Malware Removal

Cleanup begins with preservation, not deletion: a full copy of files and database is taken before anything is changed, because that copy is the only evidence of how the intrusion worked and the only safe fallback if a removal breaks the site. Infected files are identified by comparing against known-good sources where they exist, so modified core and plugin files are restored from clean originals rather than hand-edited. Injected content in the database is located by pattern and removed with targeted updates. Backdoors are hunted specifically rather than assumed absent, including uploaded scripts in writable directories, scheduled tasks, modified configuration files and rogue administrative accounts, since removing the visible payload while leaving a backdoor guarantees reinfection. The entry point is identified before the site is declared clean, and the underlying cause is closed: outdated component, weak or reused credential, or exposed file permission. All credentials are rotated afterwards, including database, hosting, and any key that was readable on disk. The cleaned site is re-scanned from outside and monitored for recurrence over the following days rather than signed off immediately.

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