Malware FAQ: What Malware Is, Types, Prevention, and Removal
Welcome to our Malware FAQ. You've come to the right place, no matter if you are concerned about security, want to ensure your website does not get malware or want advice about how to clean up after becoming infected. Here, we will explain what malware is, the different types, how it can hurt your site, how it can be prevented, and how to deal with it when it does occur. You'll also learn why Bluehost may suspend accounts with detected malware and whether SiteLock is needed to protect your site.
- What is malware?
- What are the different kinds of malware?
- How does malware get on a website?
- What can malware do to a website?
- How can I prevent malware?
- Why would Bluehost suspend your account if malware is found?
- Do you have to use SiteLock?
- How to remove malware from your website?
- Summary
A: Malware (harmful software) is code intended to damage or disrupt websites. It can include viruses, ransomware, and others and is usually used to steal, corrupt, or disrupt data and site operations. Malware can lead to trust issues, performance issues, and suspension for website owners.
Why It's Important:
Malware isn't just annoying. It can hurt your site's SEO, security, and user experience if not addressed.
A: There are different types of malware with their respective ways of causing harm:
- Ransomware: Locks your site or data and requires a payment for release.
- Spyware: Monitors and steals user data, leading to privacy breaches.
- Adware: Inserts unwanted ads onto your site and makes it slower, which annoys users.
- Trojans: Disguising themselves as authentic software to obtain unauthorized entry into your website.
- Keyloggers: Records keystrokes, including sensitive information.
- Bots: Crash servers and the risk of SEO penalties.
Impact on SEO: Malware can harm the performance of your site, destroy its reputation, and lead to penalties, lowering your SEO rankings and user trust.
A: Malware typically enters websites through vulnerabilities such as outdated software, weak passwords, or insecure plugins. Here's how it works:
- Outdated Software & Plugins: Hackers exploit known vulnerabilities within out-of-date software.
- Weak Passwords: Easy-to-guess passwords make your site an easy target.
- Insecure Themes: Some themes, notably free ones, may contain harmful code.
Prevention Tip:
Keep your site's software current and use strong and original passwords.
A: Malware can generate many different issues:
- Site Slowdowns: Malware causes slowdowns on your site, frustrating users and harming SEO.
- Data Theft: Malware may steal your site's sensitive customer data, leading to identity theft.
- Backdoor Access: Malware provides backdoors through which hackers can visit your site whenever they want.
- SEO Damage: Google will penalize or blacklist the infected sites for damaging their search rankings.
Business Impact:
In addition to technical issues, malware can damage your reputation and drive away customers.
A: While it's impossible to remove all the malware, it's achievable to reduce the risk:
- Update Software Regularly: Update all the software, plugins, and themes.
- Use Strong Passwords: Make passwords complicated by adding letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Install a Web Application Firewall (WAF): A WAF will stop malicious traffic from entering your site.
- Backup Your Site: Regular backups allow you to restore your site when infected.
- Use Security Plugins: Plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri can identify and stop malware.
Prevention is Key:
Maintain site vigilance with security and maintenance procedures to ensure reduced risks from malware.
A: Bluehost can suspend your account when it detects malware on your site because:
- Protect Other Customers: Malware can spread across the platform and affect other websites.
- Prevent Data Theft: Suspension of accounts avoids further data breaches.
- Minimize Downtime: Suspension of the account prevents further damage inflicted by the malware.
Actionable Tip:
Check your site periodically and scan for malware to avoid suspension.
A: SiteLock is a third-party service that scans and secures your site against vulnerabilities and malware. While not necessary, it's a simple way of adding extra protection.
Other Options:
If SiteLock is not right for you, many other security software packages have comparable features. Select one appropriate for your needs.
A: If malware infects your site, act fast:
- Backup Your Site: Always backup before making changes.
- Scan for Malware: Use a security plugin or a scanner to find and remove malware.
- Manual Removal: If tech-savvy, you can manually delete infected files using FTP.
- Restore from Backup: If tech-savvy, manually remove the infected files through FTP. If a clean backup is available, restore from it to reverse the damage.
- Reinstall Software: Reinstall the software and plugins and ensure no malware.
For WordPress users, our detailed How to Remove Malware from Your WordPress Site article provides step-by-step guidance on removing malware from your site.
Summary
To wrap up our Malware FAQ, knowing about malware and how it may impact your site is needed to protect your web presence. Keeping your software updated, employing strong passwords, and installing protection software can all be beneficial in protecting against malware. When malware gets onto your site, quick action must be taken to eliminate and limit its destruction. Through SiteLock or otherwise, action will shield your site from the threats of malice.
If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us via Chat or Phone:
- Chat Support - While on our website, you should see a CHAT bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Click anywhere on the bubble to begin a chat session.
- Phone Support -
- US: 888-401-4678
- International: +1 801-765-9400
You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.