Cyberattacks have become quite widespread in our digital age. According to a CNBC survey, 75% of small firms are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Small business owners frequently lack a professional IT department to safeguard their websites. The longer it takes to detect and remove malware, the more expensive the recovery. Malware protection for your website has become a need.

Steps to Eliminate the Malware From Your Small Business Website

Malware can significantly cause a lot of harm to your website. It includes brand reputation damage, loss of revenue, and data theft. As a result, removing malware from your website is critical.

Are you wondering how to eliminate malware from your small business website? Follow the steps shared below:

• Identify the Malware

Do you know the first step to removing malware from your website? Identify the malware. 

Signs that indicate that there is malware on your website are:

1. The website is not loading or loading at a slow pace.
2. You are being redirected to unknown websites.
3. Unwanted ads or pop-ups.
4. Google or another service engine has flagged your website as unsafe.
5. You are receiving complaints from customers about the security of your website. 

Do the situations mentioned above are familiar? Take the steps below to prevent further damage.

• Backup Your Website

Before you begin removing malware from your small business website, you must back up all of your data. This step guarantees you can restore your website to its prior condition if something goes wrong. You can use a third-party backup solution or your website hosting provider’s backup tool.

• Scan Your Website

After you have backed up the important data, scan the website for malware. You can use many free online tools, such as Sucuri SiteCheck or Google’s Safe Browsing tool. These tools will scan your website for malware and other security issues. They will also provide you with a report on the same. 

• Get Rid of Malware and Infected Files

After scanning your website, it’s time to remove the detected malware and other infected files. You can do this manually by reviewing your website’s code and eliminating any suspicious files or code. You can also take the help of a malware removal tool to automate the process. Some of the popular malware removal tools are Norton Power Eraser and Malwarebytes. 

• Update the Software

Infection of your website can be caused by outdated software, one of the common vulnerabilities.The software on your website, including the Content Management System (CMS) and plugins, should be up-to-date. 

Updating the software will help to eliminate any security vulnerabilities while preventing future malware infections. 

• Reset Your Password

Another tactic to secure your website from malware is to change your password regularly. It includes your hosting account, CMS login, and any other account linked to your website.

While resetting the password, follow the guidelines shared above. 

• Secure Your Website

Lastly, you must secure your website to prevent malware attacks in the future. To accomplish this task, you can take mentioned steps below:

1. Use a secure hosting provider
2. Install an SSL certificate
3. Use a firewall to block suspicious traffic
4. Use security plugins

Bottom Line

Your small business website needs to be malware-free to prevent cyberattacks. Follow the steps shared above to identify and remove malware from your website.