Many business owners assume hackers only target big companies. In reality, small business websites are frequent targets, because automated attacks look for any site with outdated software or weak passwords.
What malware can do
- Redirect your visitors to spam or scam websites.
- Steal customer data entered in forms.
- Send spam from your server, getting your email blacklisted.
- Get your site flagged by Google with a warning to visitors.
Prevention checklist
- Keep everything updated: WordPress core, themes and plugins.
- Remove unused plugins and themes: inactive code can still be exploited.
- Use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication for admin users.
- Limit admin accounts to the people who really need them.
- Install an SSL certificate so logins and forms are encrypted.
- Use a web application firewall to block malicious traffic before it reaches your site.
- Scan regularly for malware and suspicious file changes.
- Keep automated backups so you can restore a clean copy.
Warning signs to watch for
Unexpected redirects, new admin users you did not create, a sudden drop in traffic, or warnings from Google or your hosting provider are all reasons to investigate immediately.
Professional protection
A service like SiteLock scans your site daily, removes malware automatically and adds a firewall, so you can focus on your business.
Learn about SiteLock or ask us for a security check.