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Outdated software or plugins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