

• Look for strange scripts in files like index.php, header.php, .htaccess, etc.

• Common signs include:

  • Encoded text (eval, base64)

  • Unknown