How to tell if your website is broken or hacked
A broken website has stopped working. A hacked website has been changed by someone else. Both cost you enquiries, and both are easier to fix when caught early.
Variety D. suggests checking for the six signs below. If you see one, act today.
Six warning signs
- Your site is very slow or will not load. Visitors leave quickly, and you may not hear about it.
- Your browser shows a warning. Messages such as "Not secure" or "Deceptive site ahead" tell visitors to stay away.
- Strange pages or links appear. Look for pages you did not make, or links to products that have nothing to do with your business.
- Visitors land on another website. If you open your site and end up somewhere else, treat it as urgent.
- Your contact form stops arriving. If enquiries suddenly dry up, send yourself a test message.
- You cannot log in. Your password no longer works and you did not change it.
One sign does not always mean hacked. A slow site can be a hosting problem. If you are not sure which it is, treat it as urgent and ask for help.
What to do in the first hour
- Take screenshots of what you see, with the date and time.
- Change your passwords for the website login, your hosting and your email. Use a different password for each.
- Tell whoever looks after your site. If nobody does, WhatsApp Variety D.
- Contact your hosting company and tell them what you see.
- Write down when you last remember the site working properly.
What not to do
Do not delete files or pages in a hurry. You may erase what a technician needs to see.
Do not ignore a browser warning. Visitors will leave, and Google can show a warning too.
How to lower the risk
Most problems start with out-of-date software and no recent backup. Keep your site's updates current. Keep a recent backup stored away from your hosting. Run the 5-minute website check once a month.
Want this checked every month? See Web Care.
FAQ
What is the difference between a broken and a hacked website?
A broken site has stopped working, often after an update or a hosting problem. A hacked site has been changed by someone else. The first steps are the same: take screenshots, change passwords and ask for help.
Can Google warn visitors about my website?
Yes. If Google finds harmful content on a site, it can show a warning in search results and in browsers. That is another reason to act quickly.
How often should I check my website?
Once a month. Variety D. suggests the 5-minute website check, which needs no technical skills.