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{"id":61617,"date":"2019-12-30T12:28:31","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T17:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdesigndev.com\/?p=61617"},"modified":"2019-12-30T12:28:31","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T17:28:31","slug":"how-to-find-and-rectify-malicious-redirected-links","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webdesigndev.com\/how-to-find-and-rectify-malicious-redirected-links\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find and Rectify Malicious Redirected Links"},"content":{"rendered":"

A malicious redirect code is usually inserted into your website with a plan to redirect the site visitor to other websites. Attackers often place these malicious redirects into a website intending to create marketing impressions. However, the problem comes when these redirections cause more damaging effects.\u00a0 Some damages can include vulnerabilities in the computer of the site visitor. This happens through web-based scripts that install malware on vulnerable machines. Therefore, it is vital to remove any malicious redirect from your site. In this how-to guide, we will explain the best ways to identify and remove malicious redirects from your website.<\/p>\n

How to know if your site is infected<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a site owner, you may not be aware that your website is redirecting visitors. By the time you realize it, your customers may have already ending up visiting a not so pleasing website via a redirect while trying to visit your site. In as much as you may think everything is ok on your computer, site visitors using mobile platforms may still experience malicious activities. However, the redirects usually happen on some pages, but not others. At times, you may need to identify any malicious redirects, find out how to remove them and restore your site to normalcy.<\/p>\n

Finding and removing harmful (malicious) redirects<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ensure you back up any site files in a secure place before you make changes to the data in your site, as well as the database. This process is vital for those who are unaware of their content management system’s (CMS) inner workings. You can find malicious redirects<\/strong><\/a> in any area of your site, including your database, site files, and so on.<\/p>\n

Here is how you can find and rectify redirected malicious links:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Javascript inserted in pages and posts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Attackers usually run a script that can add javascript through each post and page on your site. So, these redirects will be found in the site’s database. (here’s an example<\/strong><\/a> of JS redirect to see on your database).<\/p>\n

Removing this redirect<\/strong>: The scripts can be removed via editing through the necessary tools.<\/p>\n

Complicated javascript added to javascript files\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An attacker adds some lines of javascript to numerous javascript files in your site’s data. For this reason, you may not find results due to the site files searching for the URL redirecting you to the website.<\/p>\n

Removing this redirect<\/strong>: You can remove this malicious file by downloading the entire site through an FTP program to your machine. The process will enable you to search for the offending javascript using any file editing software, such as Notepad++ (our personal favorite). A development tool can detect if the malicious files have been inserted in all the javascript files on the site.<\/p>\n

Ad networks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Your site may be free of malware, but some advertising networks can redirect your site visitors. Knowing the culprit advertising network may be challenging due to sporadically and random malicious advert redirects.<\/p>\n

Removing this redirect<\/strong>: Maybe you have utilized all options to stop advertising networks from redirecting your site visitors. In such a case, removing the ad networks from your site will resolve the malicious redirection concerns.<\/p>\n

How to Protect Your Site from malicious redirect attacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Attackers may insert malicious code on your website and make it behave abnormally. You can take the following steps to ensure your site is secure:<\/p>\n