Hackers inject malware into websites to take advantage of the site’s traffic as a way to distribute potentially unwanted applications into many visitor’s computers – yes, it’s devastating and this form of cyberattack will ruin your business.

What makes these malware injections worse is the hackers plant the kind of malware that evade detection. These types of malware bide their time until they receive a signal from the hacker to either allow the threat actor a backdoor entry or unpack a more dangerous form of malicious application unto the website’s database.

When this happens, it’s a race against time to uncover the malware before it unleashes its payload and cause damage to your website and to your reputation. The good thing is malware leave signs if they’re currently gestating within your site’s pages.

How to Detect and Remove Malware: Identifying Signs of Malware Infestation?
The key to detect and remove malware from website is to check your pages for tell-tale signs that an infection is afoot. Here are signs you need to look out for every time you’re administering to your website:

1. Look for Changes in Your Website’s Looks

The first thing a hacker or malware does is to leave obvious markers on a particular webpage. This kind of defacement or vandalism can be seen in changes in the text or the presence of images you didn’t upload. A violation of this nature is just a signal of things to come so you’ll need to start investigating so you can detect and remove malware from website fast.

2. Check Sudden Alterations in Your Credentials or Settings

One of the subtle changes web administrators notice when a malware infests their site are password changes and notifications. It’s as if someone is already planning to take over your administrator’s account right under your feet. It’s an alarming signal, one that tells you to invest resources to detect and remove malware from website as soon as possible.

3. Pages Aren’t What They’re Used To

When your webpages crash while they’re loading while visitors are accessing them can only mean a malware is disrupting their traffic. Another obvious sign is when you look at your website’s backend and you find certain files changed without your involvement.

4. Your Web Host Will Notify You of Infection

Your website traffic will suffer so the moment your statistics start to dip, you need to see if you have malware on your site. Aside from changes in your site’s online performance, your web hosting service will notify you if they find irregularities in your site that have led them to suspect it is infested with malware. Google may also delist your website from its search engine results pages if they believe the unaddressed malware infection can harm many searchers.

How to Detect and Remove Malware from Website: Removing the Malicious Application
After recognizing that you have malware on your website, you will need to do some sniffing to root it out and remove it from your site’s backend. To detect and remove malware from website requires hours of work. Here’s what you should do:

1. Download Your Site’s Files Onto a Computer

Some web hosting providers give web administrators tools in order to perform searches on their files using a command line. This command console allows web admins to look at directories of their files and find out what files have been changed.

If you don’t have access to a web console, the next best thing is to download all your site’s files onto your computer and to perform the searches from there.

2. Have Your Computer Search Using PHP Codes

Security researchers have identified common types of malware and have shared their PHP codes online. It’s best if you can find out what these code snippets are and then perform a search on the malicious application by using the snippets as search strings.

3. Take out the Tainted Files and Replace with Clean Ones

After you’ve isolated where the files are, the last step in your quest to detect and remove malware from website involves deleting the file. Yes, you’ll just need to delete the files and use a clean untainted copy from your back up to replace it. Just re-upload your files when you’re done and your site should be clean.

Lastly, there’s one step you can try to detect and remove malware from website that’s a lot more faster and a lot more convenient than the steps above. You can subscribe to Comodo cWatch, an automated cybersecurity protection system for sites. cWatch will automatically scan your files from time to time and remediate any potentially unwanted applications. Subscribers also gain access to cWatch’s blend of integrated features like security information and event management, cyber security operations center, managed web application firewall, content delivery Network, and tech support.

Online vulnerability scanners perform a vulnerability analysis or vulnerability assessment by describing, detecting, and classifying the security holes existing in websites. This type of vulnerability assessment can also predict the efficiency of anticipated countermeasures and examine their performance after they are put into use.

