If you think your WordPress site has been hacked, acting quickly can help limit damage and protect visitors. We explain how to tell if your site has been hacked, what to do first, how to fix the issue, and how to prevent future WordPress hacks. If you need help right away, SiteLock 911 can help scan your site, remove malware, and restore control.

Signs your WordPress site has been hacked

If you notice unusual site behavior, your WordPress site may have been hacked. Some attacks are obvious, while others stay hidden until a visitor, search engine, or your hosting provider flags a problem.

• Website behaving strangely - Sometimes, it’s hard to pinpoint the issue. Something just feels off. If your WordPress site isn’t operating normally, trust that instinct and investigate. Even if it is not an attack, you may uncover performance, security, or design issues worth fixing.
• Unexpected redirects - Some WordPress attacks use redirects that send website visitors to spam sites. This may occur as they're sent to new destinations via links, although it's also possible to experience redirects from search engine results pages. These redirects typically result from targeted malware. If not addressed quickly, these malicious redirects could result in flagged results or even a blacklisting from Google.
• Spammy on-site content - While malicious redirects lead to spam content on outside websites, spam can also potentially take over your own WordPress site. This can involve compromised plugins or themes, so it's important to always be vigilant when selecting and moving forward with downloads.
• Warnings from Google or web host - Few things can scare away website visitors faster than seeing Google’s “this site may be hacked” warning message. This appears when Google detects suspicious activity, warning visitors that while they can still access the site, they should do so at their own risk. This is often a sign of a hack and also a warning that a prompt response is crucial. Otherwise, the long-term impact on your SEO could be devastating.
• Unexplained accessibility issues - Website administrators and users instinctively know when their pages aren't working as usual. Popup ads that were never an issue before can turn a useful WordPress site into something completely unreadable. Brute force intrusion attempts can also slow down the entire browsing experience, leaving users struggling to access desired content or more willing to head elsewhere.

Immediate actions to take if your WordPress site was hacked

A prompt response can make all the difference in limiting the effects of a WordPress attack. To prevent long-term damage, take action immediately:

1. Use maintenance mode

Don't subject legitimate users to an obviously broken website. WordPress offers a Maintenance Mode solution that displays an official-looking notice to visitors. While Maintenance Mode is typically associated with website redesigns or WordPress updates, it's also a viable option as you work on fixing security concerns. During updates, Maintenance Mode involves a .maintenance file, but it's also possible to achieve this end by applying a strategically designed plugin.

2. Change all passwords

Change passwords for every account connected to the site, including WordPress admin users, hosting, cPanel, SFTP, SSH, and any related email accounts. Do not reuse credentials. 

If you suspect stolen login details or learn that credentials may have been exposed in a breach, treat every connected account as compromised. You should also reset the WordPress authentication keys and salts in wp-config.php so existing session cookies are invalidated and logged-in users are forced to sign in again.

3. Contact the hosting provider

Reaching out to your hosting provider could provide valuable insight into the source of the attack, as these can originate from shared hosting providers. Keep in mind that the hosting environment could have played a key role in the hack, so it may be time to switch to a new hosting solution.

4. Scan your site and remove all malicious code

Malware can hide in WordPress files, plugins, themes, uploads, and database entries, so cleanup should go beyond removing the first suspicious file you find. Use a trusted website scanner and remediation service to identify malicious code, suspicious redirects, spam injections, unfamiliar admin users, and other signs of compromise. SiteLock 911 is built to quickly repair and restore hacked websites.

Manual removal is possible but time-consuming. An automated scanning and removal solution can help identify and clean threats more thoroughly.

5. Check admin accounts

Audit permissions and admin accounts to limit the number of people who have access to core files and the WordPress dashboard. This is a prime area to apply the rule of least privilege, which mandates that administrative access should only be granted when and where it is absolutely essential.

6. Restore from a clean backup

The longer your website remains compromised or inaccessible, the more your reputation suffers and the worse the impact will be on your bottom line. If your WordPress site was properly backed up, restore the latest clean backup from before the compromise. This will let you turn the clock back and revert to full functionality.

7. Scan admin computers for malware

If your WordPress site was compromised, the computers being used to maintain it may also need to be checked. Scan all devices used to access WordPress, hosting, or related accounts to help prevent further issues.

Common WordPress vulnerabilities

WordPress vulnerabilities take every form imaginable. Given the open-source nature of WordPress and its PHP scripting language, threats emerge on a regular basis. It can be difficult even for well-informed administrators to keep track of every threat facing the WordPress core and files in general.

We've highlighted a few of the most common issues below:

Weak passwords

Most users are well aware of the importance of strong passwords, and yet, may still opt for simple, easy-to-guess passwords that make their accounts vulnerable to brute-force attacks. The scope of this problem should not be underestimated; the 2026 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report reveals that stolen credentials remain a major security risk.

Out-of-date software

The WordPress themes and plugins that make the platform so compelling also form some of its riskiest elements. Both these and WordPress core need to be updated regularly because attackers often look for known vulnerabilities in outdated, unsupported, or poorly maintained software.

These vulnerabilities can expose your site to a wide range of issues, including:

• DDoS attacks: A flood of traffic can overwhelm your site, making it slow, unstable, or completely inaccessible to visitors.
• Phishing and spam emails: A compromised site may be used to deceive users, send spam, or damage your domain reputation.
• SQL injection (SQLi): Vulnerable forms, plugins, or custom code can allow malicious commands to reach your site’s database.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS): Malicious scripts may be injected into trusted pages, leading to unwanted pop-ups, redirects, or exposed session data.
• Spam content and malicious redirects: These issues can damage user trust, hurt SEO performance, and reduce search engine visibility.

Plugin and theme backdoors

Almost 100 WordPress themes and plugins were the victim of a PHP backdoor hack in January 2023, further illustrating the need for more than just the standard WordPress security plugin and other bare-bones measures. Backdoor attacks are named after intruders who sneak in through the proverbial “backdoor” and go unnoticed in the system, making them hard to detect.

Vulnerable file permissions

Users completing the initial WordPress installation often fail to ensure that important files and folders have the proper permissions attached to them. Core files such as the wp-config.php file and index.php file are particularly prone to attacks.

Insecure hosting provider

Hosting environments play a huge role in general website security. Often, however, administrators rely on band-aid approaches, rather than fixing the root of the issue: a poor hosting solution that fails to protect individual websites. This is a common concern with shared hosting, which, although affordable, is prone to security problems.

What security measures should I take after an attack?

Once you've suffered an attack, you'll be extra eager to prevent future issues. The steps you take now can limit the potential for additional interference.

Update WordPress and plugins

Outdated WordPress themes and plugins are among the most common attack vectors, but this is another vulnerability that can be relatively easy to fix. The WordPress admin dashboard provides insight into available updates. The WordPress Site Health tool can also be a valuable resource.

Don't forget to check the plugins or themes tabs from the wp-admin area, as these highlight both current versions and potential updates. If you require a full WordPress update, you can do so with help from the simple one-click Update Now button. Otherwise, FTP is a viable option for updating WordPress.

Clean sitemap and resubmit to Google

After the hacked content is removed, check Google Search Console for Security Issues, Manual Actions, and indexing warnings. 

Once everything is completely fixed, regenerate and resubmit your sitemap. Next, request a review if Google flagged the site for malware, spam, or harmful redirects. This step helps Google confirm that the hacked WordPress site has been cleaned, but recovery may not be immediate, so continue monitoring impressions, rankings, and warnings after the fix.

Reinstall WordPress if compromised

When in doubt, a full reinstall should provide peace of mind. There are several different ways to accomplish this, including FTP or the official 5-Minute WordPress installation process.

Clean out hacked database

Access the phpMyAdmin dashboard to clean out any malicious data. Cleaning the data can be completed manually, but services such as SiteLock 911 and SiteLock 911 Plus provide a more reliable and swift means of cleansing, scrubbing, or validating compromised databases.

Install a WAF

A web application firewall (WAF) is highly recommended for modern WordPress sites. Find a reputable firewall provider to limit unauthorized access. This should act as a trusted gatekeeper, providing a strong layer of security for your WordPress site.

Limit login attempts

Repeated logins are often a tell-tale sign of brute force efforts. While strong passwords are essential, you can also stop hackers in their tracks by limiting how many times they can try to log in.

Use two-factor authentication

These days, passwords alone are often not enough to keep your site secure. Instead, opt for two-factor authentication, which combines traditional passwords with other means of verification.

Implement SSL encryption

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption establishes secure connections between clients and servers. This prevents sensitive data from being accessed by third parties. Once the protected data has reached its final destination, it can be decrypted and accessed by authorized parties.

Acquiring an SSL certificate is a must; this will enable HTTPS. There are multiple types of SSL certificates, so think carefully about what you want to accomplish before you seek one for your WordPress site. Depending on your situation, you may be able to secure this via your web host or from a Certificate Authority.

Regularly backup your site

In the immediate aftermath of a breach, you may realize that your previous backup strategy was not sufficient. At a minimum, you need weekly WordPress backups to ensure that your website is swiftly returned to a somewhat recent status. Daily backups are far better, however. The sooner you up your backup game, the better.

If you're like many administrators, you cannot possibly hope to handle daily backups all on your own. Thankfully, this process can be outsourced to a security service, which can handle backups on your behalf. This will ensure that should the worst-case scenario arise, you'll be prepared with a recent backup.

Preventing future WordPress hacks

Once your site is clean, the next step is to reduce the risk of another attack. By this point, you should have a clearer understanding of what went wrong and which WordPress vulnerabilities may have left your site exposed. These ongoing preventative measures can help strengthen your site moving forward:

Ensure passwords are secured

Strong passwords are the bare minimum of any proper security strategy. Once you've reset them all, continue to emphasize password security to prevent future breaches.

Keep everything updated

Updates may be top of mind in the immediate aftermath of a hack, but it's unfortunately typical to pay less and less attention to these over time. Without a clearly defined process for updating (or outside help), you risk once again falling behind and leaving your WordPress site vulnerable to new hazards.

Begin by scheduling a specific time each week or month to review updates. Consider implementing a site manager so you can more easily keep track of these. Managed hosts and third-party maintenance services can also be valuable.

Use a WordPress security plugin

A WordPress security plugin can help reduce the risk of future hacks by adding regular scans, login protection, activity tracking, and WordPress-specific hardening controls. Look for a plugin that is easy to manage, does not slow down your site, and helps protect against common attack paths.

SiteLock’s WordPress security plugin combines cloud-based scanning, security checks, login hygiene tools, activity logs, site health visibility, and one-click hardening controls in a single plugin. It is free to install, with paid options available for broader protection such as malware remediation, firewall protection, and CDN capabilities.

Use trusted plugins and delete those that are unused

Research and vet every plugin carefully. Only add plugins and themes that you're confident you need and delete those you no longer use.

Find a reputable hosting company

If you're not happy with the quality of your hosting environment, you're always welcome to change. A different hosting setup could protect your WordPress website from future attacks.

Protect your WordPress site with SiteLock

If your WordPress site has already been hacked, SiteLock 911 can help scan your site, remove malware, and clean up malicious code so you can regain control. Once your site is clean, SiteLock’s WordPress security plugin can help strengthen ongoing protection with security checks, login protection, activity tracking, site health visibility, and WordPress-specific hardening controls.

Check out our solutions or reach out to learn more.

12 Ways to Check If a Website Is Safe

Work through the checks below the next time a site gives you pause. Some take a few seconds, like scanning the web address or looking for specific icons. Others, like reading the policies or searching for reviews, are worth the extra minute when sensitive information is involved. Start at the top and stop trusting a site the moment too many red flags pile up.

1. Look for the “S” in HTTPS

If HTTPS sounds familiar, it should – many website URLs begin with “https” instead of just “http” to indicate that they are encrypted. This security is provided by an SSL certificate, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer certificate. It protects sensitive information entered into that website as it travels from the site to a server through a secure connection.

A bonus to having that security certificate is the visual indicator it provides. In Chrome, the traditional padlock icon has been replaced with a "tune" icon. Clicking this icon reveals site settings and connection details, such as certificate information and permissions. Other browsers may still display a padlock or similar icon to indicate a secure connection.

