Skip to main content Screen Reader Website Version
Get a Quote
Home Web Design SEO Services ADA Compliance Hosting & Support Custom Web Applications Our Work About Blog Contact

HotOpponents Hack

We have seen this one a few times coming from WordPress but we have also seen it in Google Analytics code or simply in a header.php file. HotOpponents is a simple redirect script but really digs down and makes roots for itself throughout your website files and database.  Here’s how we got rid of it in WordPress. Of course, you can always call us and we can clean this for you!

If you’re on a shared server, ask us about dedicated server support: we get you on a super-secure dedicated server for about the same cost as an insecure, slow, shared server (most common setup).

  1. Locate your wp-config.php file and note the database name.
  2. Open PHPMyAdmin and locate the database.
  3. Open SQL Statements and insert the following

    Remember to replace your table prefix here with the one in your database.
    Also, take notice of the GET variables in the URL, sometimes the tp=2 is different. We’ve seen zzz=3 and jp=88
  4.  That should remove the hotopponents script from your database.
  5. Replace ALL wordpress files with a clean version
  6. Next, log in via FTP and quarantine your plugins and theme files.
    1. download all files and search for malware manually – in obvious spots – header.php, index, etc…
    2. Scan your site with https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/ 
    3. Remove any malware. Many times it’s just better to flush plugins and reinstall them all, then just overwrite your theme files with the latest version or a backup.
  7. Download and install WordFence and do a site scan
  8. Finally, update all your passwords (account, (S)FTP, WordPress)
  9. Backup your site.

Nasty little hack/redirect script from some ridiculously infantile folks.

 

More Web Design Blog Content

WordPress: Capturing Post Author Meta

An easy one here from your local Gainesville Web Designer: How to retreive the author information from a post in the WordPress loop. This assumes you’re in the loop, of course. $meta_field= get_the_author_meta( ‘your_meta’ );   Badda-bing badda-boom. You’re done. It really is that simple. Just use get_the_author_meta,

Using Warning Lights or Guages

A good article on fox-business about whether your business uses warning lights or gauges to understand how your business is growing. The proper answer should be: gauges. A light is just either on or off, a gauge gives you much more information about where your business is headed,

The Brief Business Guide To Instagram

Instagram is a misunderstood product for most business owners. Isn’t facebook enough? No. Unfortunately you must not only adapt to the changing social media platforms but you have to keep adapting to all the various forms of networkings online. For some it’s fun, for others it’s a necessary

The Best of HTML 5

Thank Goodness HTML 5 is finally here and it’s everything we expected it to be and more! Out of the many new features with the code standards comes with it many new and exiting programs to facilitate the production of HTML 5 websites. One great new tool is

Neon AI on a keyboard

How Contractors Can Use AI to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Brought to you by Livewire – Web Design and Digital Solutions for Contractors In an industry where time is money and efficiency is key, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tech buzzword—it’s a practical tool that forward-thinking contractors are starting to use every day. From saving

Should you be wary of SEO firms?

Good Call Commander! You should absolutely be suspicious of SEO firms these days. The industry is unfortunately saturated with unscrupulous, downright devious companies that prey on  unsuspecting business owners attempting to better their rankings. They pump your site full of fluff and post thousands of links around their