WordPress malware removal · Chicago & nationwide

WordPress Malware Removal & Hacked Site Repair

Hacked, redirecting, or flagged by Google? Seven Seas Web Design removes WordPress malware by hand, deletes every backdoor, cleans your database, and gets Google warnings lifted, without deleting your content or wrecking your rankings. Most sites are clean the same day.

Site down or losing sales right now? Call us. Emergency cleanups are handled 24/7.

Free · no payment needed

Free WordPress Malware Check

Send your URL. We scan it, check your Google status, and tell you what’s infected before you pay anything. We usually reply within 30 minutes during business hours.

Website URL

Your name

Email

Phone (for urgent cases)

What's happening?

Anything else we should know?

Your details stay private. We never share or sell them.

256+

Websites built and supported by Seven Seas Web Design

1–6 hrs

Typical time to clean an infected WordPress site

30 days

Free reinfection cover after every cleanup

24/7

Emergency help when your site is hacked

The service, explained

What Is WordPress Malware Removal?

WordPress malware removal is the process of finding and deleting malicious code from a WordPress website’s files, database, and server settings, then closing the security hole the attacker used to get in. A proper cleanup covers far more than what a scanner flags. It includes backdoors hidden in plugin and upload folders, spam injected into the wp_posts and wp_options tables, rogue admin accounts, malicious cron jobs, and edited files like .htaccess and wp-config.php. It ends with hardening and a review request to Google, so warnings like “This site may be hacked” and “Deceptive site ahead” come down. You’ll also hear it called WordPress virus removal or hacked site cleanup. It’s the same job.

At Seven Seas Web Design, every cleanup is done manually by a WordPress developer. We compare each core, theme, and plugin file against its clean original, inspect the database where spam hides, and send you a written report showing what we found, where it came from, and what we changed.

Why a security plugin alone isn't enough

Scanners match known signatures. A lot of today’s WordPress malware is obfuscated, stored in the database, or cloaked so it only shows to Googlebot or to mobile visitors. That’s why a plugin can report “clean” while Google still shows a warning, and why an automatic cleanup often gets reinfected two days later.

Diagnosis

Signs Your WordPress Site Is Hacked

If you’re seeing any of these, assume the site is infected. Malware spreads to more files, and Google indexes more spam pages, every hour it stays live.

What visitors and Google see

Chrome shows a red "Deceptive site ahead" or "The site ahead contains malware" screen
Google results show "This site may be hacked" or Japanese, Chinese, or Russian text under your pages
Visitors get redirected to scam, betting, or adult sites, often only on mobile or only from Google
Pages you never wrote are indexed: pills, casino, loans, replica bags, essay writing
A fake CAPTCHA or "verify you are human" box asks visitors to paste a command
Pop-ups, fake virus alerts, or push-notification prompts you didn't add
Customers report card fraud after checking out on your store

What you see behind the scenes

Search Console shows a Security Issues alert or a manual action for hacked content
Your host suspended the account or sent a malware or spam-sending notice
New administrator accounts you didn't create, or your admin email was changed
Unknown PHP files in /wp-content/uploads/ or plugins you never installed
The site turned slow, shows a white screen, or throws PHP errors
Your emails land in spam because the server IP was blacklisted
Your security plugin keeps "cleaning" the same infection and it comes back

Seeing even one of these? Send us your URL and we’ll tell you exactly what’s on it, for free.

What we remove

Every Type of WordPress Malware We Remove

WordPress gets attacked in more ways than most owners realize. These are the infections we clean most often, grouped by what they do. If yours isn’t listed, send it anyway. We’ll identify it during the free check.

SEO spam hacks

Malicious redirects

Backdoors & web shells

Script injections

WooCommerce & checkout

Phishing pages

Server & email abuse

Defacement & takeover

Entry points we close

Blacklist & warning removal

SEO spam hacks

Malicious redirects

Backdoors & web shells

Script injections

WooCommerce & checkout

Phishing pages

Server & email abuse

Defacement & takeover

Entry points we close

Blacklist & warning removal

Not sure which one you have? That’s what the free check is for. We tell you what’s on the site before you spend a dollar.