An ideal online scanner for websites will have the following capabilities:

• Potential to accomplish trend analyses and provide clear reports of the results.
• Recommendations for countermeasures to remove discovered vulnerabilities.
• Potential to conduct multiple scans simultaneously.
• Maintenance of an up-to-date database of vulnerabilities.
• Recognition of genuine vulnerabilities without an excessive number of false positives.

Online scanners will help in detecting and preventing the following web-based vulnerabilities:
• Script injection
An attacker will inject arbitrary JavaScript code into a victim’s web browser. This will allow the attacker to steal confidential data from the victim’s web application or steal the victim’s session cookies.
• SQL injection
In this attack, an attacker will exploit a vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database. This will allow the attacker to extract sensitive data.
• Reading arbitrary files
An attacker uses this vulnerability to read arbitrary files from the web server including configuration files, system files, source code files, etc. With this information, the attacker will be able to gain complete access to the server.
• Finding server software and technology
This information is used by the attacker to mount specific attacks against the recognized software type and version.
• Server information disclosure

Files in the server are used by the attacker to find information about the backend application, server software, and their exact versions. This data can be further used to mount targeted attacks against the server.
• Directory listing
An attacker will be able to view the entire structure of files and subdirectories from the infected URL. Very often confidential files are hidden among public files in that particular location and this vulnerability allows attackers to access them.

Online Scanner

Protect Your Website with these Seven Guidelines
1. Update passwords regularly
The very first step in protecting your website is to refresh your passwords regularly. Ensure that your passwords are complex using special characters, upper and lower-case alphabets, numbers, and punctuation.
2. Use a Web Application Firewall
You can protect your website from almost all web-based attacks by installing a good Web Application Firewall (WAF) that will help in filtering out attacks and allowing only good customer traffic to pass through.
3. Maintain regular backups
This will allow you to keep your online business running even when the worst-case scenario occurs.
4. Scan for malware
Website scanning is a must as it will help in detecting malware that goes to the extent of even ruining your entire business and turning away your regular site visitors and business customers.
5. Update your software
This is essential because outdated website software makes it very easy to hack a website. Update your software regularly to prevent yourself from becoming an easy target of attack.
6. Multi-factor authentication
Increase security by implementing multi-factor authentication for all users. This will majorly reduce your chances of getting hacked.
7. Partner with web security experts
Finally, you will have to partner with an efficient cybersecurity specialist capable of providing you with an excellent online scanner for your website. This will free you from worrying about any further website attacks as this online scanner will do all that is needed to provide you with the best web security possible.

Partner with cWatch Web Security

Partnering with cWatch Web is a very wise decision that you can make if you want to retain and even boost the reputation of your website. This is true because cWatch Web is a comprehensive suite of solutions and managed services available with an online scanner feature.

This website security tool developed by Comodo is available with vulnerability scanning, malware scanning, and automatic virtual patching and hardening engines. Websites are scanned daily to quickly detect and eliminate malware that can infect the website. If a threat is detected, email alerts are instantly sent to Comodo’s CSOC along with details about the organization and next steps on how to quickly eliminate the threat. Detailed reports are provided via the management console accompanied with full event details and resolution capabilities.

The six layers of security solutions from cWatch Web provides comprehensive protection for any website.
1. Prevention layer – Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Powerful, real-time edge protection ideal for websites and web applications providing enhanced security, filtering, and intrusion protection.
2. Remediation Layer – Malware Removal
Detects malware, provides the methods and tools to remove it, and helps prevent future malware attacks.
3. Intelligence Layer – Security Incident Event Management (SIEM)
Provides actionable intelligence that can leverage existing events and data from 85M+ endpoints and 100M domains.
4. Response Layer – Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC)
This center has a team of cybersecurity specialists providing round-the-clock surveillance and remediation services.
5. Compliance Layer – Payment Card Industry • Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
Enables service providers and merchants to stay in compliance with PCI DSS.
6. Performance Layer – Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A global system of distributed servers to enhance the working of websites and web applications.

