Malware

In plain English

Malware is software written to do something bad on your site without your permission. On a website, that might mean redirecting your visitors to sketchy pages, injecting spam links, quietly stealing customer information, or using your site to launch attacks on others. It almost always sneaks in through a known security hole in out-of-date WordPress, a plugin, or a theme.

Why it matters for your business

A malware infection hurts you three ways at once. Customers land on spam or get scared off. Google may flag your site as "hacked" and bury it in search. And your reputation takes the hit. Worst of all, it's often invisible to you — your site looks normal while doing damage in the background. Catching it early, and closing the door it came through, is everything.

How it gets in (and stays out)

Almost every infected WordPress site was running something out of date with a known, patchable hole. Keeping the software current, adding a security layer, and scanning regularly is what keeps malware out — and a clean backup is what gets you back fast if it ever slips in.