How to do Malware Scan of Your WordPress Website using WordFence

As a website owner, ensuring the security of your website is a top priority. Malware can infect your website and cause damage to your reputation and online presence. WordPress is a popular platform for website development, but it is also a target for hackers. One way to protect your website from malware is to perform regular malware scans using a plugin like WordFence. In this article, we will guide you on how to do a malware scan of your WordPress website using WordFence.

What is WordFence?

WordFence is a popular security plugin for WordPress. It provides various security features such as malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security. The plugin has a free and premium version, but the free version is sufficient for basic malware scanning.

Installing and Activating WordFence

The first step is to install and activate the WordFence plugin on your WordPress website. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard.

2. Go to the Plugins page and click on Add New.

3. Search for "WordFence" in the search bar.

4. Click on Install Now and then Activate.

Adding License Key For WordFence

To add a license key for WordFence, follow these steps:

• Go to the WordFence page on your WordPress dashboard.

• Select the Free Plan and Click on Get a FREE License

• Then click on I'm OK waiting 30 days for protection from new threats.

• Then enter your email address and click on the register button.

• You will receive an email from WordFence with a link just click on Install My License Automatically.

• Then click on the install now button.

• Once your license key has been verified, you can access the premium features of WordFence.

Performing a Malware Scan using WordFence

After you have installed and configured WordFence, you can perform a malware scan on your WordPress website. You can do this by following these steps:

• Go to the WordFence page on your WordPress dashboard.

• Click on the Scan button.

• Click on the Start Scan button.

WordFence will start scanning your WordPress website for malware. The time it takes to complete the scan depends on the size of your website. Once the scan is complete, WordFence will display a report that shows any malware it has detected.

What to do if WordFence Detects Malware

If WordFence detects malware on your WordPress website, you should take immediate action to remove it. You can do this by following these steps:

• Go to the WordFence page on your WordPress dashboard.

• Click on the Scan Results tab.

• If the malware is found then click on the Delete All Deletable Files.

Preventing Malware Infections

Performing regular malware scans using WordFence is an essential step in protecting your WordPress website from malware infections. However, there are other steps you can take to prevent malware infections, such as:

1. Keeping your WordPress and plugins updated.

2. Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

3. Using a secure web hosting provider.

4. Avoiding downloading and installing plugins and themes from untrusted sources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, performing regular malware scans using WordFence is an essential step in ensuring the security of your WordPress website. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily perform a malware scan on your website and take action to remove any malware that is detected. Additionally, taking preventative measures can help reduce the risk of malware infections in the future.