Without an SSL certificate, that information is exposed and easily accessible by cybercriminals. It’s important to note that HTTPS isn’t the only sign of a secure website, but it’s a good sign that the website owner cares about your safety. Whether you’re logging in, making a payment, or just entering your email address, check that the URL starts with “https.”

2. Watch for suspicious URLs and typosquatting

Cybercriminals often register fake websites with URLs that look nearly identical to legitimate ones. These domains might contain subtle misspellings, swapped letters, or extra characters that are easy to miss at first glance. Always double-check the website address before clicking or entering personal information. If something looks slightly off—like amaz0n.com instead of amazon.com—it’s best to steer clear.

3. Read the “About Us” page

A professional website should clearly state who they are and what they do. Look for an “About Us” page that outlines the company’s mission, values, and leadership team. While it’s not a guarantee of website safety, transparency about ownership and operations is often a sign that the site is legitimate. A lack of company background or vague details may be a sign of an unsafe site.
 

4. Check the website's important policies

A site's policies are some of the clearest signals you have. They tell you how a business handles your data, your money, and your orders, and whether it follows the law at all. Before you buy or sign up, look for two in particular.

Start with the privacy policy. It should clearly explain how the site collects, uses, and protects your information. Nearly every legitimate website has one, since data privacy laws in countries like Australia and Canada require it, and the EU enforces stricter rules still. A site that publishes a real privacy policy is telling you it cares about staying compliant and keeping your data safe. Read it before you hand anything over.

Then check the return and refund policy if the site sells products. Real stores spell out how returns work, when you get your money back, who pays for shipping, and how long delivery takes. You can usually find this in the footer or at checkout. A few things should stop you cold:

• No return or refund policy anywhere, or one buried where you cannot reach it
• Blanket "all sales final" terms on every item with no explanation
• A policy copied word-for-word from another store, sometimes with the wrong company name
• Refund steps that ask you to pay a fee before you see any money

Read the Terms of Service as well. Scam websites often skip it or pad it with text that has nothing to do with what they sell. Clear policies written for that specific store are a good sign you are dealing with a real business, not a front built to take your cash and disappear.

5. Find their contact information

If finding a website's contact information makes that site seem more trustworthy to you, you're not alone. Stanford's Web Credibility Guidelines recommend making your contact information easy to find, including a phone number, physical address, and email address, because doing so shows there is a real organization and real people behind the site. Ideally, a safe website will display an email address, a phone number, a physical address if they have one, and active social media accounts. These won't necessarily provide protection, but they indicate that there's likely someone you can reach out to if you need assistance.

6. Search for reviews and scam reports

What do other people say about the site? Their experience is one of the hardest things for a scammer to fake. Real businesses leave a trail of feedback on platforms they cannot control, like Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, and Reddit. Search the company name along with words like scam, complaint, or refund, and read what comes back.

Here is what the results tell you:

• A legitimate website usually has a mix of reviews built up over months or years, including a few critical ones, because no real business pleases everyone.
• A fake site often has almost no footprint at all, or a sudden wave of glowing five-star reviews posted within days of each other.
• Watch for reviews that repeat the same phrases or read like ad copy, since those are often planted.

Pay attention to how the company handles criticism as well. A real business tends to reply to unhappy customers and try to fix the problem. Scammers go silent or delete the complaint. If your search turns up warnings from other shoppers who lost money, take them seriously and shop elsewhere.

7. Verify their trust seal

If you see an icon with the words “Secure” or “Verified,” it’s likely a trust seal. A trust seal indicates that the website works with a security partner. These seals are often an indicator that a site has HTTPS security, but they can also indicate other safety features, like the date since the site’s last malware scan.

Although 79 percent of online shoppers expect to see a trust seal, the presence of the seal isn’t enough. It’s also important to verify that the badge is legitimate. Fortunately, it’s easy to do – simply click the badge and see if it takes you to a verification page. This confirms that the site is working with that particular security firm. It doesn’t hurt to do your own research on the company supplying the badge, too!

If a trust seal is legitimate, clicking on it will take you to a page that verifies the authenticity of that seal. As an example, SiteLock’s verification page looks like this.

8. Be cautious with payment methods

Most trustworthy websites that encourage online shopping will accept secure, widely-used payment methods such as credit cards, PayPal, or trusted third-party processors. If a site only accepts cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards, take caution—these non-traditional options are often used in scams because they’re difficult to trace or recover.

9. Use free website security tools

Make sure you’re not accessing a malicious website with Google Safe Browsing. This free tool helps protect internet users from visiting dangerous websites or downloading malicious files. It not only identifies and flags websites that contain malware or phishing content, warning users before they can even access them, but Google Safe Browsing also constantly updates its database of unsafe websites.

SiteLock also offers a free website scanner. Simply input your domain name, and SiteLock will conduct a free external scan, searching for known malware or malicious code while ensuring your site is up-to-date and secure. While this scan is effective at detecting visible malware in real time, certain types may require deeper investigation with server access. For a thorough check, we recommend that website owners conduct a comprehensive full scan, especially if server issues are suspected.

10. Know the signs of website malware

Even if a website has an SSL certificate, a privacy policy, contact information, and a trust badge, it may still not be safe if it is infected with malware. But how do you know if a website is infected with malware? Look for the signs of these common malware attacks:

• Defacements: This attack is easily spotted. Cybercriminals replace a site’s content with their name, logo, and/or ideological imagery.
• Suspicious pop-ups: Be cautious of pop-ups that make outlandish claims – they are likely trying to entice you to click and accidentally download malware.
• Malvertising scams: Some malicious ads are easy to catch. They typically appear unprofessional, contain grammar/spelling errors, promote “miracle” cures or celebrity scandals, or feature products that don’t match your browsing history. It’s important to note that legitimate ads can also be injected with malware by scammers, so exercise caution when clicking.
• Phishing kits: Phishing kits are websites that imitate commonly visited sites, like banking websites, to trick users into handing over sensitive information. They may appear legitimate, but spelling and grammar errors will give them away.
• Malicious redirects: If you type in a URL and are redirected to another site – especially one that looks suspicious – you have been affected by a malicious redirect. They are often used in conjunction with phishing kits.
• SEO spam: If you see odd or irrelevant links—especially in comments—it could indicate SEO spam.
• Search engine warnings: Some popular search engines will scan websites for malware and place a warning on that site if it is definitely infected with malware.

11. Pay attention to the overall quality of the site

What makes a website look fake? Often, the warning signs are small on their own but add up fast. Scammers build sites in a hurry, so the quality slips show up in places a real business would polish. Look closely at:

• Spelling and grammar mistakes in headlines, product descriptions, or the checkout page
• Broken links, images that fail to load, or pages that lead nowhere
• A blurry or stretched logo, or the same stock photo used for every product and team member
• Pop-ups that cover the screen, fake countdown timers, or constant prompts to buy right now
• A web address that does not match the brand name shown on the page

One slip can be an honest mistake. Several together point to a fake site thrown up fast to catch people off guard. Check the company social media accounts as well. Real businesses usually have profiles with a history of posts and replies, while scam websites link to empty pages or none at all.

12. Trust your instincts

Scam websites often lure visitors with prices or promotions that seem too good to be true—and they usually are. If a deal feels suspiciously generous, take a moment to evaluate the website before making a purchase. Trust your instincts: poor design, vague information, or unusual payment methods are all red flags. When something doesn’t feel right, it’s safer to walk away.

What to do if you used an unsafe website

Sometimes you spot the problem too late. Maybe you already placed an order, or you entered your login on a page that turned out to be fake. How do you even know? Watch for a missing order confirmation, no tracking number, a charge that shows up in a foreign currency, or a customer service email that bounces back. Any of those means it is time to act.

Move quickly to limit the damage. Here is where to start:

• Call your bank or card issuer right away and ask them to watch for or block suspicious charges on your credit card or debit card. Many will cancel the card and send a new one.
• Change your password on any account that uses the same login, beginning with your email and banking accounts.
• Watch your statements and credit report over the next few months for signs of identity theft.
• Report the site to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov so other shoppers get a warning.

Did you only click a link without entering anything? You are probably fine, but take a few precautions anyway. Run a malware scan on your device, clear your browser data, and avoid going back to the page. Most browsers let you report a dangerous link or home page, so it gets flagged for the next person who lands there. A little caution now buys you real peace of mind later.

It’s unfortunate that not every website is trustworthy and secure, but don’t let that keep you from going online—just do it safely! Simply being able to recognize a safe website can go a long way to help protect your personal data. A secure HTTPS connection, a privacy policy, contact details, and a verified trust seal are strong indicators of a safe site. For more on protecting your information online, check out our cybersecurity resources.

Explore SiteLock’s malware removal services. If your site’s security has already been compromised, learn how we can help restore it quickly and prevent vulnerabilities.
 

This type of attack has become increasingly common. Search rankings can make or break a small business, so understanding how to strengthen SEO security and prevent SEO spam attacks is a must.

What is SEO spam?

SEO spam, also called spamdexing, refers to deceptive tactics used to manipulate search engine rankings. In many cases, hackers inject spammy content, hidden links, or malicious code into legitimate websites to boost their own rankings or drive traffic to low-quality, scam, or malware-filled pages.

For the targeted website, this can create serious problems. It can damage search visibility, send visitors to unsafe pages, hurt user trust, and make the site appear unreliable to search engines.

The term “spamdexing” combines “spam” and “indexing.” Search engines like Google index web pages so they can appear in search results. Spammers exploit that process by adding content or links meant for search engines to crawl, often in ways that normal visitors may never notice.

How do SEO spammers attack your website?

Hackers rely on a variety of methods to launch these attacks. They might insert malicious links into existing web pages, create new pages full of spammy content, or use website redirects to send your visitors to a phishing or malware-infected site.

The easiest entry point is often blog post comment fields, where cybercriminals use black hat SEO tactics to deploy bots and leave spammy comments at scale. These comments resemble a hacked website and can discourage visitors from doing business with you. It can also signal to search engines that your site has poor quality controls.

What do SEO spammers get from these attacks? They use your site's domain name and authority to improve their own search engine rankings by stealing traffic from other sites.

Common types of SEO spam

SEO spam attacks take several forms, including:

• Keyword stuffing: Spammers pack web pages with search terms repeated far beyond any natural reading pattern. The goal is to manipulate a page’s relevance in search results. The content often looks nonsensical to human visitors but is designed to mislead search engines.
• Hidden text and hidden links: Attackers use CSS or HTML tricks to place text or spam links on your web page in a way that is difficult for human visitors to see. A common method is to set the font color to match the page background. Search engine crawlers may still read it, which can associate your site with low-quality or malicious content you never approved.
• Cloaking: This tactic involves showing different content to search engine crawlers than to human visitors. In an SEO spam attack, hackers may hide injected spam from site owners while showing search engines spammy keywords, links, or pages.
• Link spam and link farming: Spammers may inject links into your pages, add spam links through comments, or connect your site to low-quality link networks. If your site becomes part of that activity, it can hurt search visibility and increase the risk of ranking losses or manual actions.
• Comment spam: Bots flood blog comments and forums with irrelevant links and content. These comments damage the user experience, generate low-quality backlinks, and can signal that your site lacks proper controls.
• Injected pages: Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in your CMS, themes, or plugins to add entirely new pages to your site. These pages often advertise pharma products, fake eCommerce goods, or malicious downloads while using your site's authority to rank in search results.

What are signs your site may already have spamdexing?

These attacks are often designed to stay hidden from website owners while remaining fully visible to search engines. Check for these red flags:

• Google Search Console shows search queries, indexed pages, or backlinks that are unrelated to your business, such as pharma or gambling keywords.
• Your Google rankings or organic traffic drop without a clear reason.
• Visitors report being redirected to a web page they did not expect.
• Your antivirus or website security scanner flags malicious content on your site.
• New pages appear in Google’s index that you did not create.
• Referral traffic spikes in ways that do not match your marketing activity.

If you spot any of these, scan your site immediately, remove infected files, and reach out to a website security expert, like SiteLock, if you need additional help.

