Malware is a permanent tool in a cybercriminal’s arsenal as cybercrime expands and advances. Malware (short for malicious software) is software that is designed to harm a website or computer. Website viruses may steal valuable consumer information, hold websites hostage, or even seize complete control of the website. Unfortunately, malware victims are unaware that they have been targeted until too late in many situations. Every day, more than a million new malware threats are launched. All the antiviruses provide automated virus eradication to safeguard all website owners. However, it is vital to take matters into your own hands and become proactive about website security to keep your website safe.
To achieve this, you have two options. The first is to learn how to look for symptoms of malware manually. The second and most successful method of malware protection is to use a free website scanner that identifies harmful information and eliminates it immediately.
Ways to Check Malware:
- Look for Malware Warning Signs
Malware symptoms may not be evident to you or your visitors right away. Many website owners, for example, may believe that website defacement or an assault that alters the aesthetic aspect of a website is the sole method to detect malware. In actuality, malware’s elusiveness and ability to conceal from website owners make it so powerful.
Even if your website hasn’t been hacked, you might be infected with malware if:
- Without your permission, your account login information was changed.
- Without your awareness, your website files were altered or removed.
- As a result, your website is crashing or freezing.
- You’ve noticed changes in your search engine results, such as blocklisting or warnings about hazardous material.
- You’ve seen a sudden decrease or spike in traffic.
If any warning signals arise, take the procedures below to validate your concerns.
- Make use of a URL Scanner
A URL scanner is a valuable tool if you fear your website is infected with malware. Input your website’s domain name into the URL scanner, and it will do an external scan for known malware. Scanning your website ensures that it is up to date and safe. Check the code of your site if you’ve been notified that malware has been detected on your site.
- Keep an eye out for any changes.
Keeping frequent backups of your website is wise for all website owners. You may accomplish this quickly and easily by utilizing a backup program that produces backups. Cyberattacks can be recovered using this method, among other benefits. Additionally, knowing how your website’s clean, regular code appears will assist you in spotting any infection symptoms. But what if anything goes wrong and you don’t have a clean backup? You may examine your database, files, and source code for signs of malware if you are knowledgeable enough with your website or content management system (CMS) code to scan it for suspicious material.
- Look for malware in the database.
You’ll need access to a database management tool provided by your web server, such as phpMyAdmin, to check for malware in your databases.
Malware can be detected by examining the source code
Look for script attributes and iframe attributes in your source code. Look for lines that begin with “script src=>” and any strange URLs or file names following that. In the same way, check for strange URLs in iframe src=”URL”>. If something doesn’t appear correct, or the URL doesn’t look right, it’s probably a symptom of cybercrime.
- Examine your files for malware
Manually checking for malware in your website’s files may be done in several methods, each with varying complexity and efficacy. Most website owners should use FTP or your host’s file manager to scan for dangerous information in their website files. To adequately monitor for malware, you’ll need to frequently analyze your database, source code, and files for changes once you’ve learned how to do so.
Malware Removal and Automatic Website Scanning
According to new data, cybercriminals are more active than ever, with attempted attacks up 16 percent. With such a high degree of criminal activity, you’ll need protection to keep up, like a website scanner that can automatically check your website for known malware and delete it. Automatic website scanning daily saves time and helps you stay ahead of any infestations, potentially reducing the detrimental impact of malware on your site and its users. Backdoor files, shell scripts, and spam are examples of malware often scanned automatically by malware scanners. If the website scanner detects malware, the website owner will be notified right away, and some solutions even offer instant malware eradication.
