Few of our websites got defaced. Hackers manage to change the home page of our website to one of their page. I thought it would be interesting to share how I recover my web sites with everyone.
One of the major side effects of such attack is your website will lose the Google (Search engine) organic clicks. When Google BOT visit the website it will cash hacker’s website rather than your page. However, if you found out quickly and recover the web site you can minimise the lost.
As soon as you notice that your website got hack, you should trying to figure out what exactly happened. Actions you have to take will be different from type of attack. You can ask the basic questions.
What type of attack is that?
What is the damage done to the files?
How long will it take to retrieve to original website?
Relax and then go through the files and check which files been modified or deleted or added. Simply you can do this by looking at the last modified date. Replace the modified and deleted files with the original files. At least it will bring the website back to live. If the database is attacked or changed then you will have to apply the latest backup and minimize the damage.
I believe that is the first step you should take to place your site back where it was. It will help your site to go back and catch your valuable users.
If you are using pay per click advertising it is really important to keep your site alive. Otherwise you will be losing your valuable users plus you will loos what you pay for those clicks.
Second thing you have to do is to identify the issue or the security hole. If you are not a security expert it is better to give it away to a security expert. Because, if you haven’t cover up the weak points same attack will occur again and again. It will affect your Google ranking plus your business.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