7 tips to improve your SEO security

Negative SEO attacks don’t just tank your website’s rankings — they hurt your credibility with customers and visitors. Furthermore, they open up other pages of your site to security breaches and can even cause search engines to flag or blacklist your site.

To prevent cybercriminals from sinking your rankings and eroding your credibility, strengthen your website’s SEO security with the following steps:

1. Update your software and plugins.

Outdated software and security plugins on your website can create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit, so it’s important to keep your content management system’s software current. As a best practice, site owners can perform routine checks to ensure all software is up-to-date and check whether security patches are complete. It’s also a good idea to remove applications you don’t need: The more complex your site (and the more you rely on applications created by third-party developers), the higher your security risk.

2. Use strong passwords.

If you own a WordPress site or similar platform, be sure to use a strong password and two-factor authentication (2FA) for login. Brute force attacks can attempt to guess your password by trying the most popular passwords until it guesses correctly. Hackers can also figure out your password by finding clues on social media and trying different combinations until successful. For example, children’s names, pet names, the city where you were born, etc.

3. Sanitize input fields.

As a best practice, you should always sanitize input fields to protect your site from bad bots and prevent cybercriminals from inserting modified queries. These modified queries can lead to a much larger security issue, such as a data breach. To sanitize input fields, predefine what a user can enter into a text box. For example, phone number fields should allow users to enter only numbers, parentheses, and hyphens.

4. Use a CAPTCHA.

Even if you haven’t heard the term before, you are likely familiar with a CAPTCHA; it’s the variety of images with a theme you need to correctly select to log in to your account or make a payment on many websites. Essentially, a CAPTCHA is a test that computers use to distinguish human website visitors from bots. By applying one to your website’s login, account sign-up forms, and eCommerce checkouts, you can stop cybercriminals from deploying bots to fill your website with SEO spam.

5. Setup and monitor Google Search Console.

Setting up Google Search Console is not only good for tracking search engine results, but it’s also good for monitoring security issues. Search Console will show alerts when it appears the site’s security has been compromised. You can also keep track of what search terms your site ranks for. If you begin seeing terms unrelated to your business, such as around viagra, Cialis, or other pharma-related products, you are likely the target of search engine spam. Lastly, you typically get alerts if your site has received a large number of spammy links.

6. Keep track of backlink profiles.

Building low-quality spam links and redirects is a typical way cybercriminals carry out negative SEO attacks, so it’s crucial to keep track of these items on your website. As a best practice, use SEO monitoring tools that can track backlinks and keywords to help you quickly detect when a cybercriminal is creating malicious redirects to your site.

7. Install a web application firewall (WAF).

Lastly, you can block bad bots from deploying spammy comments on your website by installing a WAF. When evaluating WAF options, make sure the solution you choose includes a built-in CAPTCHA as an added layer of security. The WAF acts as a gatekeeper for your website and blocks the top security threats before they ever reach your site.

Prevent SEO spamming with SiteLock

Building up your business’s search rankings takes a lot of work and is an investment for your business. Don’t let SEO spam, bad bots, or hidden security issues put that visibility at risk.

SiteLock’s website security plans help protect your website with automated scanning, threat detection, and a clear Site Health score that shows where your security stands. With Prioritized Tasks, you can see which vulnerabilities, malware risks, and setup gaps need attention first, so you know exactly what to fix before small issues become bigger problems.

Strengthen your website security, protect your organic visibility, and keep your small business safer.

Monique Becenti is a product and channel marketing specialist at SiteLock, a cloud-based website security provider currently protecting more than 16 million websites globally. Monique is passionate about improving the customer experience for all. SiteLock’s combination of dedicated research and developmental efforts, aggressive product road maps, and access to a massive global data set make the company a leading innovator in web security.

Security solutions such as plugins or dedicated platforms remove this burden, providing proactive protection to improve uptime and keep sites secure. Industry leaders such as SiteLock and Sucuri address common threats through malware scanning, mitigation features, and layered defenses. The comparison below breaks down what each solution offers and how they differ.

SiteLock vs Sucuri at a glance

SiteLock and Sucuri are both website security service providers. These companies offer cloud-based tools and solutions designed to detect threats, manage vulnerabilities, and restore hacked sites.

• Who? SiteLock and Sucuri both target small to midsize businesses. Clients look to SiteLock or Sucuri for guidance and oversight as they manage digital threats. Both services work with non-technical users to provide accessible solutions, but also offer robust plans that accommodate organizations with complex security needs.
• What? Core offerings from SiteLock and Sucuri include tiered service plans that bundle website security functions. These plans offer different features that reflect varying risk levels or operational constraints. They both also offer basic website scanning for free, along with WordPress-specific plugins that provide simplified mechanisms for completing scans and viewing security alerts.
• How much? Both providers offer tiered security plans designed to accommodate different budgets and levels of protection. SiteLock plans start at $199 per year, while Sucuri plans begin at $229 per year. Each provider also offers a free WordPress plugin version with core security features, with additional functionality available through paid plans.

What is SiteLock?

SiteLock is a cloud-based website security company that protects websites through scanning, vulnerability patching, and automated malware removal. Founded in 2008, SiteLock began as a small business-focused security solution and aimed to accommodate non-technical users with limited web security knowledge.

Over time, SiteLock expanded its offerings, adding content delivery network (CDN) and web application firewall (WAF) capabilities to its platform.

Leading Certificate Authority and global digital certificate provider, Sectigo, acquired SiteLock in 2021 to equip customers with comprehensive tools for addressing a quickly expanding array of online threats. The acquisition reflected the growing demand for automated website protection as businesses faced increasingly frequent and sophisticated web‑based attacks.

Today, SiteLock continues to accommodate SMBs and other non-technical website owners. SiteLock's current plans and plugins use automated security tools designed to address today’s evolving cyberattacks and threats while simplifying website protection.

What is Sucuri?

Sucuri offers website security and monitoring services. Launched in 2010, Sucuri began with the mission to address security gaps experienced by webmasters with limited tools.

Web hosting company GoDaddy acquired Sucuri in 2017 in an effort to bolster protection for hosting customers while also expanding its security portfolio. Since then, Sucuri has continued to serve small and midsize businesses while also offering enterprise-grade security solutions.

Core security capabilities compared

SiteLock and Sucuri offer many similar security services, reflecting a shared mission to simplify website security while protecting businesses and websites against common digital threats. These providers prioritize early detection but also offer security features designed to limit exposure to malware. Core components include automated tools and cloud‑based monitoring:

Automated/surgical remediation

Automated site security solutions accommodate webmasters with limited time or expertise for manually resolving detected concerns. Both SiteLock and Sucuri use automated tools to identify malicious code and isolate affected files.

These solutions limit the need for hands-on intervention, but the approach differs.

• SiteLock includes unlimited automatic malware removal across all plans running continuously in the background, so threats are detected and removed without the site owner lifting a finger. No tickets, no manual access requests, no waiting. Expert support is on hand 24/7 for complex cases requiring deeper intervention.
• Sucuri offers unlimited malware removal across all plans, but cleanup is reactive and user-initiated—site owners must identify the issue, log in, submit a removal request, and provide server credentials before the remediation team can begin work.

Automated database cleaning

SiteLock includes a dedicated automated database scanning and cleaning feature that continuously detects and removes malware injections from affected database tables running in the background without requiring any action from the site owner. For non-technical users or businesses where every hour of downtime counts, this means infected databases are cleaned faster and without the friction of manual intervention.

Sucuri addresses database infections as part of its broader remediation workflow, but cleanup is not automatic. Site owners must submit a ticket and provide server credentials before the team can access and clean the database.

SMART Patch WordPress plugin patching

SiteLock's SMART Patch technology directly patches vulnerabilities in WordPress and Joomla core files, themes, and plugins at the CMS level, eliminating the underlying weakness in the codebase itself, with daily automated deployment and rollback functionality. For non-technical users, this means vulnerabilities are genuinely resolved, not just shielded with no action required and no residual risk left behind.

Sucuri provides virtual patching through its WAF, intercepting and blocking known exploit attempts at the network layer before they reach the server. This provides a protective shield around vulnerabilities but does not modify site code, leaving the underlying weakness in place.

Site health visibility

SiteLock's site health dashboard distills your website's overall security posture into a single health score, displayed as a visual health meter accompanied by a prioritized list of security tasks to help improve your security posture and health score. Non-technical users can immediately understand whether their site is at risk without needing to interpret individual scan results or security logs. The accompanying Prioritized Tasks queue acts as your next-best-action list automatically ranked by priority, with visual indicators that flag what's urgent and get you to the fix in one click.

Sucuri provides a centralized dashboard with detailed security status across individual monitoring categories, including malware scans, file integrity, and blocklist status. This operational view gives technically oriented users granular detail, but does not consolidate that data into a single risk score or visual health indicator.

PCI compliance tools and support with select plans

PCI services address compliance challenges surrounding the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Select SiteLock plans include PCI compliance tools and support designed to simplify the path to PCI DSS certification for non-technical business owners. SiteLock provides the most simplified version of the PCI self-assessment questionnaire available, significantly reducing the time and complexity of the SAQ process. Combined with a PCI-compliant WAF that helps satisfy PCI Requirement 6.6, SiteLock delivers the highest PCI compliance rate in the industry, making it the go-to choice for businesses that need to meet compliance requirements without dedicated security expertise.

Sucuri does not currently provide PCI reporting services.

WordPress security plugin comparison

Both SiteLock and Sucuri offer WordPress security plugins designed to help site owners monitor and improve the security of their websites directly from the WordPress dashboard. These plugins add an additional layer of protection beyond the built-in security features of WordPress.

SiteLock's WordPress plugin:

• A free tool that delivers immediate, active protection from the moment it's installed—no account required.
• It includes WordPress-specific hardening toggles, built-in login hygiene tools, activity logging, two-factor authentication (2FA), and cloud-based scanning designed to maintain site performance.
• Critically, all security checks run in the SiteLock cloud rather than on the web server, keeping the plugin low-impact on resources, unlike server-based security plugins that consume server resources and can slow the site down.
• Connecting a free SiteLock account activates Site Health monitoring and on-demand cloud scanning directly within WP Admin.
• Users can easily scale protection by connecting paid SiteLock plans that unlock deeper capabilities, including SMART File and Database scanning, WAF, CDN, and full malware remediation—all within the same plugin.

Sucuri's WordPress plugin:

• By contrast, this free plugin functions primarily as a monitoring and auditing tool.
• It provides file integrity monitoring, activity audits, blocklist monitoring, and hardening options, but delivers limited active protection in the free tier.
• Malware scanning is restricted to publicly visible, frontend content via SiteCheck and cannot scan server-side files.
• The WAF, deep malware scanning, and cleanup services that Sucuri is known for all sit behind a paid platform plan—thus, meaningful protection requires an additional purchase.

For site owners looking for active security from day one, SiteLock's free plugin delivers significantly more out of the box.

Why many businesses choose SiteLock

SiteLock is purpose-built for businesses that need robust, automated website security and health management without the complexity of managing it manually. SiteLock automates the entire process from detection to remediation and consolidates it into a clear, actionable picture of their security posture, so site owners always know where they stand and what to do next. Customers choose and stay with SiteLock for the following reasons:

• Clear site health visibility with prioritized actions. SiteLock consolidates security data into a single site health score, paired with a Prioritized Tasks queue that highlights the most important issues to address. This gives site owners a clear, actionable path to improve security without needing to interpret complex logs or reports.
• Automated, surgical malware removal. SiteLock continuously detects and removes malware in the background with automated remediation, eliminating the need to submit tickets or wait for manual cleanup. This “surgical” approach isolates and removes malicious code quickly while minimizing disruption to the rest of the site.
• Trust Seal to build customer confidence. The SiteLock Trust Seal provides a visible signal that a website is actively protected, helping reassure visitors and reinforce trust at important conversion points.
• Built-in PCI compliance tools and support. Select SiteLock plans include simplified PCI DSS tools such as a streamlined self-assessment questionnaire and PCI-compliant WAF. This helps businesses meet compliance standards without needing dedicated security expertise.
• 24/7 expert support. While most threats are handled automatically, SiteLock provides access to security experts for complex issues, ensuring businesses have guidance and support whenever deeper intervention is needed.