All websites are prone to get attacked anytime anywhere. This is true because cybercriminals do not have a specific website in mind when they plan to execute an attack. They use programs to automatically detect websites containing vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are used as points of entry to execute an attack on that particular website. Vulnerabilities present on your website can be dangerous as you may not even know about them. Your host will be able to inform you when your website has malware, but they may not inform you if you have vulnerabilities.

With the development of more sophisticated cyber threats, website security is gaining more importance as website owners are now keen on protecting their website and visitors from dangerous cyber threats. As we all know, cybercrime is indeed a huge business and cybercriminals are always on the lookout for weaknesses in your website. Cyberattacks are mostly caused by malware that can:

• Steal data or traffic
• Crash or slow your website
• Make your website to be removed from search engine results
• Steal sensitive customer data, such as phone numbers or credit/debit card info

Website security is thus important to protect your business, brand, and reputation and also prevent financial loss and shutting down of your business website. You will be able to protect your reputation and retain customers and/visitors. You will find it difficult to identify malware and cyberattacks. Cybercriminals specialize in malware capable of subtly entering a website and staying hidden so that your website does not get infected and you may not even realize it. The reason for such malware attacks mostly includes cryptojacking, which mines websites for cryptocurrency without revealing any symptoms, and backdoors, one variety of malware that permits cybercriminals to access a website without the owner’s knowledge.

What do I Need for Securing My Website?

You will need the following security measures to protect your website:

• SSL Certificate
You will first need an SSL certificate that will protect the data collected by your website as it gets transferred from your website to a server. This may be a very basic website security measure, but it is extremely important because popular search engines and browsers are currently labeling websites without SSL as “insecure”. This indeed will make visitors suspect your website.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF is another key component for web security as it can stop automated attacks that usually target lesser-known websites. These attacks are executed by bad bots capable of automatically looking for vulnerabilities they can exploit or causing DDoS attacks that crash or slow your website.
• Software Updates
Security issues and vulnerabilities mostly detected in third-party plugins and applications make websites hosted on a content management system (CMS) to be at a greater risk of compromise. Such scenarios can be prevented by installing updates to plugins and core software on a timely basis, as these updates frequently comprise security patches.
• Website Scanner

If you are very late in discovering a cyberattack performed on your website, then the cost to recover from this attack will only increase. To prevent such a situation, you will need a good website scanner capable of detecting vulnerabilities, malware, and several other security issues. A website scanner will not only remove known malware but will also look for threats on a regular basis and instantly alert you if anything gets detected, thus reducing the amount of damage it can do to your website.

Despite these separate elements that will help you get the best web security you need, there is also a fast, simple and complete software package that will help you get all the protection you need for your website. cWatch from Comodo is one such web security tool available with automated solutions inclusive of an efficient WAF, website scanner and other such security benefits that protects your website and the data contained in it against hackers and several other threats.

How can cWatch Provide You with Complete Web Security?
cWatch is a managed security service ideal for web applications and websites. It is the best web security stack capable of providing customers with the most advanced managed security service for threat management and monitoring. This tool can be used for cloud, on-premises, or hybrid environments.

Comodo cWatch Web offers the following key website security features:

• Web Application Firewall (WAF)
This WAF from Comodo is a powerful, real-time edge protection for websites and web applications as it provides advanced security, filtering, and intrusion protection
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
Advanced intelligence that can influence existing events and data from 85M+ endpoints and 100M+ domains
• PCI Scanning
This scanning procedure allows service providers and merchants to stay in compliance with PCI DSS
• Secure Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Comodo’s CDN is a global system of distributed servers capable of enhancing the performance of websites and web applications
• Malware Monitoring and Remediation
cWatch efficiently detects malware, provides the methods and tools to remove it, and prevents future malware attacks
• Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC)
This center has a team of always-on certified cybersecurity professionals providing round-the-clock surveillance and remediation services

Comodo cWatch Web will thus provide your website with the best security benefits that will safeguard your business and all private data related to your business and customers against any type of web-based attack. Install cWatch Web to run your business in a stress-free manner by holding on to your customer’s trust, brand reputation, and overall confidentiality of all data contained in your website.

