What to do if WordPress is hacked
A practical Online Audience guide covering what to do if wordpress is hacked.
Suggested file name: online-audience-what-to-do-if-wordpress-is-hacked.jpg
Overview
This Online Audience guide explains what to do if wordpress is hacked for customers using WordPress. It is written for beginners and focuses on safe, practical steps you can follow before opening a support ticket.
Before you start
Make sure you have the correct login details and know which service you are working on. Use the Client Area, cPanel, EU cPanel, SonicPanel and AzuraCast links in the main menu when you need to access your service.
Steps
- Log in to WordPress or the hosting control panel as required.
- Take a backup before changing plugins, themes, files or database settings.
- Follow the steps in this guide carefully.
- Clear cache and test the website in a private browser window.
- Contact Online Audience support if the website is live and the issue could affect visitors.
Good practice
Take a screenshot before changing settings, copy any existing values, and test the service after each change. Avoid deleting files, DNS records, email accounts or databases unless you are sure they are no longer needed.
When to contact support
Contact Online Audience support if you see an error message, cannot access the panel, are unsure which server you are on, or the change could affect a live website, email service or radio stream. For hacked sites, avoid deleting evidence before taking a backup for review.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not change several settings at once without taking notes.
- Do not share passwords or private keys in screenshots.
- Do not delete files, mailboxes, playlists, databases or users unless you have a backup and understand the result.
Recommended image
Add a screenshot that shows the exact page used for this task. For Online Audience articles, use your own screenshots where possible and blur customer information before uploading. Suggested image file: online-audience-what-to-do-if-wordpress-is-hacked.jpg.
When to contact Online Audience
Open a support ticket from the Client Area menu link if you are unsure, if the service is down, if email has stopped working, if a radio stream is offline, or if WordPress may be hacked. Include the domain or service name, the exact error message, and what changed before the issue started.