SiteLock real world use cases

SiteLock's comprehensive website security solution addresses a wide range of common cybersecurity concerns. Core features help businesses prevent attacks and expedite recovery. The following are a few examples of situations in which SiteLock's services could improve both uptime and overall website security.

• Reducing the burden on small teams without dedicated security resources. Many SMBs don’t have the time or technical expertise to actively manage website security. SiteLock removes that burden with automated scanning, remediation, and a centralized Site Health dashboard with Prioritized Tasks, so site owners don’t need to interpret technical data or manually resolve threats. This allows teams to stay focused on running their business while SiteLock handles security in the background.
• Rapid recovery for compromised websites. When a website is hacked, speed and accuracy are critical. SiteLock’s automated malware detection and removal capabilities quickly isolate and eliminate malicious code without requiring manual intervention. For more complex incidents, expert support is available to restore site functionality and reduce downtime.
• Simplifying PCI compliance for online businesses. Retailers and subscription-based services that process payment data must meet PCI DSS requirements, which can be complex and time-consuming. SiteLock helps simplify this process with tools that make it easier for non-technical users to maintain compliance.
• Maintaining uptime during high-traffic periods. eCommerce businesses often face increased risk during peak seasons when traffic spikes. Select SiteLock plans combine continuous scanning, a web application firewall, and CDN support to block malicious traffic before it impacts performance. This level of real-time monitoring ensures businesses can maintain site availability during critical revenue periods.

Keep your business secure with SiteLock

Protect your website and your customers from evolving security threats. SiteLock provides businesses with tools to detect vulnerabilities, remove malware, and monitor websites through automated scanning and remediation. With continuous protection and simplified security management, SiteLock helps organizations maintain a secure and reliable online presence.

Learn more about how our tiered service plans can provide robust protection at different price points. Try the WordPress plugin or experience SiteLock's protection in action with a free 30-day trial.
 

Sources

• https://docs.sucuri.net/website-firewall/website-firewall/sucuri-cdn/ 
• https://pulse2.com/point-wild-profile-neill-feather-interview/
• https://www.sectigo.com/resource-library/sectigo-acquires-sitelock
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrRs8dTh5dE
• https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sectigo-acquires-sitelock-solidifying-its-market-leading-position-in-web-security-301282670.html
• https://aboutus.godaddy.net/newsroom/news-releases/press-release-details/2017/GoDaddy-Acquires-Sucuri-to-Advance-Digital-Security-for-Customers/default.aspx
• https://www.sitelock.com/help-center/sitelock-security-plugin-overview/ 

Why WordPress salts matter for security

WordPress salts amplify existing security strategies by making login sessions and authentication cookies more difficult for threat actors to compromise. They help protect against risks like session hijacking while reinforcing the overall security of the login process. Passwords alone do not always provide sufficient protection, but adding salts makes authentication systems more resilient.

Without salts, attackers could easily decode or reuse raw hashed values, simply because those hashes would become predictable. Salts eliminate this predictability, making every stored value truly unique. This limits the overall security impact if credentials are stolen or if sessions are compromised.

How do WordPress salts work?

WordPress uses a series of integrated mechanisms to protect login sessions: security keys, salts, hashing, and cookies. Security keys make authentication data difficult to decode, with cryptographic hash functions transforming that data into fixed-length strings that cannot be reversed.

On their own, security keys help secure authentication data, but without salts, hashed values can be more vulnerable to certain attack methods. As a result, sophisticated attackers may still be able to exploit stolen session data.

This is where WordPress salts come into play. They add randomness to the equation, delivering unique hashes that are far more difficult for attackers to analyze or exploit.

This protects against session hijacking, in which attackers attempt to reuse authentication cookies to gain unauthorized access. When hashed data is more unique (due to salts), stolen cookies become more difficult for hackers to understand or recreate.

Salts can also help prevent attacks involving precomputed rainbow tables; these tables are meant to cache cryptographic hash function outputs, but become less useful to attackers once salts are added. This limits the efficacy of attackers' large-scale password-cracking efforts.

WordPress salts vs security keys: what’s the difference?

Salts and security keys are both critical components of the overarching WordPress authentication system. Security keys sign and validate data, while salts add unpredictability to that data. These elements work together to keep login sessions secure.

Where are WordPress salts stored?

WordPress generates unique salts and security keys during installation. These can be found in the wp-config.php file (under Authentication Unique Keys and Salts). This WordPress arrangement actually consists of keys and corresponding salts. They are tied to different aspects of login sessions, with all eight residing within the wp-config.php file. All end in KEY or SALT.

• AUTH_KEY and AUTH_SALT. Meant to protect primary authentication cookies, these keys and salts validate the user's session legitimacy. As a result, authentication cookies become difficult to forge.
• SECURE_AUTH_KEY and SECURE_AUTH_SALT. Similar to auth keys and salts, this version emphasizes Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) sessions, adding an extra layer of protection as data is transmitted via encrypted connections.
• LOGGED_IN_KEY and LOGGED_IN_SALT. Validating cookies for logged-in users who do not immediately require active access to admin functions, these keys and salts boost continuity without escalated privileges.
• NONCE_KEY and NONCE_SALT. Centered around arbitrary numbers used once (nonces), these keys and salts protect short-lived tokens in an effort to combat Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks.

How do you change WordPress salts?

WordPress salts can be changed to invalidate stolen authentication cookies. This strengthens security following suspected breaches or malware cleanups. WordPress provides an official salt generator, capable of producing fresh sets of values.

From there, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or hosting file manager can be used to access the wp-config.php and its authentication keys and salts section. Previously mentioned values, such as AUTH_SALT, are replaced simply by deleting old lines and pasting new ones from the WordPress salt generator.

Manual strategies for changing salts are straightforward, but security plugins (including solutions like the Salt Shaker plugin) can expedite this process by automatically handling updates so that salts are refreshed correctly. Keep in mind that, as salts and keys are changed, active users are logged out of their sessions and forced to sign in once again.

WordPress salts best practices

WordPress salts are a core part of authentication and are defined in the wp-config.php file. That being said, these salts can be approached differently depending on individual security knowledge or preferences. Best practices for leveraging the security advantages of WordPress salts include:

• Always verify salts during setup. WordPress generates unique salts with every new installation, but it’s still worth confirming they are properly set, especially when working with manual installs, older sites, or environments where they may not have been updated.
• Keep salts private. If salts end up in the wrong hands, threat actors could impersonate legitimate users or otherwise compromise seemingly strong authentication systems. Salt privacy is best safeguarded by protecting the wp-config.php file. In many cases, strict file permissions will be sufficient.
• Update salts after suspected breaches. Security incidents that expose files or environments also compromise authentication data. If attackers gain access to the wp-config.php, they can access WordPress security keys or salts. These, in turn, could allow attacks to maintain site access. Updated salts invalidate sessions and force new logins, thereby cutting off unauthorized access.
• Avoid unnecessary frequent changes. While WordPress salts occasionally need to be changed, more isn't always better. Excessive rotations complicate site management without meaningfully improving security. Focus on event-driven rotation (especially after suspected breaches), but add occasional rotation for maintenance if desired.

Why are WordPress salts alone not enough to secure your website?

While salts strengthen authentication and build on existing security solutions, they do not address broader website security risks.

These are meant to support security, not serve as a primary solution. Alone, WordPress salts are unlikely to block these attacks:

• Brute force attacks. Although WordPress salts can make authentication cookies more difficult to exploit, they won't stop attackers from attempting to log in. Additional protection (such as firewalls) limits attempts, providing an even stronger defense.
• Vulnerabilities. Salts are incapable of patching vulnerabilities that emerge in WordPress files or in the core. Without patching, threat actors can exploit security flaws, even when temporarily sidelined by strong salts.
• Outdated plugins. Poorly updated plugins are among the most common and accessible entry points for threat actors. Salts help, but do not account for missed updates or weaknesses in the code. In fact, exploitable plugins could potentially allow attackers to bypass authentication altogether.
• Malware. Outdated plugins and compromised themes are often responsible for malware attacks, but salts are not built to address these concerns. Once malware strikes the file systems, salts can no longer stop attackers from injecting harmful scripts or modifying files. They do not detect infections or remove malicious files.

Ultimately, salts form a single, but important layer within a broader WordPress security plan. They should be accompanied by comprehensive security solutions that address many sources of risk.

What else do you need to secure your WordPress site?

While salts help secure authentication, these additional layers address threats that occur outside the login process:

• Malware scanning. WordPress files, databases, and core components should be scanned continuously for issues such as modified files or malware signatures. The goal is to catch infections in their earliest stages — before they have the chance to spread further or to compromise user accounts. Automated scanning solutions operate in the background, removing the need for time-consuming manual checks.
• Firewall protection. Designed to filter incoming traffic, web application firewalls block malicious requests while forming a critical front-line barrier. These firewalls provide robust protection against brute force attempts as well as SQL injections.
• Comprehensive monitoring. Solutions should go beyond malware scanning to identify emerging threats and respond in real-time. Automated remediation removes malware and resolves issues without requiring manual intervention, ticket submissions, or delays, helping teams maintain site security without added operational overhead.

How SiteLock helps protect WordPress sites

Putting these layers into practice requires tools that can manage detection, protection, and remediation in one place. SiteLock's free WordPress security plugin provides baseline hardening within WordPress, reducing exposures to known threats.

SiteLock’s tiered security plans can be connected as needed to expand protection with live attack blocking and automated malware removal. The Site Health Score provides a clear view of overall risk, while Prioritized Tasks highlight the most critical issues to address first. This removes the need to interpret complex security data and helps teams take action quickly.

Together, these features give site owners a clear, actionable path to improve and maintain website security.

What are HTTP status codes?

HTTP status codes are three-digit responses returned by a web server that indicate the result of an HTTP request. Standardized by organizations like the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), they are grouped into five categories based on their first digit.

These response codes tell the user whether a request was successful or if an issue occurred, helping with troubleshooting, performance monitoring, debugging, and understanding how API requests are handled.

These categories include:

• 1xx – Informational: The server has received the request and is continuing to process it.
• 2xx – Success: The request was successfully received, understood, and processed.
• 3xx – Redirection: Further action is needed to complete the request, often involving a redirect.
• 4xx – Client Error: The request has a client-side issue, such as bad syntax, authentication, or permissions.
• 5xx – Server Error: The server failed to process a valid request due to an internal issue.

Common HTTP status codes 

While there are many HTTP status codes, most users encounter a smaller set of common ones:

• 200 OK: The request was successful
• 301 Moved Permanently: The resource has been permanently redirected
• 302 Found (Temporary Redirect): The resource is temporarily located at a different URL
• 400 Bad Request: The request could not be processed due to invalid syntax
• 401 Unauthorized: Authentication is required to access the resource
• 403 Forbidden: The request is understood but not allowed due to permissions
• 404 Not Found: The requested resource could not be found
• 429 Too Many Requests: The client has sent too many requests (rate limiting)
• 500 Internal Server Error: A general server error occurred
• 503 Service Unavailable: The server is temporarily unavailable

Below is a breakdown of HTTP status codes by category.

List of HTTP status codes

There are dozens of HTTP status codes covering a wide range of possible responses a user may receive when making a request to a web server. While not all are commonly encountered, they are grouped into five main categories based on their function.

1xx – Informational responses

1xx HTTP status codes indicate that the server has received the user's request and is working on processing it. It's a category that includes these four codes:

• 100 Continue: This code indicates that the server has received the initial part of the request and tells the user they can proceed with the rest of it. It's useful when a large request body needs verification before sending.
• 101 Switching Protocols: This indicates that the server is changing the communication protocol based on a request from the client (like switching from HTTP/1.1 to WebSockets).
• 102 Processing: This tells the user that the server has accepted the request but is still working on processing it.
• 103 Early Hints: Accompanying this status code are preliminary response headers that are sent to the user before the full response is ready. Their main function is to speed up how fast the browser preloads resources.

