Post-Hack Cleanup Enhancement: Reset WordPress Keys Easily 

by

Anurag Changmai

7-layers of Security for Your WordPress Site

Your website needs the most comprehensive security to protect it from the constant attacks it faces everyday.

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Security keys in WordPress are used to store a lot of critical information. For instance, they are used to manage logged-in sessions securely. Most of the time, you can forget they exist, and they continue to do their job well. 

After a hack, however, the scenario is different. Changing the security keys becomes critical to prevent reinfection. 

This is because, if a WordPress site is hacked, you should assume that the hacker had access to the security keys in your wp-config file. Using the keys, they can regain access to your site even after cleaning the malware. And then you are back to square one.

Reduce reinfection with a post-hack checklist

When you clean your site using MalCare, you can rest assured there won’t be a trace of malware left. Our automated cleaner targets every bit of malicious code—malware and backdoors—during the cleanup process. 

However, there is still the post-hack checklist to get through: checking for fraudulent user accounts, resubmitting a sitemap, and getting off Google’s blacklist, to name a few. Changing your security keys is high on that list, as it is an important step to prevent reinfection.

MalCare HackCleanup Security keys Reset

Automatically change security keys after a cleanup

Instantly invalidate any unauthorized access to your site, shutting the doors on attackers.

By changing the security keys, you force log out every logged-in user, and render the active session cookies invalid. Hackers lose access to your site in one move.

MalCare HackCleanup Security keys Reset 2

Your legitimate users will also get logged out, and have to log in again, but this is a minor inconvenience. In fact, as a next step, you should reset their passwords as well.

Prevent a wide range of attacks

Resetting WordPress security keys particularly fortifies your site against several types of attacks:

  • Session hijacking: Say goodbye to unauthorized users piggybacking on legitimate user sessions. By resetting the keys, these sessions are invalidated, protecting your site from unwelcome guests.
  • Brute force attacks & cookie theft: Regularly changing security keys throws a wrench in the works for hackers attempting to gain access through stolen credentials or cookies. It’s like changing locks, making stolen keys obsolete.
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks: In the fight against XSS attacks, resetting security keys disarms attackers by invalidating stolen session cookies and keeping user data secure.

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Anurag Changmai

Anurag Changmai

Anurag traded algorithms for adverbs when he switched from being a software engineer to being a writer. Editor by day, he chases F1 by night!

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