How it works

How We Clean a Hacked WordPress Site

Five steps. You get an update at each one, in plain English.

You don’t need technical knowledge. WordPress admin access plus hosting access (cPanel, FTP, or SFTP) is all we need, and we’ll walk you through getting it.

Step 01 · 15–30 minutes

Free malware check

Send your URL. We run an external scan, check Google Safe Browsing and blocklist status, and tell you what we see and what the cleanup will cost. No payment until you approve.

Step 02 · About 30 minutes

Full backup and forensic scan

Before we touch anything, we back up every file and the full database. Then we compare WordPress core, theme, and plugin files against clean originals and search the database for injected code.

Step 03 · 1–6 hours

Manual malware removal

We remove malicious code line by line, delete backdoors and web shells, clean wp_posts and wp_options, remove rogue admins and bad cron jobs, and repair .htaccess and wp-config.php. Your real content and custom code stay untouched.

Step 04 · Same day

Close the entry point and harden

We find how the attacker got in, patch or replace the vulnerable plugin or theme, reset passwords and security keys, fix file permissions, and lock down logins.

Step 05 · Same day, then tracked

Blacklist removal and written report

We file Google review requests, clear spam out of the index the right way, and send you a report covering what was found, the root cause, and every change we made.

What you get

What's Included in Every WordPress Malware Cleanup

One scope for every job. Nothing below is an upsell, and nothing gets added to your bill in the middle of an emergency.

Full file and database backup before any change
Manual scan of every file and folder
Malware, virus, and trojan code removal
Backdoor and web shell removal
Database cleanup: wp_posts, wp_options, wp_users
Rogue admin and fake user removal

.htaccess, wp-config.php, and cron repair
Core files replaced with official clean copies
Vulnerable plugins and themes patched or replaced
Entry point found and closed
Passwords, salts, and security keys reset
File permission and login hardening

Google Safe Browsing review request
Search Console security issue cleared
Spam URLs removed from Google's index (410s plus removals)
Sitemap and robots.txt repaired
Written cleanup report with root cause
30-day reinfection cover

Rankings protected

Malware Removal That Doesn't Destroy Your SEO

A lot of cheap cleanups remove the malware and your rankings with it. They restore a months-old backup, delete pages, or leave thousands of spam URLs to rot in Google’s index. Hacked-site recovery is part security and part technical SEO, and Seven Seas Web Design does both.

What we protect

Your URLs, permalinks, and internal links stay exactly the same
Your real pages, posts, and products are never deleted
Titles, meta descriptions, and schema restored to your versions
Analytics and Search Console tracking stay connected
Page speed checked after the cleanup

What we fix in Google

Spam URLs return 410 Gone so Google drops them faster
Removal requests filed for the worst spam pages
sitemap.xml cleaned and resubmitted
Hacked robots.txt rules repaired
Safe Browsing and manual-action reviews filed with a cleanup summary

Why we don’t just restore a backup: restoring last month’s backup throws away last month’s work. If the backdoor was planted before that backup, the hack comes straight back. We clean the live site file by file instead.

Rankings already slipped after a hack? Our SEO services team can run a recovery audit once the site is clean.

Reinfection

Why WordPress Malware Keeps Coming Back

If your site was “cleaned” and got reinfected within days, one of these was missed. We check every one of them on every job.

A hidden backdoor survived

One overlooked file in uploads, mu-plugins, or a fake core file is enough to re-inject everything.

A malicious cron job is still scheduled

WP-Cron entries or server cron jobs can quietly reinstall malware on a timer.

The entry point is still open

An unpatched plugin or a reused password lets the same attacker, or a bot, walk right back in.

Cloaked spam fooled the scanner

Spam served only to Googlebot looks clean in your browser and in most security plugins.

This isn’t rare. Patchstack’s State of WordPress Security in 2026 report logged 11,334 new vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem in 2025. 91% were in plugins, and 46% had no patch available when they were disclosed. For heavily exploited flaws, the median time to mass exploitation was five hours. Updating “when you get to it” isn’t a security plan anymore.

Compare

Security Plugin vs. Cheap Gig vs. Seven Seas Web Design

Three ways to deal with a hacked WordPress site, and what each one actually covers.