2xx – Success responses

2xx status codes indicate that the server has received, understood, and processed the request successfully. They usually mean that the user can proceed as planned, and they include these five codes:

• 200 OK: This response indicates that the request was successful and that the server has successfully returned the requested resource. 200 (OK) is the most common HTTP status code, and receiving it means that everything is working as expected.
• 201 Created: This indicates that the request was successful and that it resulted in a new resource being created. For example, a user might receive this response when they create a new account on your website.
• 202 Accepted: This status code means that the request has been received but is being processed asynchronously. It's common for tasks such as batch processing.
• 203 Non-Authoritative Information: This indicates that the server is returning information that comes from a third-party source or a source different from the origin server.
• 204 No Content: This means that the server has successfully processed the request, but there is no content to return. For example, a user might receive this response when an update is successful, but no page refresh is needed.
• 206 Partial Content: This response is returned when the server delivers only part of a requested resource. It is commonly used for large file downloads or streaming, allowing content to load in segments.

3xx – Redirection responses

3xx HTTP status codes indicate that the user will need to complete further actions before the request can be processed—and these further actions typically involve a different URL. Here are the four status codes that fall under this category:

• 300 Multiple Choices: This status code means that there are multiple options for the requested resource—like different file formats or different language options—and the user is required to select one.
• 301 Moved Permanently: This means that the requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URL. 301 redirects are commonly used for SEO purposes, ensuring that old links transfer their ranking power to the new location.
• 302 Found: 302 redirects are used to temporarily redirect users to a new URL. They are useful when a page has been moved temporarily but will eventually be returned to its original location.
• 303 See Other: This status code directs the user to access the requested resource at a different URL. 303 redirects are most commonly used following a form submission to prevent duplicate submissions when the page is reloaded.

4xx – Client errors

4xx status codes are returned when there is an issue with the client request, such as bad syntax, a mistyped URL, missing authentication, or insufficient permissions. Here are different types of client errors that can occur:

• 400 Bad Request: This status code indicates that the request made by the user is invalid and cannot be processed. 400 errors are most commonly caused by things like incorrect API requests or bad URL structures.
• 401 Unauthorized: This status code is displayed when a user requests a resource that requires authorization to access. The user must provide valid credentials before the server will return the requested resource.
• 402 Payment Required: This code was originally intended for digital payment systems to indicate that payment is required to access a specific resource. However, it is rarely used today.
• 403 Forbidden: This means that the server understands the user's request but refuses to process it. 403 errors most commonly occur when a user tries to access restricted content without the necessary permissions.
• 404 Not Found: This status code means that the server could not find the resource that the user requested. 404 errors can occur when the user types in a URL incorrectly or when the page has been deleted/moved without proper redirection.
• 405 Method Not Allowed: The request method is not supported for the requested resource.
• 408 Request Timeout: The server timed out waiting for the client to complete the request. This can happen when a request takes too long to send or the connection is interrupted.
• 412 Precondition Failed: The request did not meet one or more conditions set by the server, often related to headers used for validation or caching.
• 414 URI Too Long: The request URI is longer than the server is willing or able to process. It often happens when too much data is included in the URL, such as long query strings.
• 415 Unsupported Media Type: The server refuses to process the request because the request body format is not supported, such as an incorrect Content-Type.
• 416 Range Not Satisfiable: The client requested a specific portion of a resource, but the server cannot fulfill that range request.
• 428 Precondition Required: The server requires the request to include specific conditions before it can be processed. It is often used to prevent conflicts, such as overwriting changes when multiple users are updating the same resource.
• 429 Too Many Requests: The client has sent too many requests in a given amount of time. 429 errors are commonly used for rate limiting to prevent abuse, excessive traffic, or repeated API requests.

5xx – Server errors

5xx status codes indicate that the server encountered an issue while processing a valid request. These errors are caused by problems on the server or upstream systems, not the client. Here are the most common server errors:

• 500 Internal Server Error: This is a generic error message that's returned when the server encounters an unexpected issue. Coding errors, server misconfigurations, and resource limits are a few issues that can commonly cause 500 errors.
• 501 Not Implemented: This status code means that the server does not support the functionality required to complete the user's request. 501 errors often indicate that a method like PUT or DELETE isn't supported by the server.
• 502 Bad Gateway: When the server is acting as a gateway or proxy and receives an invalid response from an upstream server, this is the error message that's returned. 502 errors commonly occur when an upstream server is down or overloaded. They can also be caused by DNS issues or misconfigured upstream servers.
• 503 Service Unavailable: 503 errors indicate that the server is temporarily unable to handle the request due to overload or maintenance. In most cases, the issue will be resolved automatically once the server recovers.
• 504 Gateway Timeout: This is another error that occurs when the server is acting as a gateway or proxy, and it means that it took too long for the gateway/proxy server to receive a response from an upstream server. Issues with the server chain or network delays are often the cause of 504 errors.
• 511 Network Authentication Required: The client must authenticate to gain network access. This is often seen on public or restricted networks that require a login before accessing the internet.

How do HTTP responses impact your website?

HTTP status codes play a key role in helping website owners understand and resolve the issues that are impacting their sites. In some cases, they indicate that everything is functioning as it should and no action is required. In other cases, they point to underlying issues that must be resolved to prevent negative impacts on SEO and user experience.

Here are a few ways that different HTTP status codes will impact your website:

200 OK: The foundation of a functional website

200 OK is the status code you want your users to receive in most situations, as it indicates that the server has successfully processed their request and delivered the desired content. Consistent 200 OK responses across your site ensure that all of your important pages are accessible, which is key for providing a positive experience to users and maintaining a positive perception with search engines.

301 Moved Permanently: Redirecting old URLs to new

The 301 status code, also known as a permanent redirect, is utilized to permanently redirect traffic from an old URL to a new one. This type of redirection is particularly important for SEO, as it transfers link equity from the original URL to the new destination, helping to preserve search engine rankings during site migrations or content restructuring. Implementing 301 redirects is essential to prevent the loss of search visibility when URLs change, and it also improves user experience by ensuring that visitors do not encounter outdated or nonexistent pages.

404 Not Found: Errors to clean up where possible

The 404 Not Found status code indicates that the server cannot locate the requested resource, usually because the page has been removed or the URL is incorrect. An excessive number of 404 errors can adversely affect your website's SEO performance. Search engines may interpret frequent 404 errors as a sign of poor site maintenance or outdated content. Additionally, these errors degrade the user experience by frustrating visitors who encounter dead ends.

429 Too Many Requests: When traffic or requests exceed server limits

The 429 Too Many Requests status code indicates that a client has sent too many requests in a short period of time, typically due to rate limiting. This can happen from excessive traffic, bots, or repeated API requests, and may impact legitimate users if limits are too strict. Monitoring request volume and adjusting rate limits can help maintain performance while preventing abuse.

5XX server errors: A barrier to search engine crawling

5XX server errors—like 500 Internal Server Error or 503 Service Unavailable—indicate problems on the server side, and these problems will often prevent both users and search engine bots from accessing the page. These errors can often slow down (or completely stop) search engines from crawling your site, which can result in a negative impact on your SEO. In fact, frequent or prolonged 5XX errors can sometimes cause sites to be deindexed by search engines. Server errors should be resolved as quickly as possible, not only to boost SEO but also to maintain a good user experience.

How do you check HTTP status codes?

There are several ways to check HTTP status codes, including using browser developer tools, Google Search Console, and crawling tools:

Browser developer tools

Today, most browsers come equipped with built-in developer tools you can use to inspect HTTP status codes for individual web pages. Here's how to use Chrome's "Inspect" tool:

1. Open the website page you want to check in Chrome.
2. Right-click on the page and select "Inspect" to open Developer Tools. You can also open developer tools by pressing F12.
3. Click on the "Network" tab.
4. Refresh the page (F5 or Ctrl+R) to reload the network requests.
5. The Network tab will display all requests made by the page, including their status codes. Look under the "Status" column to find the HTTP status codes for each request. You can also view request details like headers and the user agent to understand how browsers or bots are interacting with your site.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool that provides insights into how Google's crawlers interact with your website. Here's how you can use it to identify pages with errors:

• Log in to your Google Search Console account.
• Select the website you want to check from the dashboard.
• Go to "Index" > "Pages" to see an overview of indexed and error pages.
• Google Search Console will highlight issues like 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error, and other status codes that affect your site's indexing.
• Click on the listed errors to see details and affected URLs.

Crawling tools

Screaming Frog is a popular SEO spider tool designed to crawl your websites and report data on all pages crawled, including HTTP status codes. Here's how to use it:

• Open the tool and enter your website URL in the search bar.
• Click "Start" to begin the crawl.
• Once the crawl is complete, go to the "Response Codes" tab to see the status codes for URLs that were crawled.
• You can filter the results by "Client Error (4xx)", "Server Error (5xx)", or "Redirection (3xx)" if you want to focus on specific types of issues.

Common errors & how to fix them

HTTP status codes don’t always indicate errors, but when they do, they help quickly identify and resolve issues. Here are troubleshooting guides for the three most common types of error codes:

500 Internal Server errors troubleshooting guide:

1. Check server logs to identify specific issues, and look for recent entries that might pinpoint what triggered the error.
2. For websites running on WordPress or a similar CMS, try increasing your PHP memory limit through your hosting control panel or php.ini file.
3. Check for a corrupted .htaccess file by temporarily renaming the file and refreshing the page to see if the error is resolved.
4. Disable plugins and themes to see if the error is caused by an issue with one of these.
5. If none of these steps fix the error, contact your hosting provider for further assistance.

503 Service Unavailable errors troubleshooting guide:

1. Check the server status to see if it's undergoing maintenance or experiencing heavy traffic, as this is often the cause of 503 errors.
2. If you are able to access the server, you can try restarting it to clear temporary overloads or stuck processes.
3. Malfunctioning plugins and modules can sometimes cause 503 errors. Try disabling them to see if it fixes the issue.
4. A sudden spike in traffic could be due to a DDoS attack. Use a website security tool to check for unusual traffic patterns.
5. If your website frequently encounters 503 errors during periods of high traffic, you may want to consider upgrading your hosting plan so that you have more server resources available.
6. Retry the request after a short delay, as many 503 errors resolve once the server recovers.

404 Not Found errors troubleshooting guide:

1. Make sure the URL is correct and doesn't include any typos or errors.
2. If a page has been moved or deleted, set up a 301 redirect to guide users to a relevant page.
3. Check for broken links using tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog.
4. If the page was deleted accidentally, try restoring it from a backup or recreating the content.
5. Create a custom 404 page to help users navigate back to your main content when they come across a broken link.

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Because many errors share similar causes, the problem is not always obvious at first. Running a few quick checks can help narrow it down before moving into specific fixes.

Basic troubleshooting steps for common WordPress errors

Before fixing specific issues, run through these steps. Make sure you understand any file or setting changes to avoid additional issues.

• Clear your browser cache and any caching plugins.
• Deactivate plugins to check for conflicts. Use the dashboard if accessible; if not, rename the /wp-content/plugins folder via FTP. Then, reactivate plugins one at a time.
• Switch to a default WordPress theme to rule out theme issues.
• Enable WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file to surface errors.
• Check error logs through your hosting provider.

Plugin conflicts are one of the most common causes of WordPress errors and often underlie many of the issues covered below. When plugins conflict or are not compatible with your WordPress version, they can break functionality or cause unexpected behavior.

What are the most common WordPress errors?

Identifying conflicts early helps narrow down the issue before moving into specific fixes.

• HTTP errors
• PHP errors
• MySQL errors
• JavaScript errors
• Login errors
• Server configuration errors
• Content management errors
• Indexing errors
• Security vulnerabilities

HTTP errors

HTTP errors occur when a website is unable to display the page that the user requests. Here are the two most common types of HTTP errors and what causes them:

400 errors

400 series status codes indicate client-side issues, meaning the request sent to the server cannot be processed. In WordPress, this is often tied to broken permalinks, incorrect redirects, or security rules blocking access.