If your website host or browser has blocked your Joomla! website – it means that your website could contain malware. You must utilize a Joomla! malware removal tool to scan your website and get rid of the malware.

Hosts will suspend accounts/websites containing malware. Browsers will block websites-including Joomla! websites – that contain malware, and display warnings such as: “The Website Ahead Contains Malware!” or “Deceptive Site Ahead.”

While this warning confirms malware infection, there are a number of indicators that could help you ascertain whether your site has been hacked.

• Browsers display a malware infection warning and block access to your website
• Your website host suspends your website citing malicious activity
• New users (with malicious intent) have penetrated your account and their logins are displayed on the dashboard
• Browsers display unexpected behavior on your website
• Hackers have modified code or impregnated code into your website

Scan Your Joomla! webpage with a Joomla! malware Scanner

Scan your URL using Comodo’s Web Inspector tool – an online website malware scan and malware removal tool that allows you to quickly confirm if your Joomla! webpage contains malware.

This cloud-based Joomla! malware removal tool scans the website for possible virus and malware infection, detects security holes and vulnerabilities, and safeguards the website against advanced persistent security threats. The Web Inspector also monitors for website blacklisting and immediately warns the website owner before the website gets blacklisted.

Browser Blacklist Status – Browsers maintain a database of blacklisted websites, and they provide tools to check the status of your website. Google provides the status of your website as part of a “Transparency Report”.

After scanning your URL, check for recent modifications in core files. If malware has been injected recently, you should compare and find out any difference between earlier stable versions and the infected recent version. Cyber security experts recommend a comparison of suspicious and stable (good) files as one of the best ways to confirm malware infection. If you detect malware, then restoring with a clean backup would be the best bet.

Check for unauthorized users in your Joomla! account. Hackers could have inserted their name in the list. Analyze the logs for unusual/suspicious user activity.

If you confirm malware infection then you must clean the database tables by logging into an admin panel, searching for suspicious content and removing it manually.

Hackers typically impregnate a backdoor into the website so that they would be able to inject malware or steal data any time they need. Intelliget hackers name their backdoors something similar to existing files so as to evade detection. These backdoors must be rooted out through file comparison and Joomla! malware removal tools.

Review by Web Spam Authorities

After getting rid of malware on your website, and confirming with a Joomla! malware scanner, you must ask the authorities who have blacklisted your website to review. They will remove your website from the blacklist following successful review.

Preventive Measures

• Update the Joomla! software and all its components including core files and extensions.
• Reduce accounts with super-administrator and admin privileges. Allow privileges only on a need basis and be very strict about it. Reset the passwords of all users. Make it mandatory for users to follow a strong password policy. Further, enable two-factor-authentication (2FA) for more security.
• Implement a website firewall to prevent any further website infection. This can help block DDoS attacks and Brute Force attacks.
• Implement a robust backup and restoration policy in line with the best practices in the industry.
• Manual monitoring for suspicious activity is not effective. Use a Joomla! malware removal tool such as Comodo cWatch Web Security Service that provides comprehensive web application security to proactively detect threats that could infect your Joomla! website.

WordPress sites are at risk of being attacked and infected by malware at any given time. More than 74 million sites are powered by WordPress. Because all are connected to the same Content Management System, there is a high chance of websites being vulnerable to attack.

To determine if you site has been infected with malware and to clean it up and fix the damage, follow these simple steps:

While this warning confirms malware infection, there are a number of indicators that could help you ascertain whether your site has been hacked.

1. Scan Your Website

Run a website malware scan to determine whether or not your site is really infected, and by what. A number of website malware scans are available online, including the cWatch scan by Comodo.

2. Change your cPanel and FTP Password

Once you are sure that virus scanning of the system is done, ensure that you change your FTP and cPanel passwords. Make the password complex, with a combination of numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters and special characters.

