What to Do If Your Website Gets Hacked (10 Step-by-Step Guide)

When your website gets hacked, it can be a stressful and alarming experience. Hackers may deface your pages, steal sensitive information, or infect your site with malware. These issues usually happen due to outdated software, weak passwords, or poor security practices. Ignoring small vulnerabilities can lead to major consequences — like data loss, downtime, or loss of trust from visitors.

In this guide, we’ll explain what you should do immediately after your website gets hacked, how to recover your data safely, and how to secure your site from future attacks. You’ll learn practical steps, tools, and preventive actions to restore your website and make it more secure than before.

10 Ways to Protect and Recover When Your Website Gets Hacked

If your website gets hacked, it’s essential to act fast and systematically. Below are the most effective steps to recover your website, clean infected files, and strengthen your security to prevent future attacks.

Stay Calm and Disconnect Your Website Temporarily

When your website gets hacked, your first step is to take it offline to stop further damage. Disable access or put your site in maintenance mode to prevent data leaks.
Once offline, you can safely inspect files and databases without risking visitor exposure or spreading malware. This pause helps you regain control and assess the problem clearly.

Change All Passwords Immediately

If your website gets hacked, assume all credentials are compromised. Change passwords for your hosting account, FTP, CMS, and database right away.

Use strong, unique combinations with symbols and numbers. This step blocks hackers from re-entering your system while you begin cleanup and restoration.

Scan Your Website for Malware

Run a complete malware scan using trusted security tools or your hosting provider’s scanner. It helps you identify infected files or malicious code hidden in your site.

When your website gets hacked, these scans are crucial for detecting unknown backdoors or scripts that attackers might have installed for future access.

Check and Restore from a Clean Backup

If your website gets hacked, having a recent backup is a lifesaver. Restore your website from the latest clean version before the hack occurred.

Verify that your backup is malware-free before uploading it. This ensures your restored version doesn’t reintroduce the infection.

Identify the Source of the Hack

Look for security logs or suspicious user activity. Hacks can occur through weak plugins, outdated themes, or exposed admin panels.

By pinpointing the source, you can fix vulnerabilities and prevent your website from getting hacked again. Keep detailed notes for future prevention.

Update All Software, Plugins, and Themes

Outdated components are a common reason a website gets hacked. Always keep your CMS, plugins, and themes up to date.

Updates often include critical security patches that close loopholes hackers exploit. Schedule regular updates to stay protected.

Remove Unused or Suspicious Files

Hackers often hide malicious scripts in unused directories or old installations. Remove any unnecessary files, themes, or plugins.

A clutter-free site reduces the risk of reinfection and improves performance. Keep only the essential and verified elements active.

Strengthen Security Settings

When your website gets hacked, it’s a sign to improve security. Enable firewalls, limit login attempts, and use SSL certificates.

Also, secure file permissions and disable direct file editing within your CMS to minimize future vulnerabilities.

Inform Users and Search Engines

If user data was compromised, notify your users transparently about the breach. Take responsibility and guide them to reset their passwords.

Also, request a malware review from Google Search Console to remove any “hacked site” warning from search results.

Set Up Ongoing Monitoring and Alerts

Install a website monitoring tool to get instant alerts about unusual activities. Continuous monitoring helps you detect threats early.

If your website gets hacked again, quick detection allows faster recovery. Prevention is easier with consistent monitoring.

Conclusion

When your website gets hacked, timely action and the right recovery steps can save you from serious losses. You’ve learned how to disconnect your site, change passwords, scan for malware, and restore from backups. Regular updates, strong credentials, and active monitoring are the best defense against future breaches. By following these ten steps, you can recover safely and reinforce your site’s security. If you ever feel unsure or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to contact your hosting provider or a security expert for help in securing your website permanently.