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Any site, including your company’s, can be exposed to an internet virus if not well protected. One of the first steps to minimize damage is knowing how to remove malwares and how to prevent it from entering.
If your page contains malicious code, it will directly affect all customers who try to visit the site. In addition to being a big risk for users, it will also bring a bad reputation to your business. To help you understand more the importance of a well-protected site, we will explain how to remove malware from your site and prevent future problems.
Before talking about identifying these programs, it is worth understanding what are the main malwares, or “malicious codes”. Here is a list of the most common ones:
Software that monitors the user’s actions, recording things like their keyboard, access history, etc. It is usually used to obtain data illegally, including things like registrations, passwords, bank accounts, addresses, etc. You have to be careful, especially if you own an e-commerce store.
They are similar to spyware, however, they are disguised as other types of programs that appear to be legitimate and harmless. When executed, they begin to spy on your data and manipulate files.
A well-known type of malware, a virus is a specific type of code that replicates and infects other files on the way. This makes it especially dangerous when on a heavily accessed website.
“Ransom” is translated as “rescue”, which is what this malware does. Once inside the computer, they hijack files and, when the user notices, they are compelled to pay a fee to get the files back.
The first step in removing malware from any page is to identify whether your site has any. And the signs can be a little subtle in some cases. Here are the main signs:
Something common with malware is redirecting hyperlinks from your website to phishing, advertising, spam pages or downloading other malware. When an unexpected pop-up appears, it is a sign that there is such a program in action.
Some malicious code can damage login data, making it impossible to access your profile. In more serious cases, it is a sign that your password and access data have already been changed by third parties.
Adding malicious code to a page can have some side effects, such as a change in layout or poorly formatted text. If you notice any of these signs, it is worth investigating more closely.
Obviously, if a file disappears from your site without anyone having deleted it, then malware may be manipulating your data. This is especially the case with ransomware.
Just as there are several types of malware, there are also various forms of infection. However, the three most common are: using an already infected machine to make edits to the site; upload files containing malware; install plugins and features without verifying their origin. As we already mentioned, many of these malicious codes are hidden in plain view.
Let’s say your site is infected. In such cases, there are some actions you must take to remove the threat:
The first step is to do a site-wide scan with appropriate security software. It is important to have at least antimalware and a firewall always on.
Then, you should check all the files on the page and treat those that contain malicious code. This may involve removing the code or completely deleting the file.
It is very likely that the malware was also able to identify the encryption used to protect your page and its users. Therefore, the best thing to do is to generate new keys and renew the encryption of the site as a security measure.
Last but not least, some of these problems may be the result of the presence of an inactive or unknown user. Unused accounts are a gateway for hackers, while unknown users can be created by the attackers themselves. To remove malware, you also need to remove these users.
In addition to thinking about removal, it is also important to prevent new cases. Here are some tips to minimize these risks in your business:
Keeping computers protected is another way to prevent malware from reaching your website. Keep your company’s antimalware and firewalls up to date, especially on machines that modify your website.
In many cases, it is an employee’s oversight or lack of guidance that lets these codes enter. Therefore, instructing your team to take the right care is the best way to prevent it.
Your website’s hosting platform must also be secure. Much of the data security comes from your provider, so you need to choose it carefully.
With this information, you are a little better prepared to remove malwares from your site and prevent damage to your audience. It is also your responsibility to ensure that your company and customer data is always secure.
Do you want to go a little deeper into the topic? Contact our team to find out if your site has been infected and let us take care of it.