Common examples include 400 Bad Request, 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found, 405 Method Not Allowed, 413 Request Entity Too Large, and 429 Too Many Requests.

In some cases, clearing your browser cache will resolve the issue. If the error persists, check for misconfigured URLs, review recent changes to plugins or redirects, and confirm that file permissions and access rules are set correctly.

500 errors

HTTP 500 series errors indicate server-side issues, meaning something on the server is preventing the request from being completed. In WordPress, this is often caused by plugin conflicts, corrupted core files, misconfigured .htaccess rules, or server resource limits.

Common examples include 500 Internal Server Error, 502 Bad Gateway, 503 Service Unavailable, and 504 Gateway Timeout.

Start by refreshing the page and clearing your browser and WordPress cache. If the issue continues, check your .htaccess file for errors, deactivate plugins to identify any conflicts, and review server limits such as PHP memory or execution time. If needed, check error logs through your hosting provider to pinpoint the issue.

PHP errors

PHP is a web development scripting language that serves as the backbone of WordPress websites. However, a PHP error can occur when there is something wrong with the PHP code.

To activate or deactivate the display of PHP errors, you can access your wp-config.php file and set it to “true” to enable debugging mode or “false” to disable it.

Common types of PHP errors include:

Parse/syntax errors

If the PHP code contains syntax errors (for example, a missing quotation mark at the end of a line or an extra character), then the PHP parser won’t be able to interpret the code and will stop working.

To fix these issues, review the error message and locate the file and line number mentioned. You can then correct the malformed syntax using a text editor or FTP client.

Fatal errors

Fatal errors halt PHP script execution and can render a website inaccessible. These errors occur when WordPress is unable to complete a specific task or function, and they are commonly caused by conflicts with a theme, plugin, or core WordPress file.

In most cases, disabling the problematic themes or plugins will fix fatal errors. You can also try reverting any recent changes that may have caused it.

PHP memory limit exceeded error

Exceeding the PHP memory limit can cause several issues. This includes fatal errors as well as sluggish website performance.

Increasing your PHP memory limit will resolve this error. To do this, edit the wp-config.php file and add the following line: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

You can then adjust the memory limit based on your website’s requirements.

Missing a temporary folder error

Encountering a “Missing a temporary folder” error can disrupt file uploads and installations. To fix this error, you can define a temporary folder path in the wp-config.php file by adding this line of code: define(‘WP_TEMP_DIR’, dirname(__file__). ‘/wp-content/temp/’);

Once you’ve done this, confirm that the specified folder exists and has the appropriate permissions settings.

White screen of death (WSOD)

The WordPress white screen of death is a dreaded WordPress critical error that is often caused by PHP errors or syntax issues. This error leads to your entire website being replaced by a white screen, sometimes with an HTTP 500 error displayed as well.

If you encounter this issue, start by clearing your browser and WordPress caches. If that doesn’t work, try enabling debugging mode, disabling your plugins, resetting folder and file permissions, and/or changing your theme to the default WordPress theme.

MySQL errors

MySQL errors are errors related to database connection issues in WordPress. Here are the most common types of these error codes and how to fix them:

Error establishing database connection

This error often points to issues with the WordPress database or incorrect login credentials stored in wp-config.php.

To fix an “Error establishing database connection” error, start by checking your database credentials in the wp-config.php file to make sure the database name, username, password, and host are correct. You should also confirm that the database server is running and accessible.

If the issue continues, check your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin to ensure it is not corrupted. You can also try repairing the database through WordPress or your hosting provider.

Error #1005

This error typically signifies an issue creating or altering database tables. There are several things that can cause you to encounter this error, including:

• Attempting to use foreign key constraints that are incompatible with the columns they reference in other tables.
• Trying to create multiple indexes with the same name within a single table.
• Specifying data types that are incompatible with the column types or constraints.

Error #1213

Error #1213 indicates a deadlock situation where two or more transactions are waiting for each other to release locks. This can be caused by transactions that are attempting to access the same resources in conflicting orders, incorrect use of locking mechanisms, and heavy contention for resources such as tables, rows, or indexes.

To fix these issues, check your MySQL error logs to identify instances of Error #1213 and understand the transactions involved. You may then need to modify transaction logic or adjust your transaction isolation levels before attempting to retry the failed transactions.

Error #1064

This error indicates syntax errors in SQL queries, and it is commonly caused by issues such as missing or incorrect syntax, using reserved keywords or identifiers without proper escaping, or the improper use of special characters.

To fix these errors, you’ll first want to identify the location and nature of the syntax error by reviewing the error message. You can then review the query syntax and fix any mistakes that you find.

Error #2003

This error suggests issues establishing a connection to the MySQL server. If the server isn’t available due to network issues, this is the error code that will commonly be displayed. Other causes of Error #2003 include authentication failures and firewalls or security settings that are blocking connections to the MySQL server.

To fix this issue, you should first verify that the server is accessible by checking the MySQL server status, network connectivity, and firewall settings. Next, verify that connection parameters such as hostname, port, username, and password are correct. If these steps don’t work, contact your hosting provider for further support.

JavaScript errors

Many WordPress themes and plugins are built using JavaScript code, and issues within this code can cause your WordPress site to encounter errors. Here is a detailed breakdown of the JavaScript errors common to WordPress themes and plugins and how you can fix them:

Themes and plugins

If you encounter a JavaScript error with the theme or plugin that you are using, start by reviewing the JavaScript code in the offending theme/plugin to make sure it is functional and compatible. You should make sure that all of your themes and plugins are updated to the latest versions.

Enabling debugging mode in the WordPress settings will help you fix JavaScript errors, and you can also debug your themes and plugins using browser developer tools.

Along with preventing JavaScript errors, keeping your themes and plugins updated is also a major key to WordPress security; these themes and plugins often have vulnerabilities that can leave them exposed to hackers, and promptly installing the latest updates and patches is essential for preventing these vulnerabilities from being exploited.

Login and access errors

Issues accessing wp-admin are common and can prevent you from managing your site. These problems are often caused by incorrect login credentials, plugin conflicts affecting authentication, or corrupted WordPress core files.

To fix login issues, start by resetting your password using the WordPress login screen or through your database. If you still cannot access your account, try disabling plugins via FTP to rule out conflicts. In more severe cases, you may need to reinstall WordPress core files to restore proper functionality.

Server configuration errors

Server configuration and system-level errors are often tied to how your server is set up, how resources are managed, or how WordPress handles updates and file operations.

Here are the most common types of server configuration errors and how to fix them:

Failed auto-upgrade error

This error typically occurs when WordPress’s automatic update feature isn’t able to update a plugin, theme, or the WordPress core itself. Common issues that can lead to this include things like incorrect file permissions, insufficient disk space, or issues with your server’s configuration.

If checking file permissions and increasing your disk space doesn’t resolve the error, you will need to review your server's configuration settings to ensure that they meet WordPress's requirements. You should also try turning off “safe mode,” as having this mode enabled will sometimes prevent WordPress from auto-updating.

Connection timed out error

"Connection Timed Out" is the error message you will receive when the server hosting your WordPress website is unable to establish a connection within a certain period of time. This can be caused by things like poor internet connection, server overload, and aggressive firewall settings.

If you encounter this error, start by checking the server status. This will tell you if it is experiencing downtime or performance issues. If there aren’t any issues with the server itself, check your internet connection, check your firewall settings, and troubleshoot your plugins and themes to try and pinpoint the cause of the connection failure.

In some cases, timeouts are related to server limits or resource usage. Reviewing PHP limits or recent plugin changes can help resolve the issue.

Failed to write file to disk

This error occurs when WordPress cannot save uploaded files to the server. It is often caused by incorrect file permissions, limited disk space, or misconfigured server settings.

To fix it, check file permissions for your uploads directory to ensure WordPress can write to it. Next, confirm that your server has enough available disk space. If the issue persists, review upload settings in php.ini and verify that your hosting environment is not restricting file uploads.

Content management errors

Issues with the content published on your WordPress site can sometimes result in errors. Here are a few common types of content management errors:

Broken links and images

Broken links and images can sometimes prevent a page from loading properly and are caused by issues such as URL changes, a page or post being moved, WordPress settings changes, or modifications to the wp-config.php file.

You can scan for these issues in your WordPress content using a tool or plugin designed to identify them, and then apply the necessary fixes to resolve the error.

Media library errors

Media library errors are errors that affect the upload, management, or display of media files such as images, videos, and documents. If images or other content are not loading correctly in the WordPress media library, there are a number of steps you can take. This includes things like checking the image file paths, verifying file permissions, clearing your browser cache, and ensuring proper image URLs.

Content publishing errors

"Updating Failed" and "Publishing Failed" are two types of content publishing errors you can encounter when attempting to save or publish content like posts or pages. If you encounter one of these errors, start by reviewing the post or page you’re trying to publish to make sure there are no invalid characters or other issues that could be triggering the error. Updating WordPress, disabling plugins, and switching to a default theme are other ways to troubleshoot these errors.

Indexing errors

Unlike the other errors on our list, indexing errors won’t directly affect your website’s functionality or performance. What they will do, however, is prevent your website from being found by users.

When search engines, like Google, have issues indexing your website, it can negatively impact search engine visibility and website traffic. This means your pages may not appear in search results when users are looking for them, even if your site is working properly. It can also affect your SEO (search engine optimization).

Here are some important steps that you can take to resolve and prevent these issues:

Search engine visibility settings

In the “Settings” section of your WordPress admin, you’ll find a setting called “Reading.” If the box is checked, search engines will be discouraged from indexing your site, so it’s important to disable this feature.

Check Google Search Console

You should regularly check your Google Search Console to monitor indexing status, review crawl errors, and address any issues that are negatively impacting search engine visibility.

Check for malware or malicious code

A hacked WordPress site can cause search engines to lose trust in the website and remove it from their indexes. For this reason (along with numerous others), it is vital to properly secure your WordPress website and ensure that you have tools in place that will continuously scan for malware or malicious code.

Security vulnerabilities

Security issues can lead to a multitude of WordPress errors, along with problems that are even more costly, such as compromised data and a loss of customer trust. If you would like to prevent the nightmare scenario of having your WordPress website hacked, here are the vital security vulnerabilities that you should address:

Weak passwords

If you aren’t using strong passwords on your WordPress sites, you are making it far too easy for hackers to access them. Following proper password protocols and choosing passwords that are as strong as possible is a major key to preventing WordPress hacks.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks

DDoS attacks are a malicious type of cyberattack intentionally designed to render a website inoperable by flooding its servers with requests. As you might imagine, these attacks can lead to a lot of WordPress errors.

To ensure the accessibility and functionality of your site, protecting it against DDoS attacks is one of the most important WordPress vulnerabilities to address.

Structured query language (SQL) injections

An SQL injection is a type of attack that involves injecting malicious code into input fields or URLs of a web application. This allows hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in the application's SQL database and perform actions such as accessing data from the database and executing administrative operations.

To prevent this potentially damaging form of attack, it’s essential to use a cybersecurity solution that is capable of detecting and blocking malicious code.

Phishing and malware

Phishing and malware are two more types of cyberattacks that can disrupt and compromise a WordPress website. With a phishing attack, hackers attempt to impersonate legitimate websites so that they can trick users into providing their confidential information. Malware, meanwhile, is a form of malicious software designed to infiltrate, damage, or disrupt computer systems.

Cybersecurity solutions designed to detect and block malware are a necessity for any website. And, along with understanding the best practices to prevent phishing scams, anti-phishing software will help prevent hackers from spoofing your website.

Keep your WordPress site secure with SiteLock

Preventing WordPress errors starts with understanding your site’s overall health, security, and addressing issues before they escalate.

SiteLock helps you monitor your website security continuously, with a clear Site Health Score and Prioritized Tasks that highlight what to fix first. With automated scanning, protection, and remediation, you can stay ahead of vulnerabilities and keep your site running smoothly.

One type of error that WordPress websites commonly encounter is 500 internal server errors. These errors indicate that something has gone wrong with the server hosting your website, and they can cause some serious issues if they aren’t resolved.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to troubleshoot and fix WordPress 500 errors, including their common causes, troubleshooting steps, and best practices for preventing future errors.

