[ 01_OUR_APPROACH ]
Restoring confidence after a website compromise.
001
Root-cause remediation
Removing visible malware is not enough when malicious scripts or hidden backdoors remain. We investigate the wider WordPress environment and address the compromise at its source.
002
Isolated recovery
Compromised websites are assessed and reconstructed in a secure staging environment, protecting the live server while our team reviews code, content, data and dependencies.
003
Verified security
Every restored website is tested before launch. We combine WordPress malware removal, clean rebuilding and security hardening to reduce the risk of reinfection.
[ 02_RECOVERY_FRAMEWORK ]
From compromise to controlled relaunch.
Our website security framework prioritises containment, clean reconstruction and careful verification. The scope is adapted to the infection, hosting environment and operational needs of each organisation.
Methodology_Ver_4.0
01
Triage & Isolation
Confirm the symptoms, secure available backups and establish an isolated staging environment away from the live website.
02
Extraction & Assessment
Safely extract the website’s code, database and assets to identify affected components, suspicious scripts and potential persistence paths.
03
Clean Rebuild & Hardening
Reconstruct WordPress core, configuration, templates and functional components from trusted sources, then apply appropriate access and application-level security controls.
04
Verification & Cutover
Test the rebuilt website for malware, vulnerabilities and functional issues before coordinating a controlled production launch with the relevant hosting or IT teams.
[ 03_Inclusions ]
Website security and recovery deliverables.
// REMEDIATION_SCOPE
Security Assessment & Incident Triage
Initial investigation of visible symptoms, affected systems, available backups, access requirements and immediate recovery priorities.
Malware Removal & Clean Rebuild
Removal of malicious scripts and reconstruction of WordPress core files, configuration, themes, plugins, pages and components from trusted sources where required.
WordPress Security Hardening
Review and strengthening of administrator access, permissions, trusted software sources, updates, backups and relevant application-level safeguards.
Security Testing & Functional QA
Malware scanning, code review, vulnerability checks and functional testing to verify the restored website before it returns to production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about website security.
Common signs include unexpected redirects or pop-ups, unfamiliar administrator accounts, spam appearing in search results, browser security warnings, unusual files, unexplained performance problems, or alerts from your hosting provider. Some malicious scripts operate silently, so a website may appear normal while user sessions or data are being targeted. If you suspect a compromise, a professional website security assessment can determine the extent of the issue.
Act quickly, but avoid deleting files or restoring backups without first understanding the compromise. Contact your website or hosting team, preserve available backups and technical logs, and restrict access to the affected site if it can be done safely. SLICK can help assess the incident, establish an isolated recovery environment and coordinate the response with your hosting provider, IT team or incumbent agency.
Security plugins and malware scanners are useful for detection and monitoring, but they may not identify every altered file, database entry, compromised account or hidden backdoor. Removing only the visible malicious script can allow the infection to return. Our WordPress malware removal process examines the wider website environment and, where necessary, rebuilds compromised components from trusted sources before the site is tested and relaunched.
Recurring WordPress malware usually means the original entry point or a persistence mechanism remains. This could involve vulnerable or outdated software, compromised credentials, altered configuration, hidden files, database injections, another infected website in the same hosting environment, or a backdoor left by the attacker. Effective remediation needs to address both the malicious code and the conditions that allowed it to return.
Not always. The appropriate response depends on the type and extent of the compromise and how confidently the existing environment can be trusted. A contained infection may allow targeted remediation. When malicious code is widespread, persistent or distributed across several execution paths, a clean-environment rebuild can provide greater confidence than a surface-level cleanup. We assess the website first and recommend a proportionate recovery approach.
A verified backup from before the compromise can be valuable, but restoring it is not automatically a complete fix. The backup may already contain the infection, and it may not address the vulnerability or compromised access that allowed the attack. We assess the available backup, restore only from a suitable recovery point, update and harden the environment, and test the website before it returns to production.
Timing and cost depend on the size and complexity of the website, the extent of the infection, the availability of clean backups, access to the hosting environment, and whether third parties need to be involved. Following an initial assessment, SLICK will outline the recommended scope, estimate and likely recovery pathway. Any unforeseen complications that could affect timing or cost are raised before additional work proceeds.
Where practical, investigation and rebuilding take place in an isolated staging environment while the production website is managed separately. A short period of downtime may be required during containment or the final production cutover. We plan this carefully and coordinate with the relevant hosting provider or IT team, although timing can also depend on systems and suppliers outside SLICK’s control.
After recovery, we harden the website according to its environment and risk profile. This can include updating WordPress core, themes and plugins; removing unused software; reviewing administrator access and file permissions; strengthening authentication; confirming reliable backups; and recommending monitoring or firewall controls where appropriate. No website can be made risk-free, but layered controls, maintenance and recovery planning significantly improve its security posture.
Involve your organisation’s privacy, legal or compliance advisers as soon as possible. SLICK can preserve and provide relevant technical logs and findings to support their assessment, but we do not determine whether a notifiable data breach has occurred. Australian organisations may need to consider their obligations under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, including whether affected individuals or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner must be notified.