We got a call from a client last week. Their website was slow and kept crashing. After a quick check, we found the problem: their site had been hacked. The hackers got in through old plugins. These were parts of the website that needed updating.
Here’s what led to it.
A few months ago, we spoke with them about our website maintenance service. This service includes updating everything and checking for security issues. They told us it cost too much. They decided to do the updates themselves.
We get it. Everyone wants to save money. But running a business is busy work. Website updates are easy to forget. And that’s what happened.
What We Found Inside Their Website
The hack wasn’t meant to just break the site. It was more clever than that. We found a hidden script for crypto mining. This means the hackers were using our client’s website server to make money for themselves. It was like a stranger using your electricity while you pay the bill.
This happens all the time. Hackers use programs to search for weak websites. They look for:
- → Outdated WordPress cores
- → Vulnerable plugins
- → Weak passwords
- → No security monitoring
They inject malicious PHP scripts that:
- → Re-route traffic to their sites
- → Steal visitor data
- → Install backdoors for future access
The Lesson We All Need to See
Our client learned something important. Website security is not an optional extra. It is a basic need for your business. Think of it like fixing a small leak in your roof. If you ignore it to save money, the next big storm can cause massive water damage. The repair bill will be much, much larger.
That’s what happened here. We had to completely clean and rebuild their website. It was a big job. The final cost to fix everything was more than twice the price of our original maintenance plan they thought was “too expensive.”
Stopping a problem is always cheaper than fixing it.
A Question for You
What is your plan for your website’s safety? Maybe you are doing the updates yourself. Or maybe you are not sure what is being done. It is a real risk to think about. You do not have to figure this out alone. We can help.
Contact us at Intetrix Solutions for a FREE, no-obligation chat about your website’s security. We can look at your site and give you straightforward advice.
Let us help you keep your website safe, so you can get back to your business.
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