wordpress hacked, hacked wprdpress - Automated Contacts

WordPress Website Security

wordpress hacked, hacked wprdpress - Automated ContactsIt appears there is a whole lot of WordPress website hacking going on.  We recently fell victim to a brute force attack.  They were able to compromise one of the websites that was hosted on our platform.  The reason we were compromised was due to one of the websites we hosted was well behind in the updates of WordPress and without a security plugin.  The result of an attack is a huge pain.  We caught the compromise fairly quickly and were able to rectify the problem.

Ironically shorty after our situation, we received a number of requests from friends and colleges who ran into the same situation.  So we took a moment to document one of these clean ups to help those of you that may have run into this problem.

How to clean up a hacked WordPress site

Important: these instructions may or may not fix your hacked site.  We are not responsible for any damages or liable if you follow these directions and you break your site.

  • First we installed the Securi Security plug in.  Click on the Malware Scan tab and click the Scan Website button.
    • At this point we had a confirmed malware issue.
  • We then ran the core integrity file checker in Securi Security found on the dashboard and either deleted or restored the files that the checker found.  If you are unsure to restore or delete, find someone that knows.
  • Then we installed Anti-Malware and Brute-Force Security by ELI
    • you register the site and download the latest definitions (no need to pay to check the core files, you just did that with Securi Security Plugin)
    • run the scan (takes some time)
      • our scan found a number of infected files
    • quarantine the known vulnerabilities not the potential
    • go to quarantine section and delete the files
  • Go back to Securi Security, click on the Malware Scan tab and click the Scan Website button.
    • at this point our site came up clean
  • We went to the Hardening tab in Securi Security and selected Harden on most of the options
    • Website firewall is a premium pay feature
    • We did not select the Database Tabel Prefix – BE SUPER CAREFUL, this will break the site!!

If you have a WordPress site and don’t have a security plugin installed, we would recommend you download one of the following plugins right away.  They are all free and offer premium (pay) services if you are willing to pay for additional security.

Recommended WordPress Security Plugins

WordFence, Securi Security and iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security)

pie charts in wordpress by Automated Contacts

Pie Charts for Restaurant Survey Tablet

restaurant survey tabletAutomated Contacts in involved with developing Restaurant Survey Tablet. Here we are testing some charts to show some of our live customers.  These pie charts are real by using a special process and procedure we developed to make the data available for charting within WordPress.

Quality of Food

[pmzez_chart id=”pce_chart1″ type=”pie” url=”https://www.automatedcontacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ChartData.csv”]

Quality of Service

[pmzez_chart id=”pce_chart2″ type=”pie” url=”https://www.automatedcontacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ChartData1.csv”]

Google Mobile Ready update - Automated Contacts

Making websites mobile ready (responsive)

Google Mobile Ready update - Automated Contacts

Click on the image to go to the Google Mobile Friendly Test Website

April 21, 2015 Google makes changes in the search algorithm to have more mobile ready websites in search results.  This change will affect all searches.  If you have not updated your website to be mobile friendly (or responsive), its time to call Automated Contacts.

In November we posted an article  “Is your website responsive?”.  Here you can find information on Google’s recommended ways to display a mobile ready website.

We can get started on either making your website mobile friendly or a redesign and change over to the most popular CMS (content management system) WordPress.  We have already converted one of our client sites, https://villassacbe.com

Villas Sacbe Playa del Carmen by Automated Contacts

teed off tee times - Playa del Carmen Golf

Our web sites keep looking better!

The Automated Contacts design team steps it up a notch. Our client was looking for a new fresh design. We took Teed Off Tee Times located in Playa del Carmen and came up with a new concept for a web site design. The owner Cherly Cogswell and her husband Kevin Sebulski, Canadians who moved to Playa del Carmen wanted a web site that really stood out from the crowd. We took on the challenge and we came up with a very beach y translucent scheme.

The web site features the twelve golf courses found in the Riviera Maya. On the list is the only PGA hosted event in Mexico, the OHL Classic in Mayakoba. The site is structured for English and Spanish.  It also features the pin board design developed by our team.   Please take a look at this beautiful WordPress website.  The site is a responsive website so it looks great on a computer, tablet or cellphone and resizes itself automatically based on the device it is being requested.

When a golf request is made, Teed Off Tee Times will get an immediate email notification to follow up with the potential customer right away.  This was they can offer immediate customer service with the knowledge of the page the customer requested made the request from.

The new website is https://www.teedoffteetimes.com

Looking for a new design. Contact Automated Contacts.

teed off tee times - Playa del Carmen Golf