Most small-business websites run on WordPress, and outdated plugins are one of the biggest risks. Attackers scan websites for known vulnerabilities and can use compromised sites to spread malware, publish scams, redirect visitors or steal information. Keeping your website, plugins and themes updated — and making sure someone is responsible for doing so — can prevent many of these problems.
Your website is probably one of those things you set up and then rarely think about.
If it is working normally, there may not seem to be any reason to touch it. But that is exactly why neglected websites can become an easy target for attackers.
How a neglected website gets hacked
Attackers do not usually choose a small business because they have specifically heard of it. Instead, automated tools scan thousands of websites looking for known vulnerabilities.
A vulnerable plugin can be enough.
When a plugin developer discovers a security flaw, they normally release an update to fix it. Until that update is installed, the vulnerability remains open — and attackers can use automated scanners to find websites running the affected version.
Security research into WordPress vulnerabilities consistently shows that plugins and themes account for a large proportion of reported issues, rather than WordPress itself.
That means keeping everything up to date is one of the simplest ways to reduce your website’s attack surface.
What attackers can do with a hacked website
A compromised website does not always look obviously broken.
In many cases, attackers want the site to continue operating normally while they use it for their own purposes.
Serving malware: Your website could be altered to send visitors towards malicious downloads or pages designed to infect their devices.
Spam and scam pages: Attackers can create hidden pages promoting fake products, services or scams, taking advantage of your website’s existing reputation.
Stealing information: If your website has contact, enquiry or checkout forms, attackers may be able to capture information visitors enter.
Redirecting visitors: Someone clicking on your website could be automatically sent to a completely different website, potentially containing scams or malware.
Even if the attacker is targeting your visitors rather than your business directly, the consequences still land on you.
Search engines can flag compromised websites, rankings can suffer and browsers may display security warnings. Instead of seeing your website, a potential customer could be greeted with a warning that the site may be dangerous.
Is your website at risk?
That depends largely on how your website is built and maintained.
If you use a hosted website builder such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify, much of the underlying security and updating is handled by the provider. That generally reduces the amount you need to manage yourself.
A self-hosted WordPress website is different.
If your site was set up by a web designer or agency on separate hosting, someone needs to take responsibility for keeping WordPress, its plugins and its themes updated.
The important question is: who?
On many small-business websites, nobody has clearly taken ownership of ongoing maintenance after the site was launched.
Your website deserves a closer look if:
- You are not sure who maintains it.
- You cannot remember the last time WordPress or its plugins were updated.
- The site has not been maintained for a year or more.
- It uses plugins that are no longer supported.
- A plugin developer has disappeared or stopped releasing updates.
- Nobody is monitoring the site for security issues.
How to keep your website secure
A few straightforward measures can significantly reduce the risk of your website being compromised.
- Keep everything updated: WordPress, plugins and themes all need to be kept up to date. Where appropriate, automatic updates can help prevent updates being forgotten. If updates cannot be automated, make sure someone has responsibility for checking them regularly.
- Remove plugins you no longer use: Every plugin introduces another potential source of vulnerabilities. If you are no longer using one, remove it rather than leaving it installed.
- Choose reputable plugins: Before installing a plugin, check that it is actively maintained, regularly updated and widely used. Be cautious about plugins that have not received an update for a long time or have little information available about their developer.
- Watch for abandoned plugins: Sometimes a plugin is no longer maintained or is removed from the official plugin directory following security concerns. If a plugin is no longer receiving updates, replace it with a supported alternative rather than leaving it on your website.
- Protect your admin account: Use a strong, unique password for your website’s administrator account. Enable multi-factor authentication if your hosting or WordPress setup supports it. This provides another layer of protection if your password is compromised.
- Consider a security plugin or web firewall: A reputable WordPress security solution can help block common attacks, monitor for suspicious changes and alert you when something needs attention. Your web designer, hosting provider or IT provider can advise you on an appropriate option for your setup.
- Keep reliable backups: If your website is compromised, a recent clean backup can make recovery much quicker. Make sure backups are actually running and, importantly, that they can be restored successfully.
- Make responsibility clear: Decide who is responsible for website security and maintenance. That might be your web designer, hosting provider, IT provider or an internal member of staff. The important thing is that it is someone’s responsibility — rather than something everyone assumes somebody else is handling.
What to do if your website is hacked
If you discover that your website has been compromised, act quickly.
- 1. Get professional help: Contact your web host, web developer, IT provider or a website security specialist. Properly cleaning a compromised website can require more than simply removing the obvious changes.
- 2. Take the website offline: If visitors could be exposed to malware or scams, temporarily taking the site offline can help limit further damage while it is investigated.
- 3. Change your passwords: Using a device you know is secure, change the passwords for your website administrator and hosting accounts. Enable MFA wherever possible.
- 4. Restore a known-clean backup: If you have a reliable backup from before the compromise, restoring it can be one of the quickest ways to recover.
- 5. Update everything before going live again: Update WordPress, plugins and themes, and remove anything that is no longer required or supported. Otherwise, the same vulnerability could be exploited again.
- 6. Check for exposed information: If your website processes customer information, enquiries or payments, establish whether any data may have been accessed and take appropriate action.
Don’t let your website become an afterthought
Your website does not need constant attention, but it does need someone to look after it.
A few simple checks — keeping software updated, removing unnecessary plugins, protecting administrator accounts and maintaining reliable backups — can prevent many of the problems associated with neglected websites.
Most importantly, make sure everyone knows who is responsible for keeping the website secure.
Because the biggest website security risk is often not a sophisticated attack. It is simply nobody checking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my website has been hacked?
Warning messages from Google or your browser, unexpected pages or pop-ups, unusual redirects and sudden changes in search traffic can all be signs of a compromised website.
Your web host, web developer or IT provider can investigate if you are unsure.
Do I need to update my website if it still works?
Yes. A website can look completely normal while an outdated plugin or theme leaves a security vulnerability exposed.
Updates are often released specifically to close known security holes, so waiting until something visibly breaks is not a good security strategy.
I use Wix or Squarespace. Am I still at risk?
Your risk is generally lower because hosted website platforms manage much of the underlying infrastructure and updates for you.
You should still protect your administrator account with a strong, unique password and MFA where available.
Who should maintain my website?
It depends on your setup. Responsibility could sit with your web designer, hosting provider, IT provider or an internal member of staff.
The important thing is that the responsibility is clearly assigned and that someone is actually carrying out the necessary updates and checks.
What is a website security plugin or web firewall?
It is a security tool designed to protect your website from common attacks, monitor for suspicious activity and identify potentially malicious changes. For WordPress websites, a reputable security plugin can provide an additional layer of protection alongside regular updates and good account security.
Don’t leave your website’s security to chance
Securing your small business website doesn’t have to be a complicated, time-consuming task. If you want peace of mind knowing your digital storefront and backend data are fully protected, Novo IT is here to help. As a family-run business based in Crawley, we provide proactive Cybersecurity and Managed IT Services to small businesses across West Sussex. We can assess your current setup, lock down vulnerabilities, and handle the ongoing monitoring so you can focus on running your business without worrying about cyber threats.
👉 Ready to secure your digital presence? Book your Free IT Audit today, and let our expert, friendly team protect your business while you focus on growth.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
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