What matters	Security plugin alone	$10–$30 gig	Seven Seas Web Design
Finds hidden backdoors	Often misses them	Hit or miss	Yes, manual file-by-file review
Cleans the database	Rarely	Sometimes	Yes: wp_posts, wp_options, users
Protects rankings and content	No	Often restores an old backup	Yes, live-site cleanup
Removes Google warnings	No	Rarely	Yes, review requests filed and tracked
Finds how they got in	No	Rarely	Yes, root cause in your report
Talk to a real person	Support tickets	Varies	Yes, by phone and email
Reinfection cover	No	Rarely	30 days included

A security plugin is good protection after a cleanup. It isn’t a cleanup. Automated tools can’t tell your custom code from an attacker’s, so they either miss the malware or break the site.

Flat pricing

WordPress Malware Removal Pricing

Pick the plan that fits, or send your site for a free check and we’ll tell you honestly which one you need. The price you see is the price you pay.

One-time cleanup

Basic Cleanup

For small sites with a light infection or a single warning.

$79one-time

Malware and virus removal
Suspicious file cleanup
Blacklist status check
Full backup before cleanup
Scan report
1 website
7 days of support

Usually finished within a few hours.

Advanced Cleanup

For hacked, spammed, or Google-blacklisted sites.

$120one-time

Everything in Basic
Backdoor and web shell removal
Database cleanup
Google blacklist removal
SEO spam cleanup
Security hardening
30-day reinfection cover

Our most chosen plan for business sites.

One-time cleanup

Emergency Fix

Site down, suspended, or losing sales right now.

$200one-time

Everything in Advanced
Work starts immediately
Priority 24/7 support
Host suspension help
Fast-track blacklist review
WooCommerce checkout audit
14 days of priority support

We start the moment you confirm.

Zero risk

Our 30-Day Clean-Site Guarantee

If your site is reinfected within 30 days of our cleanup, we clean it again at no charge. No argument, no second invoice.

If we can’t clean your site, you don’t pay. And if we think a site is beyond repair, we’ll say so before we start instead of taking your money.

30 days of reinfection cover

Free re-cleaning if the same site gets reinfected within 30 days.

No fix, no fee

If we can't clean the site, you don't pay a cent.

One developer, start to finish

The same person handles your site from first scan to final report, so you always know who you're talking to.

Who we help

WordPress Malware Removal for Chicago Businesses and Clients Nationwide

Seven Seas Web Design is based in Chicago and Gurnee, IL. We clean hacked WordPress sites for Chicagoland businesses, from the Loop to Lake County, and work remotely with site owners across the United States. A hack at 11 p.m. doesn’t have to wait for business hours.

Need a rebuild instead of a cleanup? See our Chicago web design services.

Small business websites

Law firms, clinics, contractors, and restaurants whose website is their phone line.

WooCommerce and online stores

Checkout-safe cleanups and skimmer removal, with care around orders and payment data.

Blogs and content sites

Spam removed without losing the rankings you spent years earning.

Agencies and developers

White-label cleanup when a client's site gets hacked on your watch.

Membership, booking, and directory sites

User data, logins, and custom plugins handled carefully.

Nonprofits, schools, and chambers

Fast recovery for organizations that run on tight budgets and volunteer time.

Client results

What Our Clients Say

Recoveries described by the business owners whose sites were hacked.

1. “Our website suddenly started redirecting visitors to Casino website. Seven Seas web design found the infected files, removed the malware, and had the site working normally again within 24hour. They also explained what caused the problem and how they secured it afterward.”

“Google had flagged our website with a security warning, and we were worried about losing customers. The team cleaned the infection, submitted the review request, and the warning disappeared after 10 hours Our existing pages and content were left intact.”

“We had already tried security plugin and firewalls, but the malware kept returning. Seven Seas web design discovered a hidden backdoor that the previous scan had missed. They closed the entry point, secured the site, and we haven’t had another issue in a months.”

“Our business website went down at the worst possible time. Seven Seas responded within a minutes, explained the price before starting, and restored the site without affecting our leads and customer info. Communication was clear throughout the process.”

Answers

WordPress Malware Removal FAQs

Straight answers about time, price, access, and what happens to your rankings.

