A Malware Infection happens when malicious software (short for malicious + software = malware) is installed—intentionally or not—on your website, server, or computer system. Its goal? To damage, hijack, steal, or silently spy on your digital environment.

Malware isn’t always dramatic or obvious. Sometimes it breaks your site outright. Other times it works in the background for months without notice, quietly redirecting your visitors, collecting payment data, or injecting spammy links into your pages.

What exactly is malware?

Malware comes in many forms, but here are a few common ones that affect business websites:

• Viruses – Code that spreads from file to file, corrupting or disabling content
• Trojans – Malware disguised as legitimate code, often hidden in shady plugins or themes
• Backdoors – Scripts that allow attackers to re-enter your site even after cleanup
• Keyloggers – Code that captures keyboard input, often to steal passwords or payment details
• SEO spam – Code that injects links, redirects, or fake content to manipulate search rankings
• Cryptominers – Code that hijacks your server resources to mine cryptocurrency, often unnoticed

These threats often slip in through vulnerabilities—outdated plugins, weak passwords, or infected uploads.

Signs of a malware infection

Your website may be infected if you notice:

• Unexpected redirects (your site takes users to spam or scam sites)
• Slow performance without a traffic spike
• Search engine warnings (Google may label your site as dangerous)
• Strange links or popups on your pages
• Locked out admin access or new, unauthorized users
• Hosting account alerts about suspicious files or activity

Sometimes the symptoms are subtle—like random 404 errors, hidden iframe tags in your code, or an unusual spike in bandwidth usage.

How malware infections happen

Here’s how malware most commonly sneaks in:

• Outdated WordPress plugins or themes
• Compromised admin accounts due to weak passwords or phishing
• Nulled (pirated) plugins that include hidden malicious code
• Infected file uploads from users or third-party integrations
• Poor server security or cheap hosting providers with shared vulnerabilities

Once it’s in, malware can spread quickly—especially if your site shares resources across subdomains or client areas.

How to prevent malware

You can’t stop every bad actor, but you can harden your site against infection:

• Update regularly – Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins fully updated
• Use reputable tools – Only install plugins from trusted sources
• Install a security plugin – Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri can detect and block malicious activity
• Run regular malware scans – Most security plugins do this automatically
• Use strong passwords and 2FA
• Back up your site frequently – So you can quickly recover if something goes wrong

What to do if you’re infected

If you suspect malware:

1. Put your site in maintenance mode
2. Run a full malware scan
3. Remove any suspicious code or files—manually or with a trusted cleanup tool
4. Change all passwords
5. Restore from a clean backup if needed
6. Harden your site to prevent reinfection

If you’re not comfortable handling this alone, reach out to someone who specializes in WordPress malware removal.

Bottom line

A Malware Infection is one of the most common—and most damaging—threats to small business websites. But with the right tools, regular updates, and smart habits, you can keep your site safe, clean, and secure.