Scanning your website for malware is an essential step in maintaining its security and protecting both your data and your visitors. Here’s a practical, human-style guide to help you get started, whether you’re a beginner or have a bit of tech experience.
1. Use an Online Malware Scanner
These tools are straightforward—you just enter your website’s URL, and they’ll scan for common malware, blacklisting, and suspicious code.
Popular options:
How to use:
Go to the scanner’s website, paste your URL, and start the scan. You’ll get a report showing if anything looks suspicious.
2. Install a Security Plugin (for CMS like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.)
If your website runs on a content management system, security plugins offer more thorough and ongoing protection.
For WordPress:
- Wordfence Security: Scans for malware, backdoors, and known vulnerabilities.
- Sucuri Security: Offers file integrity monitoring and malware scanning.
How to use:
Install the plugin from your CMS’s plugin directory, activate it, and follow the setup instructions. Most will let you run a manual scan and set up scheduled scans.
3. Manual File Inspection
If you’re comfortable with your website’s backend, you can look for signs of infection directly.
Check for:
- Strange files or folders you didn’t create
- Recently modified files (especially in
/wp-content,/public_html, etc.) - Obfuscated or unfamiliar code in files like
index.php,.htaccess, orwp-config.php
How to do this:
- Use FTP/SFTP or your hosting control panel’s File Manager to browse your files.
- Compare suspicious files with known good backups.
4. Check Server Logs
Unusual log entries—such as repeated failed login attempts or unknown IPs accessing sensitive files—can signal a compromise.
Where to look:
Access logs, error logs, and security logs (available via your hosting control panel or server).
5. Professional Security Services
If you suspect a serious infection, consider hiring professionals. Services like Sucuri, SiteLock, or your hosting provider’s security team can run deep scans and clean up infections.
A Few Pro Tips
- Always backup your website before scanning or making changes.
- Keep your CMS, plugins, themes, and server software up to date.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
- Set up regular scans (daily or weekly) to catch threats early.
In summary:
Scanning your website for malware is a mix of using handy online tools, security plugins, a bit of manual detective work, and knowing when to call in the pros. Regular scans go a long way in keeping your site safe for you and your visitors!
