How to know if a Website is Hacked? Look Out for Six Signs

by Michael Griffin Michael

According to the latest research, 55% of businesses all across the globe experienced at least one cybersecurity breach despite the protective measures. This is a noticeable escalation from the former years, which proves cybercrime turned out to be a rampant problem.

Well, having a website hacked can negatively impact an organisation’s reputation, compelling it to lose a major segment of customers and sales, besides leaving the owner legally liable. Mentioned below are a few telltale signs to look out for. Please check them out right now.

1. Red Screen

The experts offering services of website design in Melbourne and in other locations said seek immediate assistance after seeing the red screen with any of the following messages.

· The website contains malware

· Be aware of malware ahead

· The website contains dangerous programmes

· Reported attack page

· Malware site suspected

· Deceptive website ahead

· The website ahead may be hacked

2. Warning Message

Once Google suspects websites to be infected, it will flag them unsafe right away. When the website appears on the search engine result pages, the consumers will notice the below-mentioned warning message. It is usually triggered when the website redirects to spammy pages and unsafe content.

“This website may harm your device. Please do not proceed ahead.”

3. Slow and Error Messages

This is a complicated one because a site may load slowly for varied factors. But in case the hackers are using a website for sending spam emails, it may slow and then ultimately shut down the entire server, and the other sites hosted. If the page takes more than ten seconds to show its elements, this is a sign that something is not right.

4. Message from the Google Search Console

Google Search Console, formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools, provides a substantial amount of information about how a website is doing in the search results. If one feels his or her site has been hacked, sign into the Search Console, visit the Security Issues section, and see if a warning message emerges.

5. New Unwanted Toolbars

If a site has numerous new toolbars, be aware of exploitation. Unless one recognises the toolbars coming from authentic resources, he or she must dump them immediately. Many business owners keep malicious toolbars at bay by using fully patched software.

6. Random Popups

A renowned web designer in Melbourne said sites had been compromised when random popups appear that they normally may not have generated. In order to get rid of them, please first search for all the bogus toolbars and programmes, and remove them as soon as possible.

The assumption that a proper antimalware system can identify external threats in no time is an outright folly. Be aware of the signs specified above to make sure a website has not been hacked.

Remember, nearly all the hacking originates from any of the three vectors- unpatched software, operating Trojan programmes, and answering phishing emails. Well, by preventing these, one will be less likely to rely on the antimalware system’s accuracy, and his or her own luck.