To scan WordPress websites for malware, follow these steps: 1. Use a security plug-in (such as Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri) to scan suspicious files or accounts; 2. Check suspicious code in themes and plug-ins, especially base64-encoded or recently modified files; 3. Check exception files on the server via FTP, such as .php files in the uploads directory or suspicious files in the root directory; 4. Use phpMyAdmin to check for malicious scripts, exception URLs, or unknown administrator accounts in the database. When abnormalities are found, backup should be done first and then processed, and these checks should be performed regularly to ensure the security of the website.
Scanning WordPress websites for malware is not difficult, but the key is to do a few things systematically. If you find that the website is abnormal, the page is redirected or the SEO ranking suddenly drops, it is likely that you are hit. The following steps are routine troubleshooting methods that most users can operate on their own.
1. Use security plug-in to scan the entire site
This is the most direct and easy-to-use way. Some mainstream security plug-ins (such as Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri) have built-in malicious code scanning.
- After installing the plug-in, the first full scan will usually start automatically.
- The scan results will list suspicious files, modified core files, unknown administrator accounts, etc.
- Plugins will also usually give suggestions or one-click cleaning options (such as isolating suspicious files)
It should be noted that the functions of the free version of the plug-in may be limited, such as scanning and not automatically repairing. If you don’t know much about technology, you can consider upgrading to a paid version, or use the reports provided by the plug-in to find a professional to help with the processing.
2. Check for suspicious code in topics and plugins
Many malware is injected through tampered themes or plugins. You can check it by:
- Log in to the background, go to Appearance > Theme Editor to see if there are any weird PHP files or script inserts (such as base64-encoded content)
- Check out recently modified plugin files, especially those that you haven't updated for a long time
- If you are not sure if a certain piece of code is normal, you can search for that piece of code in the search engine to see if anyone else has reported that it is malicious code
A common phenomenon is that a string of encryption codes appears at the beginning or end of functions.php or other core template files, which is basically implanted into the backdoor.
3. View exception files or directories on the server
Sometimes malware is not hidden only in WordPress background, but may also appear in the server root directory or upload directory. You can access the server via FTP or cPanel and check the following places:
- Is there any suspicious
.phpfile in thewp-content/uploadsdirectory (this directory should only be placed with pictures or other media files) - Are there any unfamiliar files in the root directory, such as
shell.php,config.phpand other files that look like backdoors - Check whether the content of the
.htaccessfile has been tampered with, such as adding redirect rules
If you find suspicious files, do not delete them directly. Download and backup first, then quarantine and analyze the content.
4. Check whether the database has abnormal content
Some malicious code will write jump scripts or spam links into the database. You can check several common tables through phpMyAdmin or database management tools:
- Find the post_content field in
wp_poststable if there is a<script></script>tag or base64 encrypted content in the post_content field -
wp_optionstable checks whether the values of siteurl and home have been changed to strange URLs - Check whether there is an administrator account you don't know in the
wp_userstable
This type of problem is sometimes not easy to detect, but if the website is redirected to an unknown page when accessing it, it is very likely to be a database-level problem.
Basically these are the methods. Although it sounds a bit too much, it is not complicated to take it step by step. The key is to check regularly and don’t wait until something goes wrong before remembering safety.
The above is the detailed content of How to scan WordPress for malware. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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