3. Download WordPress

Be sure to to download WordPress from the WordPress site itself.

4. Extract Files from Zip

Extract the files from zip once you download the WordPress package on your system.

5. Remove the WordPress Malware infection

Login to your cPanel > File Manager

The WordPress Installation Files will look like

Retain wp-config.php file and wp-content folder and remove the other files and folders so the installation looks like:

Edit the wp-config.php file in your cPanel > File Manager. Check for unknown and vulnerable codes.

Wp-content folder should be like this:

Remove the plugins folder and index.php. Once the cleaning process is completed the plugins can be reinstalled.

WordPress Malware Scan Plugins

There are many security plugins associated with the WordPress site that runs inside to scan the files and databases of the website for malware. The plugin scans are more effective than the remote scans. It is critical to delete the plugins when it is not in use as it extracts and uses a lot of resources and therefore slows down the site performance.

Website security is quite challenging and if you are clueless on how to secure websites, get cWatch to enjoy FREE WEBSITE MALWARE REMOVAL. With cWatch, website security experts are available 24/7 to address website malware issues. It also guarantees robust malware scans and complete malware removal.

Better late than never, Enrol for cWatch and get connected to our WordPress Security Experts. Sign Up Today!

6. Upload the WordPress Again

The WordPress files which were extracted can be now uploaded through FTP.

7. Consider changing WordPress Admin Password and Re-install Plugins

The dashboard will be available to access now. Consider changing the admin password with a combination of characters, letters and numbers.

8. Get the Google warning alert removed

Once your site is malware free, submit a request to Google and get the warning message “This site may harm your computer”removed from your site.

Install cWatch and protect your website – Install Comodo cWatch which uses a Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) model to secure and monitor your website against malware attacks. Protect your website and customers with Security Information and Event Management through real-time security monitoring, advanced threat detection and incident management. It also provides DdoS, addresses malware attacks and automates the malware removal process.

One million is the number of malware threats released every day, according to CNN. Unless you live in a cave or you’re lost at sea, you probably spend a lot of time online. Yes, you know about viruses and you have an antivirus program. So, you’re protected, right? Probably not

The threat landscape isn’t just about viruses anymore. There are new enemies in town, and they’re bigger and badder than ever before. Worse, many threats are designed to sneak by firewalls. A whopping 50 percent of the 1 million threats released daily can bypass most web application firewalls.

Malware is bad software-plain and simple. It is written with the intent of doing harm to data, devices or people. It comes in many forms, but one thing’s for sure-you don’t want it damaging your website and your business. It’s used by cybercriminals to steal passwords, money and even you or your customers’ personal identity. Imagine 500,000 threats are looking for a loophole everyday. Does your website stand a chance?

We have to admit, it’s risky to run a website. But nowadays, owning and operating a website is essential for doing business. So, choosing the Best Malware Removal Tool is your best defense. You need something that can act like a weapon arsenal. Hence, your Malware Removal Tool should be able to do these:

1. It should be able to continuously monitor your website and immediate alerts you in the event of a security incident.

2. It should be able to direct you to the main cause and helps remediate the cause, hardening your websites to prevent future attacks.

3. It should be able to protect your website from malicious actors.

4. It should have a 24/7 security monitoring by certified security experts using state-of-the-art technology that helps you respond to incidents.

Surf the web without fear.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements created to guarantee that all companies that require and utilize credit card information maintain a secure environment.

Launched on September 7, 2006, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) manages the continuous development of Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards with the focus on enhancing payment account security in every part of the transaction process. The PCIDSS is administered and managed by the PCI SSC, an independent body that was created by the major payment card brands (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB).

Remember, the payment brands and acquirers are accountable for enforcing compliance, not the PCI council.

Do You Conduct PCI Scans Regularly?

If you’re not having regular scans, your business may be out of PCI compliance and you may experience a data security breach. A breach means that someone has compromised your system and gotten a hold on of your customer data. You can lose a ton of money – or worse – your whole business.

