{"id":395,"date":"2025-12-18T07:27:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T06:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/?post_type=manual_kb&#038;p=395"},"modified":"2026-06-09T05:58:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T03:58:57","slug":"how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected","status":"publish","type":"manual_kb","link":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I know if a website has been infected?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A website infection can affect performance, user trust, search engine visibility, and the security of your visitors. Malware infections are not always immediately visible, which is why regular monitoring and security checks are important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article explains the most common signs of a website infection and what steps you can take if you suspect your website has been compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Common_Signs_of_a_Website_Infection\" >Common Signs of a Website Infection<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Unexpected_Content_Appears_on_the_Website\" >Unexpected Content Appears on the Website<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Unexpected_Redirects\" >Unexpected Redirects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Website_Performance_Problems\" >Website Performance Problems<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Changes_to_Website_Appearance\" >Changes to Website Appearance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Security_Warnings_from_Browsers_or_Antivirus_Software\" >Security Warnings from Browsers or Antivirus Software<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Unrecognized_Administrator_Accounts\" >Unrecognized Administrator Accounts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Suspicious_Files_or_Modified_Code\" >Suspicious Files or Modified Code<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Additional_Warning_Signs\" >Additional Warning Signs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#What_to_Do_If_You_Suspect_an_Infection\" >What to Do If You Suspect an Infection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Preventing_Future_Infections\" >Preventing Future Infections<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Practical_Implications\" >Practical Implications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-do-i-know-if-a-website-has-been-infected\/#Summary\" >Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Signs_of_a_Website_Infection\"><\/span>Common Signs of a Website Infection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"mybox-3648604936\" class=\"mybox-content mybox-entity-placement\"><div class=\"early-access-banner-inpost\">\r\n  <div class=\"banner-left-inpost\">\r\n    <div class=\"icon-box-inpost\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/square-info-icon.svg\" alt=\"Info\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"text-box-inpost\">\r\n      <span class=\"label-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Early access<\/span><\/span>\r\n      <h4><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Still need help?<\/span><\/h4>\r\n      <p><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Contact our customer service team.<\/span><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"banner-right-inpost\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/panel.mybox.com\/helpdesk2\/v\/list\/\" class=\"banner-button-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Message us<\/span><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A compromised website may display one or more of the following symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unexpected_Content_Appears_on_the_Website\"><\/span>Unexpected Content Appears on the Website<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most noticeable signs of an infection is the appearance of content that was not intentionally added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unwanted advertisements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suspicious links<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spam pages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pop-ups promoting unrelated products or services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content written in unfamiliar languages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you notice new pages, posts, or links that were not created by you or your team, your website should be investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unexpected_Redirects\"><\/span>Unexpected Redirects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malware may redirect visitors to external websites without their consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Users are redirected to unrelated websites after clicking a link.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search engine results open a different website than expected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile visitors are redirected while desktop visitors are not.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These redirects are commonly used to distribute malware, display unwanted advertisements, or generate fraudulent traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Website_Performance_Problems\"><\/span>Website Performance Problems<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A malware infection can increase server resource usage and affect website performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possible symptoms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Slow page loading times<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unexpected server errors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased CPU or memory usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequent website timeouts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced responsiveness in the administration panel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Performance issues can have many causes, but a sudden degradation should be investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Changes_to_Website_Appearance\"><\/span>Changes to Website Appearance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some infections modify the visual appearance of a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Missing or altered images<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New menu items<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unexpected banners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modified layouts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broken design elements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If visual changes appear without updates being performed, malware may be responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Security_Warnings_from_Browsers_or_Antivirus_Software\"><\/span>Security Warnings from Browsers or Antivirus Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern browsers and security solutions may detect known malicious content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visitors may see warnings such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;This site may be hacked&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Deceptive site ahead&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Malware detected&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Potential security risk&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These alerts should be treated seriously and investigated immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unrecognized_Administrator_Accounts\"><\/span>Unrecognized Administrator Accounts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attackers often create additional administrator accounts to maintain access after an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regularly review your website users and verify that all administrator accounts are legitimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unexpected accounts may indicate unauthorized access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Suspicious_Files_or_Modified_Code\"><\/span>Suspicious Files or Modified Code<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Website infections frequently add malicious files or modify existing ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common indicators include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently modified files that were not updated intentionally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unfamiliar PHP scripts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Obfuscated code containing long strings of random characters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unexpected files in upload directories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A file integrity check can help identify unauthorized changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Additional_Warning_Signs\"><\/span>Additional Warning Signs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some infections are less visible but can still affect your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may notice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unexplained increases in outgoing email activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search engine warnings about spam content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New pages appearing in search results that you did not create<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blacklisting by email providers or security services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased server resource consumption<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These signs often indicate hidden malware activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_If_You_Suspect_an_Infection\"><\/span>What to Do If You Suspect an Infection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you believe your website may be compromised:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create a backup of the current website state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change passwords for administrator accounts, hosting access, databases, and email accounts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scan the website using security tools or malware scanners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review recently modified files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Update your CMS, themes, plugins, and extensions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove unauthorized users and suspicious files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restore from a clean backup if necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taking action quickly can help limit damage and prevent further compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preventing_Future_Infections\"><\/span>Preventing Future Infections<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good security practices significantly reduce the risk of website infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recommended measures include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keeping software up to date<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using strong, unique passwords<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enabling two-factor authentication where available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limiting administrator access<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regularly reviewing website logs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Performing routine malware scans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintaining regular backups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prevention is generally faster and less costly than recovering from a compromised website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_Implications\"><\/span>Practical Implications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many website infections remain undetected for days or even weeks. Regular monitoring, software updates, and security audits can help identify issues before they affect visitors or search engine rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If unusual behavior appears suddenly, it is worth investigating the possibility of a security incident rather than assuming it is only a performance or configuration problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A website infection can manifest through unexpected content, redirects, performance issues, visual changes, browser security warnings, or unauthorized administrator accounts. While some signs are immediately visible, others may only be discovered through regular monitoring and security reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you suspect an infection, investigate promptly, secure access credentials, and review the website for unauthorized changes to minimize potential impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","manualknowledgebasecat":[10,42],"manual_kb_tag":[3354,3355,3356,1605,3272,3344,3345,3346,3347,3348,3349,3350,3351,3352,3353],"class_list":["post-395","manual_kb","type-manual_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","manualknowledgebasecat-safety","manualknowledgebasecat-miscellaneous","manual_kb_tag-compromised-website","manual_kb_tag-website-malware","manual_kb_tag-site-redirection","manual_kb_tag-malware-removal","manual_kb_tag-malware-infection","manual_kb_tag-infected-website","manual_kb_tag-website-infection","manual_kb_tag-malware-detection","manual_kb_tag-hacked-website","manual_kb_tag-site-compromise","manual_kb_tag-malicious-redirects","manual_kb_tag-unwanted-ads","manual_kb_tag-suspicious-links","manual_kb_tag-antivirus-alert","manual_kb_tag-website-hacked"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/manual_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8700,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/395\/revisions\/8700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"manualknowledgebasecat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manualknowledgebasecat?post=395"},{"taxonomy":"manual_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb_tag?post=395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}