As an e-commerce website owner, nothing can be more distressing than discovering that your website was hacked. Hackers can gain entry using a number of different methods; one being a brute force attack to compromise those systems. Website hacks can have severe consequences, jeopardizing your data, damaging your reputation, and impacting your website’s search engine rankings. In this guide, we will walk you through the telltale signs of a hacked website which can be used on any platform such as custom websites, WordPress websites or even magento and Shopify to a lesser extent.

Sudden Traffic Drops

A sudden and significant decline in website traffic may indicate a hacking incident. Monitor the website’s analytics regularly to identify unusual fluctuations in visitor numbers. There can be a high chance visitors are being diverted to other websites or are unable to even reach your site altogether.

Suspicious Redirects

If your website redirects to unrelated or spammy websites, it may be compromised. Use online tools to check for any unauthorized redirects. Website hackers often hijack your website to channel your visitors to other websites under your brand. Ensure this does not happen to you and check your pages regularly.

Unexpected Pop-ups and Ads

Persistent pop-ups and irrelevant ads appearing on your website could be signs of website hacks. Regularly review your website for any unapproved advertisements. The first red flag would be any advertisement if your page does not provide it so be on the lookout for those issues.

Altered Website Content

Unauthorized changes to the website’s content, such as strange posts, unknown links, or defaced pages, signal a security breach. Also, check for additional files or folders within the website’s directory. Hackers often drop malicious files to continue their attack even after the malicious code was removed.

Unusual User Account Activities

Suspicious activities, such as new user accounts you didn’t create or increased failed login attempts, might indicate unauthorized access. This is huge because website owners don’t usually check for rouge accounts.

Closing Remarks

Website hacks can be a nightmare when it first happens but rest assured they can be dealt with quickly once you detect them early. There will always be the risk of your website being hacked because it exists online. You can limit your exposure by hiring a professional server administrator who can lock down your ecommerce website to minimise those threats.