Hacked Website Recovery: What to Do When Your Site Is Compromised

A compromised website is stressful, but panic makes it worse. A clear recovery sequence limits the damage, removes the infection and gets you back online without leaving a back door for the attacker to return through.

We provide this through our Security & Performance service, turning a crisis into a quick recovery.

Contain the damage first

Before you clean anything, stop the spread. Take the site offline or into maintenance mode, change every password and revoke active sessions. This stops the attacker from re-infecting the site while you work.

Identify how they got in

Cleaning the symptom without finding the entry point means it happens again. Check server logs, recently modified files and the version history of plugins and themes. The cause is usually an outdated component or a leaked credential.

Clean or restore

If you have a clean backup from before the compromise, restoring it is the fastest path. If not, remove the malicious code, replace core files with fresh copies and scan repeatedly until the site is clear.

Patch, then re-secure

Once clean, update every component to the latest version, rotate all credentials again and add a web application firewall. A compromise is the clearest signal that the previous security setup had a gap.

Clear warnings and rebuild trust

If Google flagged the site or browsers showed a warning, request a review through Search Console once it is clean. Monitor closely for a few weeks, because reinfection often follows an incomplete clean-up.

Keep an off-site backup taken before the incident. Restoring from a clean point predating the compromise is almost always faster than manual removal.

Key takeaways

Frequently asked questions

How often should a business website be updated for security?

Core security updates for the CMS, plugins and server should be applied weekly or immediately when a critical patch is released. A monthly maintenance schedule is the minimum for most business sites.

Where is TPR Media based?

TPR Media operates from Level 34, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000, serving clients across Brisbane and Australia-wide.

TPR Media guides Australian businesses through hacked website recovery: containment, finding the entry point, clean restoration, re-securing and clearing browser warnings.