If you own a website, you must be aware of the potential risks associated with hacking.

When a website is hacked, it can lead to several adverse outcomes, including data loss, reputation damage, and financial loss.

There are several reasons why a website may become vulnerable to hacking, such as weak passwords, outdated software, and malware attacks.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide on what to do if your website gets hacked.

We will cover step-by-step instructions to help you regain control of your website and minimize the damage caused by the hack.

Whether you are a website owner, web developer, or website manager, this article will provide valuable insights on handling a hacking incident.

The first thing you should do if your site gets hacked is to notify your web hosting company and ask them to help determine when it happened, how it happened, and if there is a way to find out who did it?

If they do regular backups, they can restore your site back to a date when everything was working. or if you have your own backups and are impatient, then you can recreate your site from your backup.

Step 1: Identify the Hack

The initial step in dealing with a hacked website is identifying the hack. This process can be initiated by examining your website for any unusual changes or activities.

Several signs may indicate your website has been hacked, including:

1. Unique pop-ups or advertisements that you did not authorize

2. A noticeable reduction in website performance or speed

3. Unexplained alterations to website content or layout

4. The presence of unauthorized user accounts

5. Suspicious traffic directed toward your website

If you detect any of these symptoms, it is critical to take swift action to address the hack as soon as possible.

Doing so can minimize the damage caused by the hack and prevent any further harm to your website and its visitors.

Step 2: Quarantine Your Website

Once you have identified that your website has been hacked, the next step is to quarantine it.

This process involves taking your website offline to prevent any further damage caused by the hack.

Additionally, it is essential to disconnect your website from any connected devices or networks to contain the hack and prevent it from spreading to other devices.

Taking your website offline limits the hacker's ability to continue changing your website or access sensitive information.

Quarantining your website also allows you to investigate the hack more thoroughly and identify the root cause of the issue.

To effectively quarantine your website, you should immediately shut down any web servers or hosting accounts associated with your website.

You should also disconnect your website from connected devices or networks, including databases and email accounts.

Taking these measures can help ensure the hack does not spread to other devices or networks.

Step 3: Assess the Damage

Once your website is quarantined, you can assess the damage. This involves identifying the extent of the hack and the data that has been compromised.

You should also identify the hack's source and any exploited vulnerabilities. This information will help you determine the next steps.

Step 4: Restore from Backup

If you have a backup of your website, you can restore it to a previous version before the hack occurred.

This will remove the malicious code and restore your website to its previous state. However, if the backup is updated, you may retain some data.

It is important to regularly back up your website to minimize the risk of data loss.

Step 5: Clean Up Your Website

Even after restoring your website from a backup, there may still be traces of the hack.

You should scan your website for any malicious code or files and remove them.

You should also update all software and plugins to their latest versions. This will help patch any vulnerabilities that were exploited.

Step 6: Change Passwords and Security Measures

After cleaning up your website, you should change all passwords and security measures.

This includes your website's admin password, FTP password, and database password.

You should also enable two-factor authentication and limit access to your website. This will help prevent future attacks.

Step 7: Monitor Your Website

Once your website is restored and secured, you should monitor it for unusual activities.

You can use website security tools and plugins to scan for malware and detect any vulnerabilities. It would help to keep your software and plugins up-to-date to prevent future attacks.

Step 8: Inform Your Visitors and Customers

If your website stores personal or sensitive data, you should inform visitors and customers about the hack. This will help them take necessary measures to protect their data.

You should also provide them with updates on the status of your website and the steps you are taking to secure it.

Step 9: Learn from the Experience

A website hack can be a learning experience. You can use the information gathered during the assessment to identify your website's security vulnerabilities.

You should also develop a plan for future hacks and implement preventive measures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a hacked website can seriously threaten your business.

However, immediately following the abovementioned steps can minimize the damage and prevent future attacks.

Remember to regularly back up your website, update software and plugins, and monitor your website for any unusual activities.