Don’t see your question? Call (630) 202-8781 or email info@sevenseaswebdesign.com.

How much does WordPress malware removal cost?

Our cleanups start at $49 for a light infection, $99 for a hacked or blacklisted site, and $149 for an emergency fix that starts immediately. You get a fixed quote after the free check. If the site needs a bigger plan, we tell you before any work starts, and we never add charges mid-job.

How long does it take to remove malware from a WordPress site?

Most sites are clean in 1 to 6 hours. Large WooCommerce stores, multisite installs, or sites infected for months can take up to 24 hours. Google’s review of a warning then takes anywhere from a day to a few weeks, depending on the type of warning.

Can I remove WordPress malware myself?

You can if you’re comfortable working in files and the database. The basic steps: back up, replace core files, reinstall plugins and themes from official sources, check /uploads/ for PHP files, clean the database, remove unknown admins, reset every password and the security salts, then request a Google review. The risk is missing a backdoor or breaking the site. If the infection has already come back once, get professional help.

Will I lose my content, pages, or products?

No. We clean the live site file by file and don’t restore old backups as a shortcut, so your pages, posts, products, orders, and settings stay exactly as they are.

Will my Google rankings drop after the cleanup?

Cleaning doesn’t hurt rankings. The hack does. Removing spam pages properly (410 status codes, sitemap cleanup, and removal requests) and getting warnings lifted quickly is what brings rankings back. Most sites recover within a few weeks of a clean bill of health.

How do I remove the "This site may be hacked" or "Deceptive site ahead" warning?

Fix the site first, then request a review in Google Search Console under Security & Manual Actions. Google advises waiting until the problem is fully resolved, because a failed review keeps the warning up longer. We file the request with a summary of what was cleaned. Malware and phishing reviews usually take a few days; hacked-spam reviews can take a few weeks.

My security plugin says the site is clean, but Google still flags it. Why?

Usually because of cloaking or a leftover backdoor. Cloaked spam shows normal content to you and spam to Googlebot, so scanners running inside your site miss it. We check what Google actually sees, not just what your browser shows.

Why does malware keep coming back after a cleanup?

Something was left behind: a backdoor, a malicious cron job, an infected sibling site on the same hosting account, or the original vulnerability. We find and close the root cause, which is why reinfection cover is included.

What access do you need to clean my site?

WordPress admin access and hosting access (cPanel, Plesk, FTP, or SFTP). If you don’t know how to get these, we’ll walk you through it. Change your passwords after the job, and we’ll confirm everything still works.

My host suspended my account for malware. Can you still help?

Yes. We work with your host, clean the account, and provide the cleanup report hosts ask for before they reactivate a site. If the suspension was for spam email, we also help get the server IP delisted.

Do you clean WooCommerce stores and card skimmers?

Yes. We audit checkout templates, payment gateway files, and database-stored scripts where skimmers hide, then help you identify which orders fell inside the exposure window so you can notify customers if needed.

How did my WordPress site get hacked?

The most common causes are outdated or abandoned plugins, nulled themes, weak or reused passwords, and compromised hosting or FTP credentials. Plugins are the biggest risk: 91% of new WordPress vulnerabilities found in 2025 were in plugins, according to Patchstack. Your cleanup report names the actual entry point on your site.

Do you offer ongoing WordPress security after the cleanup?

Yes, if you want it. Updates, backups, and monitoring can be set up after the cleanup, but they’re never required. We won’t hold your cleanup hostage to a monthly plan.

Do you work with clients outside Chicago?

Yes. Seven Seas Web Design is based in Chicago and Gurnee, IL, and we clean WordPress sites for clients across the United States remotely. All we need is access to the site and the hosting account.

Reviewed by

Julius, WordPress Security Developer at Seven Seas Web Design

Every cleanup described on this page is done by hand by our WordPress team, not by an automated scanner. Learn more about Seven Seas Web Design or contact the team.

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Official sources we work from

Hacked Right Now? Let's Get Your WordPress Site Clean Today.

Every hour a hacked site stays online, more files get infected, more spam gets indexed, and more customers see a warning. Send us your URL and Seven Seas Web Design will tell you what’s wrong, free.