Running a WordPress site comes with endless benefits—flexibility, plugins, themes, and user-friendly management. But with popularity comes risk. WordPress powers over 40% of the internet, making it a major target for attackers. If your site behaves strangely, loads slowly, or displays suspicious messages, it might be compromised. Learning the top signs your WordPress website has been hacked (and how to recover) can save you from major damage, data loss, and financial impact.
A hacked website can harm your brand reputation, lower your SEO rankings, expose customer data, and even get your hosting account suspended. Understanding the warning signs early is the key to fast recovery and preventing future attacks.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through the most common signs of a WordPress hack and show you how to recover your hacked WordPress site quickly and safely.
1. Sudden Drops in Website Performance
If your site suddenly becomes slow or unresponsive, it could indicate unauthorized scripts or malware running in the background. Hackers often inject code that drains your server resources.
Why It Happens:
- Malware performing hidden tasks
- Spam scripts running silently
- Unauthorized users uploading malicious files
Detecting performance issues early is one of the top signs your WordPress website has been hacked (and how to recover) starts with identifying abnormal website behavior.
2. You Are Locked Out of Your Admin Dashboard
If you suddenly cannot log in, even with correct credentials, your admin access may have been taken over.
Common Lockout Signs:
- “Invalid username/password” errors
- Admin email changed
- Unexpected new users with admin privileges
Hackers often delete or replace your login credentials to gain full control.
3. Website Redirects to Unknown or Spammy Pages
If your site redirects users to ads, gambling pages, adult sites, or unknown domains, it’s a clear sign of a hack.
How It Works:
Hackers inject malicious JavaScript or modify .htaccess to redirect traffic for profit.
This is one of the most visible and alarming indicators among the top signs your WordPress website has been hacked (and how to recover) because it impacts user trust instantly.
4. Unknown Pop-Ups or Advertisements
If pop-ups suddenly appear—even if you never added any ads—your site may be infected with adware or injected scripts.
Common Pop-Up Symptoms:
- Floating ads
- Auto-playing videos
- Fake antivirus alerts
This not only annoys visitors but also risks Google penalizing your site.
5. Suspicious New Users in WordPress Dashboard
If you see unfamiliar administrators or authors, it’s a serious security breach.
Why It Happens:
Hackers exploit weak passwords or vulnerabilities to register themselves as admins.
Always monitor user accounts—it’s one of the simplest ways to detect the top signs your WordPress website has been hacked (and how to recover) effectively.
6. Strange or Malicious Files in Your Server
You might notice:
- Unknown PHP files
- Changed core WordPress files
- Random folders with odd names
Hackers usually hide malicious scripts in:
/wp-includes//wp-admin//wp-content/uploads/
Using a file manager or hosting panel can help you spot these early.
7. Homepage Defaced or Modified Without Your Consent
One of the most obvious signs is when your homepage suddenly displays:
- A hacker’s message
- Unknown banners
- Offensive images
- A blank page
Defacement is a common technique used by attackers to show control.
8. Hosting Provider Sends a Warning
Most hosting companies run malware scans. If they detect suspicious activity, they may email you or temporarily suspend your site to prevent server-wide infection.
Never ignore such warnings—they’re often the earliest detection of a hack.
9. Spam Emails Sent From Your Website
If customers complain they received emails you never sent, your site may be used as a spam server.
Risks:
- Your domain could get blacklisted
- You may lose email deliverability
- Hosting account might be suspended
This is one of the lesser-known top signs your WordPress website has been hacked (and how to recover)—but extremely important to monitor.
10. Google Displays Warnings or Removes Your Site From Search
Search engines automatically detect malicious sites. You may see alerts like:
- “This site may be hacked”
- “This site contains malware”
- Google Search Console security issues
This affects traffic, trust, and SEO rankings.
How to Recover a Hacked WordPress Website
Spotting the signs is only the first step. Now let’s walk through how to recover.
Step 1: Take Your Website Offline Temporarily
This prevents more damage and protects your visitors.
You can do this using:
- Maintenance mode plugin
- Hosting control panel
Step 2: Scan Your Website With a Security Tool
Use a professional malware scanner like:
- MalCare
- Wordfence
- Sucuri
These tools can detect infected files, suspicious scripts, and vulnerabilities.
Step 3: Remove Malware Automatically
Tools like MalCare offer one-click malware removal—fast, safe, and reliable.
Avoid removing files manually unless you’re a developer, as mistakes can break your site.
Step 4: Change All Passwords
Change:
- WordPress admin passwords
- Hosting & cPanel passwords
- FTP credentials
- Database passwords
Use a strong combination of symbols, numbers, and uppercase letters.
Step 5: Check User Accounts
Delete any suspicious accounts—especially those with administrator privileges.
Step 6: Restore Your Website From a Backup
If you have clean backups, restoring can bring your site back to safety instantly.
Choose a backup taken before the hack occurred.
Step 7: Update All Themes, Plugins & WordPress Version
Outdated software is one of the biggest causes of hacks.
Always keep everything updated.
Step 8: Harden Your WordPress Security
To prevent future attacks:
- Install a firewall
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Disable file editing in WordPress
- Limit login attempts
- Use secure hosting
This is the final and most crucial step in preventing the same attack again.
FAQs on Top Signs Your WordPress Website Has Been Hacked (And How to Recover)
1. What is the first thing I should do if my WordPress site is hacked?
Immediately put your site in maintenance mode and scan it using a trusted security plugin to identify malware.
2. Can I fix a hacked WordPress site without technical skills?
Yes. Security tools like MalCare and Wordfence provide automatic one-click malware removal.
3. Why do hackers target WordPress sites?
Because WordPress is widely used, making it easier for hackers to exploit outdated plugins, themes, and weak passwords.
4. How can I prevent my website from getting hacked again?
Use a security plugin, update everything regularly, enable firewalls, and use strong passwords.
5. Will Google reinstate my site after removing malware?
Yes. Once malware is removed, request a security review in Google Search Console to lift warnings.