Penalties and Fines

The penalties for a breach when you’re not PCI compliant can range from a slap on the wrist to significant fines. Issuing banks and credit card processors can be fined up to $500,000 for regulatory compliance violations. These costs are inevitably passed on to you, the merchant.

Noncompliance Damage

Merchants who lose their accounts are placed in the Visa/MasterCard Terminated Merchant File and are ineligible for another merchant account for several years. It irredeemably destroys your credibility, customer loyalty and, ultimately, your entire business. The results are devastating.

How Can You Stay Compliant?

Ensure PCI compliance with a web security service that satisfies most compliance mandates immediately. With Comodo cWatch, you get a secure environment for your site and extensive sets of reports that are required by compliance authorities.

The best website security software can be defined as an application that can keep your websites, web servers and web applications safe, and protects them from hacks and malware. It must provide proactive protection and block threat actors and malicious attempts before they compromise your website, web servers, and applications.

In the recent times, website malware attacks have witnessed a sharp rise and have drawn the huge attention of online users. Malware is the general term for several variants, and almost all malware variants are used for malicious activities by hackers. The website scanning can check a website for malware and reveal the hidden malware.

Usually, malware infects website, web servers, and application through phishing emails, malicious online advertising that contains malware payload, and software downloads from untrusted sources.

A simple search reveals the availability of hundreds of “malware scanning” tools. And many of them charge a hefty amount for malware removal. But “removal” is not a permanent solution. Your website can still get hacked and affected by malware. The infected website can bring a whole department or the entire organization to a grinding halt.

So, what is the solution? The solution is ensuring protection with Website Security Software. And antivirus solutions are not the right solution to protect your website.

What should a Website Security Software have?

You must first know the detrimental effects of malware affecting your website. This would help you select the best website security software to protect your website.

• Websites affected by malware will get blacklisted
• Your hosting provider will shut down your website
• Search engines will display warnings about your website
• Browsers will display warnings about your website, and prevent users from accessing your website
• Malware will drastically slow down your website
• Visitors to your website will be redirected to other websites (malicious)
• Your website will succumb to DDoS attacks
• Your website will be used for DDoS attacks as part of a bot network

Check for these Features in the Best Website Security Software

Self-Managed vs. Managed Website Security Software

If you have a single website or a dedicated IT cyber security team then you may be able to manage the security of your website with robust website security software having features as mentioned above. However, practically IT personnel are an overworked lot. They have plenty of routine tasks to monitor and the affordability and retention of certified and skilled cybersecurity personnel may not be viable for small and medium organizations.

Benefits Of Managed Website Security Services/Managed Security Service (MSS)

Some factors that make Managed Security Service (MSS) very attractive include:

#Server Maintenance

The service provider ensures that your web servers are working properly and there are no technical glitches that might cause your website to crash.

#Updates

With Managed Security Service (MSS) the user does not need to bother about updating software or hardware to keep their website, web servers, and applications working.

#System Monitoring

This is a vital maintenance aspect whereby the service provider closely monitors traffic spikes to ensure that the website does not crash at peak times.

#Data protection

The files are backed up on a routine basis and constantly checked for vulnerabilities. In an unanticipated situation, no data would be lost and could be restored quickly. The backups are regularly done for the web servers and applications to support rapid restoration if necessary.

#Security

The Managed Security Service (MSS)  examines weak points on the website, web servers, and applications for malware, spyware, and suspicious traffic patterns. This ensures safety from malicious infections and keeps you aware of what type of traffic is going onto your website.

You could then consider the option of a Managed Security Service (MSS) provider who provides Security-as-a-Service. They would provide round-the-clock security and have a dedicated team of specialized cybersecurity professionals to protect your website. Considering the pros and cons you may find that opting for an MSS is more cost-effective in enabling better security than maintaining a dedicated security team.

The website security software must keep your website safe, and thwart all hacks and malware attacks!