What is the WordPress 500 error?

A WordPress 500 internal server error (also called an HTTP error 500 in WordPress) is a general server-side error that indicates something has gone wrong on your web hosting server, but the exact cause is not specified. Because it is a general “catch-all” error, it can be difficult to diagnose and often requires step-by-step troubleshooting to identify the root cause.

Unlike more specific WordPress errors, a 500 error can affect both the front end of your WordPress site and the WordPress admin (wp-admin), including login pages and the dashboard. In some cases, the error may only affect the WordPress login page or wp-admin dashboard, often due to plugin conflicts, theme issues, or server configuration problems.

Before troubleshooting, it’s important to create a full backup of your WordPress website, including your files and database, so you can safely restore your site if needed.

Possible impact

A WordPress 500 internal server error can have serious consequences if it isn’t resolved quickly. These errors can impact your website in several ways:

• Poor user experience: Pages fail to load, making your site appear broken or unreliable to visitors
• SEO impact: Search engines may struggle to crawl your site, leading to indexing issues and potential drops in rankings
• Reduced visibility: Important pages may be removed from search results if they consistently return errors
• Higher bounce rates: Users are more likely to leave immediately after encountering an error
• Lost conversions: Interruptions during key actions (forms, purchases, logins) can reduce leads and revenue
• Decreased trust: Repeated errors can damage user confidence in your website or brand

Because of these risks, it’s important to identify and fix 500 errors as quickly as possible to maintain both performance and search visibility.

What are common causes of WordPress 500 errors?

A 500 error does not point to a specific issue and is usually caused by one of the following:

• Corrupted .htaccess file: This file controls many important aspects of server behavior, and if it gets corrupted or misconfigured, it can lead to a 500 error.
• PHP memory limit issues: When your site exceeds the allocated PHP memory limit, it can result in an internal server error due to insufficient resources.
• PHP version compatibility issues: Conflicts between your PHP version and installed plugins or themes can lead to 500 internal server errors.
• Problems with WordPress plugins: Faulty, incompatible, or poorly coded WordPress plugins can cause conflicts that lead to 500 errors.
• Syntax errors in PHP files: Even a small coding mistake in a PHP file can cause a server error and trigger a 500 response.
• Corrupted core WordPress files: Corruption in the WordPress core files—often due to malware, file transfer issues, or incomplete installations—can cause 500 errors.
• Failed WordPress updates: Interrupted updates to WordPress core, plugins, or themes can leave files incomplete and trigger a 500 internal server error, especially during updates in the WordPress admin (wp-admin).
• Issues with file permissions: Incorrect file and directory permissions can prevent scripts from running properly, resulting in an internal server error.
• Browser cache problems: Sometimes, a 500 error may be caused by issues with the browser cache, which can be resolved by clearing the cache.

Step-by-step troubleshooting guide

With so many different issues that are capable of causing these errors, it is essential for website owners and support teams to follow the right troubleshooting steps. If you are encountering a 500 internal server error message, here are the steps you should follow to diagnose and fix the issue:

1. Backup WordPress site

Before you get started making changes to your WordPress site, be sure to do a complete backup first. This should include backing up the database and all of your files. That way, if anything goes wrong during the troubleshooting process, you can easily restore your website to its previous version.

2. Clear browser cache and refresh

Sometimes, cached files in your browser can cause 500 errors. Since this is a simple issue to fix, it’s a good first step after backing up your site. To check, clear your browser cache and refresh the page to ensure you're loading the latest version from the server.

In Chrome, for example, open the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, clear cached files, then refresh the page. While this step addresses front-end issues, most 500 errors originate from server-side problems.

3. Check the .htaccess file

The .htaccess file plays a critical role in configuring how your server handles requests. If this file is corrupted or incorrectly configured, it can lead to a 500 error. Misconfigured redirects in the .htaccess file can also trigger 500 errors if rules conflict or create loops. To check if this is what’s causing the error, you can use an FTP client (Filezilla) or cPanel's File Manager to access the .htaccess file and then rename it (something like .htaccess_old will work fine). This action will effectively disable the file.

If this resolves the 500 error, you will then need to regenerate the .htaccess file. You can do this by navigating to the Permalinks settings page in your WordPress admin dashboard and clicking "Save Changes" to regenerate the file automatically.

4. Increase PHP memory limit

Inadequate PHP memory is a common cause of 500 errors, especially on sites with heavy plugin usage or complex themes. To increase the PHP memory limit, you’ll need to edit the wp-config.php file located in your WordPress root directory.

Once you’ve accessed this file, add the following code:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Replace ‘256M’ with the amount of memory you want to allocate. If you’re unsure how much you need, you can contact your hosting provider for assistance. In some cases, server resource limits set by your hosting provider (such as CPU or process limits) can also contribute to 500 errors.

5. Deactivate all plugins

Faulty or incompatible plugins are often the culprit behind WordPress 500 errors. The simplest way to determine if a plugin is causing the error is to deactivate all your plugins at once. You can do this from the WordPress admin dashboard by navigating to the Plugins section, selecting all plugins, and choosing "Deactivate" from the Bulk Actions dropdown menu. If this resolves the error, you will then need to reactivate your plugins one by one and test your site after each activation to see which one is causing the error.

If you’re unable to access the WordPress dashboard, you can also deactivate plugins by renaming the plugins folder inside the wp-content directory via FTP.

6. Switch to the default WordPress theme

Sometimes, the active theme you're using may not be compatible with certain plugins or the version of WordPress you’re using. To test if your theme is causing the 500 error, try switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One).

You can change your theme from the WordPress dashboard by navigating to Appearance > Themes, selecting a default theme, and activating it. If this fixes the 500 error, then you will need to either use a different theme or contact the theme developer for help.

7. Check file permissions

Incorrect file and directory permissions can prevent WordPress websites from functioning properly, resulting in a 500 internal server error. To verify and adjust file permissions, start by connecting to your server using cPanel or an FTP client. From there, you can check the permissions settings on both your files and directories.

Directories within your WordPress installation should typically have permissions set to 755, while files should be set to 644.

8. Enable WordPress debug mode

If you enable debug mode, it will provide you with more detailed error messages that can offer valuable information about what’s causing a 500 error. To enable debug mode, open your wp-config.php file located in the WordPress root directory and add the following lines of code:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

Once debug mode is enabled, you can then access the debug.log file for detailed error messages and warnings that may help you identify the root cause of the 500 error.

9. Re-upload core WordPress files

WordPress 500 errors are sometimes caused by core files of your WordPress installation that are corrupted or incomplete. To test if this is the issue, you can re-upload the core WordPress files from a fresh installation.

Obtain a clean copy of WordPress from wordpress.org, unzip the file on your computer, and use FTP or a file manager to upload the wp-admin and wp-includes directories directly to your server and overwrite your existing directories. This will ensure that all core WordPress files are intact and correctly configured, and will often fix the 500 errors.

10. Check for corrupted database

A corrupted WordPress database can cause 500 errors. Thankfully, WordPress provides a built-in database repair tool that you can use to diagnose and repair database issues. To access this tool, add the following line of code to your wp-config.php file:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

Once you’ve done this, save the wp-config.php file and navigate to https://yoursite.com/wp-admin/... in your web browser. This page provides options to either repair the database or repair and optimize tables. Follow the instructions for preparing the database, then be sure to remove the define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true) line once you’re done, as it can present a security vulnerability if left in place.

11. Review error logs

Website logs, and specifically server error logs, provide valuable information that you can use to pinpoint the cause of 500 errors. These logs are often the fastest way to identify the root cause of a 500 internal server error.

To access server error logs, you can use either your hosting control panel or FTP to navigate to the server's log directory. Look for entries related to the time and date when the 500 error occurred, and review any error messages, warnings, or stack traces provided in the logs, as they can provide clues about specific PHP or server-side issues causing the error.

Server-level issues in environments like Apache or Nginx can also trigger 500 errors if configurations are incorrect.

12. Consult hosting provider

If all else fails, you should contact your hosting provider for further assistance in fixing the error. A lot of times, 500 errors are caused by server issues on the hosting provider’s end. In these cases, they will be the only ones capable of fixing it.

When you contact your hosting provider’s support team, be sure to include detailed information about the issue, including any error messages or steps you've already taken to troubleshoot the problem.

Advanced WordPress security tips

It’s essential for WordPress website owners to know how to troubleshoot 500 errors—but preventing them from ever happening in the first place is even better. Here are a couple of advanced WordPress security tips to help you reduce the likelihood of 500 errors and other issues:

Check PHP version compatibility

WordPress regularly updates its software to leverage the latest PHP features and security enhancements. If you’re using an outdated PHP version, you may need to upgrade to the latest version in order to benefit from these performance improvements and security patches.

In some cases, the plugins or themes you’re using may not be compatible with the latest PHP version. In this instance, you may want to consider downgrading to a slightly older (but still supported) PHP version until plugins and themes are updated to support the latest PHP release.

Restore from backup

Regularly backing up your WordPress website is a major key to safeguarding it against data loss and security breaches. In the event of accidental data loss, hacking, or site malfunction, having a recent backup available will allow you to easily restore your website to its previous configuration.

With a security plan like SiteLock that includes website backups, you can even backup your WordPress website automatically.

Protect your WordPress site with SiteLock

If you want to avoid extended periods of website downtime, knowing how to troubleshoot and fix WordPress 500 errors is key. Preventing 500 errors and other performance/security issues is just as important, and there are a number of tools and best practices you can use to better protect your WordPress website.

At SiteLock, we offer a comprehensive suite of security tools and services that are designed specifically for WordPress websites, including WordPress malware removal services. To get started bolstering your website’s security and performance, be sure to check all that SiteLock has to offer!

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While this system plays an important role in user protection, it isn’t always a complete or reliable way to detect every infected site. We’ll discuss what Google blacklisting is, why websites get flagged, how it impacts your traffic, and the steps you can take to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again.

What is Google blacklisting?

To promote a safer internet and protect users from malware infections, Google and other search engines regularly review websites for malicious software, known as malware. The “Google blacklist,” often associated with Google Safe Browsing, is a database of websites identified as unsafe due to:

• Malware infections that spread malicious code
• Phishing pages designed to steal user data
• Unwanted or deceptive software downloads
• Hacked or injected content on legitimate websites

Malware can be used to attack websites in various ways, often without the site owner's knowledge. Since it’s not always obvious when a site is infected, search engines issue warnings to alert visitors. When a site is flagged, users may see warnings in search results or full-page alerts in their browser before accessing the site.

While blacklisting may seem harmful to small businesses, it isn’t intended as a punishment. Websites are blacklisted to protect users from hackers and malicious content. This approach promotes safe browsing for everyone, including web users, hosting providers, and site owners.

How does blacklisting work?

Search engines send out bots (the good kind) to crawl and “index” websites. The primary purpose of indexing is to make the crawled pages available to appear in search results, but these bots also look for website malware.

If malware is detected, the website will become inaccessible to visitors, or “blacklisted.” Blacklisting means that the site may be removed from search results so that it can’t be found through search, and a warning will prevent direct visitors from entering the site. This protects visitors from being affected by malware attacks, which could steal their personal data, send spam, or even spread more malware.

You may not know that your website has been infected with malware or malicious code—but you’ll likely become aware of it when Google or another search engine detects it and marks your site with the warning label. The same warning could also appear next to your domain name when prospective customers try to search for your business directly.

How to check if your site is blacklisted by Google

Running a quick blacklist check can help confirm whether your site has been flagged. Take a look at the following:

• Google Transparency Report: Enter your URL to review its Google Safe Browsing status
• Search your domain: Look for warnings such as “This site may harm your computer” in search results
• Google Search Console: Review the Security Issues report for malware or flagged content and any related notifications

Traffic changes can also point to an issue. A sudden drop in organic traffic or missing pages in search results may signal that your site has been flagged.

Consequences

Being removed from Google or another search engine’s results page means your rankings and visibility will plummet. Users won’t be able to find your website via Google search result pages (SERPs), and even if they visit your website directly, they’ll be deterred by a warning message. Ultimately, low visibility causes traffic to tank, which could inevitably hurt sales. Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts may lose their effectiveness, and recovery becomes harder the longer the issue remains unresolved.

These consequences can be devastating for small businesses. In some cases, websites that are hacked or flagged as unsafe can experience traffic drops of 50% or more in a short period of time.

This makes it incredibly important to identify and fix malware problems immediately.

Is blacklisting the best way to find website malware?

Blacklisting occurs only when malware is confidently identified, with a low likelihood of false positives. This cautious approach is necessary because blacklisting can be devastating to a business’s bottom line and reputation. However, there are two major drawbacks:

1. The damage has likely already been done. Search engine bots do not crawl websites daily, and the crawling frequency depends on various factors. As a result, by the time a website is flagged, it may have already been infected for days, if not weeks.
2. Many infected websites go undetected. According to SiteLock research, 83% of infected websites receive no warning from search engines at all.

While blacklisting is still a valuable service that protects many users from harmful malware infections, it is not designed to protect website owners. Relying solely on search engines to find malware is extremely risky. Fortunately, whether you’re a website owner or just a visitor, there are more proactive ways to ensure protection.

Recognizing a malware infection

While many types of malware are difficult to detect with the naked eye, some common attacks do show symptoms that all visitors should be aware of:

• Defacements. This attack is the easiest to spot, as cybercriminals will replace a site’s content with their own name, logo, and/or ideological imagery.
• Suspicious pop-ups. Be cautious when encountering pop-up ads claiming you're the lucky one-millionth visitor or offering similar unbelievable deals. These ads often contain hidden malware that could be downloaded to your computer if clicked.
• Malvertising. We recommend exercising caution when clicking on any ads, as legitimate ads can be infected with malware. However, some malicious ads are more obvious. They typically contain spelling/grammar errors or unprofessional graphic design, feature products that don’t match your browsing history, or promote “miracle” cures or celebrity scandals.
• Phishing kits. Phishing attacks trick users into handing over sensitive information by imitating commonly visited sites, like banking websites. They may seem real at first glance, but spelling and grammar errors will give them away.
• Malicious redirects. Often used in conjunction with phishing kits, malicious redirects take visitors from one site to another, usually a malicious site.
• SEO spam. If you see unusual comments, usually with spam links, in a website’s comments section, it’s likely SEO spam or spammy content.

Another way to quickly identify a potential malware infection is to analyze website traffic drops on webmaster tools like Google Analytics and Bing Analytics. Then, follow up on Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to see if any web pages were deindexed from search results. A sharp decline in organic traffic could be a telltale sign that your website is experiencing security issues.

How to remove a website from Google’s blacklist?

If you are blacklisted, you’ll need to get back up and running as soon as possible to avoid lasting damage.

1. The first step is to remove all malware from your website and database. This can be done using a website repair service or by using an automated website malware scanner. The automated scanner will find and remove any malicious content on your website, and it should have the capacity to patch security vulnerabilities to prevent “quiet attacks,” such as JavaScript or backdoor files.
2. Fix any other vulnerabilities, such as outdated plugins or weak credentials.
3. Once your site is malware-free, the next step is to create a Google Search Console account and request a review or recrawl of your site. If Google fails to detect malware during its scan, it will take your site off the Google Safe Browsing blacklist and remove the warning label.

Even if you mitigate the problem and restore your site as quickly as possible, those who did see the warning screen may not be keen to revisit your site anytime soon. This is one reason why the right website security solution should be your first line of defense against cyberattacks.

You can’t rely on Google or other search engines to catch all malicious links or content on your site. Not all infected websites are flagged or blacklisted, which means threats can go undetected for extended periods. Take adequate precautions by implementing automated security tools, and you won’t have to worry about how to get your website off the Google blacklist.

How to avoid being blacklisted

To secure your website and avoid being blacklisted, take these five steps.

1. Safeguard incoming traffic. The first step is to implement a web application firewall (WAF), which will act as a gatekeeper for incoming traffic. A WAF will block bad bots and suspicious IP addresses that could inject SEO spam, malicious links, and other nefarious content—all of which could flag you as a candidate for blacklisting.
2. Detect malware before search engines. Don’t wait to implement an automated malware scanner until after you’ve been blacklisted. Instead, implement an automated malware scanner to find and remove malware before Google or other search engines find it first. A good scanner should help prevent infection and blacklisting.
3. Monitor file changes. Establish a baseline of what your website’s file structure should look like, then regularly check for any changes to that structure. When changes occur, inspect them for anything suspicious.
4. Properly evaluate external links. Any links being used on your website for advertising, affiliate marketing, email marketing campaigns, or linking to another site should be properly vetted. If Google notices that your links lead to dozens of spam sites, it might blacklist your site, even if you aren’t hosting malicious content. Also, avoid the deceptive black hat SEO practice of purchasing links.
5. Consult a professional. Different environments and functionality can call for different security measures. In the same way, you would consult a mechanic regarding your vehicle, you should consult a security professional to help you establish what your security posture should look like. SiteLock’s professionals can help you learn more about how to secure your website.

Being blacklisted can cause permanent damage to your small business, but don’t blame Google. It’s only trying to protect web users. You should share that goal. By having robust cybersecurity strategies in place, you can prevent malware from entering your website and avoid having to get your website off the Google blacklist in the first place.

Mitigate blacklist security risks with SiteLock

SiteLock is a website security provider that helps protect businesses from cyber threats and prevents blacklisting. We offer a malware scanner to detect threats, malware removal to quickly clean up infections, and vulnerability patching to secure websites. Our WAF blocks malicious traffic, reducing the risk of attacks that can lead to blacklisting. By using these services, SiteLock helps keep websites secure and avoid the negative impact of being blacklisted by search engines.

Google blacklist FAQs

Am I on the Google blacklist?
You can check using the Google Transparency Report or the Security Issues report in Google Search Console.

Why is my site flagged as unsafe by Google?
Your site may contain malware, phishing content, or vulnerabilities that allow attackers to inject malicious code. This can happen through outdated plugins, weak passwords, or compromised files.

How do I remove my site from the Google blacklist?
You’ll need to identify and eliminate any malware or security vulnerabilities, update software and plugins, and secure access points. Once your site is clean, you can request a review through Google Search Console. Google will reassess your site, and if no threats are detected, the warning will typically be removed.

One of the most common WordPress issues is the “Error Establishing a Database Connection.” When this connection error appears, your site cannot access its WordPress database, so pages fail to load and visitors may see a blank screen or an error message.

We explain what the error means, what typically causes it, and the troubleshooting steps you can take to restore access and get your site back online quickly.

What does “Error Establishing a Database Connection” mean?

If you see an error message that says "Error Establishing a Database Connection,” it means WordPress is unable to connect to the database server (typically MySQL) that stores your website’s content and settings. As a result, your site may fail to load properly or become completely inaccessible.

Several issues can cause this error, including:

• Incorrect database credentials
• An unavailable database server
• Corrupted files
• Damaged or misconfigured core WordPress files

In some cases, insufficient database permissions, plugin or theme conflicts, or hosting-related issues can also prevent a successful connection.

To fix it, you need to identify the exact cause, which can usually be done with a few preliminary checks.

Initial checks

Before you dive into the troubleshooting, these checks will help you narrow down the likely cause.

• Start by verifying if the error occurs on the front end, WP-admin, or both. If the error only occurs on the front end, it could be a potential issue with the database connection settings or the database itself. If the error is specific to the WP-admin dashboard, it could indicate issues such as plugin or theme conflicts or file permission issues.
• You should also check with your hosting provider to ensure the database server is running smoothly. This will let you know if the issue is confined to your website or if it is affecting other users on the server as well.

How to fix the error step-by-step

After identifying the likely cause, these troubleshooting steps can help restore your database connection and get your site back online.

1. Backup your files and database
2. Verify database credentials
3. Check database server status
4. Repair the corrupted database
5. Check WordPress files
6. Disable conflicting plugins and themes
7. Update WordPress site URL
8. Contact hosting provider

The sections below explain each step in detail.

1. Backup your files and database

Create a full backup of your WordPress files and database before making any significant changes. A recent backup lets you restore your site if something goes wrong during troubleshooting.

2. Verify database credentials

Before you can establish a database connection, you have to have the correct database login credentials. Start by verifying and updating DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, and DB_HOST in the wp-config.php file.

In the wp-config.php file, these credentials are defined as:

• DB_NAME: The name of your WordPress database
• DB_USER: The database username with access to the database
• DB_PASSWORD: The password for the database user
• DB_HOST: The database server hostname, often set to localhost but sometimes provided by your web hosting provider

All four values must match the credentials configured in your hosting account. Even a small mismatch can prevent WordPress from connecting.

Make sure the database user also has the correct permissions. Insufficient privileges can block access and prevent a successful connection.

3. Check database connection

If your credentials are correct but the error persists, the issue may be with the database server itself. You can use a simple PHP script to test the connection. This test helps confirm whether the database server is reachable.

Database server issues can result from maintenance, traffic spikes, or resource limits. When the server is offline or overloaded, WordPress may be unable to connect, which can lead to site downtime.

4. Repair the corrupted database

Repairing the WordPress database can often fix any connection issues you are experiencing. To do this, you'll need to enable the database repair feature by adding the wp_allow_repair code to the wp-config.php file. You can then access repair.php via a web browser to repair corrupted database tables.

5. Check WordPress files

Corrupted WordPress files can sometimes cause database connection errors. Check core files for corruption by looking for files that have been modified unexpectedly or appear to be missing essential code, then replace them using FTP or File Manager in cPanel.

6. Disable conflicting plugins and themes

Plugins and themes can sometimes conflict with the database connection. To see if this is the issue, you can deactivate all plugins using FTP or phpMyAdmin and test theme-related issues by reverting to a default WordPress theme.

7. Update WordPress site URL

The siteurl and home values in the wp_options table have to match your website's domain name. Use phpMyAdmin to verify that they match and update them if there are any discrepancies.

8. Contact hosting provider

If none of these steps resolves the issue, you should contact your hosting provider's support team for help. In a lot of cases, the hosting provider will be able to assist with MySQL database or web server issues.

Advanced solutions

Basic troubleshooting steps can often resolve database connection errors. However, for more complex issues, you will need to work with your hosting provider to explore advanced solutions. This is especially true for managed WordPress hosting or virtual private server (VPS) environments, since you are going to be limited in regard to the adjustments you can make on your own.

For example, you may need to adjust server-side configurations (such as PHP settings, MySQL configuration parameters, or firewall rules) to accommodate your website's requirements, and this is something you will have to work with your hosting provider or server administrator to do. Or, it may also be the case that you have insufficient server resources and need to evaluate your hosting plan to ensure you have adequate resources for your website's needs.

Preventing future errors

After you resolve the issue, you can take steps to reduce the chances of another database connection error. Keep WordPress updated to the latest version and schedule regular backups of your database and website files so you can restore your site quickly if needed.

You can also lower the risk of future connection issues by following these best practices:

• Choose a reliable WordPress hosting provider with stable database performance and responsive support.
• Monitor server resources so traffic spikes or limits do not take your site offline.
• Maintain strong security practices to protect against malware that can damage files or corrupt the database.
• Optimize and clean your WordPress database regularly to keep it running properly.
• Update plugins and themes often and remove any plugins you no longer use.

Partner with SiteLock for WordPress security

“Error Establishing a Database Connection” is a WordPress error that can commonly be fixed with basic troubleshooting steps, though working with your hosting provider to explore more advanced solutions is sometimes required. Whether you encounter this issue or not, be sure to follow WordPress.org tutorials and documentation for ongoing WordPress website maintenance to keep your website healthy and secure.

Strengthening your website’s security can also help reduce the risk of errors. SiteLock offers a range of solutions designed to help WordPress site owners protect their websites and maintain performance. The SiteLock WordPress security plugin provides a lightweight, easy-to-deploy way to strengthen your site with built-in hardening controls, login protection, and cloud-based checks that run without impacting performance.

To see how SiteLock supports stronger site security, learn more about SiteLock’s WordPress solutions and plugin.