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Host Gator sites hacked easy?

by bsurb
15 replies
I'm not sure why, but how come every new blog I start under Host Gator it comes up with this malware crap, "reported hacked site". The password is extremely long and difficult and I haven't installed any after market plugins.

Is this because of poor hosting or am I just an idiot?

Its been over a week and the support still hasn't replied with help.
#easy #gator #hacked #host #sites
  • Profile picture of the author RafaelThaGreat
    Hey there,

    You know that's a great question. I have hostgator as well and I was just checking some affiliate sites and a few are saying 500 error and not letting me login to Wordpress.

    I'm not sure what exactly happened to these sites and why Wordpress is caput now?

    Have you heard the news this week of the "XSS Plugin Vulnerability" on most Wordpress sites out there?

    Maybe this is your issue? - Hackers target critical XSS vulnerability in millions of Wordpress sites | ZDNet
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  • Profile picture of the author stoltingmediagroup
    1. It may not be necessarily hostgators fault.

    See Rafael's post above and other links online for why your site may have your specific issue.

    I assume if you were running the same script (whatever that may be)
    (WP or some theme or plugin or script that is not updated or had vulnerabilities from the get go,) you would be facing the same issue on any other host.

    If you argue that it's all updated, then your current reported hacked site will beg to differ.

    If "every" blog you start has this issue, then I tend to wonder...
    At one point, using WordPress Auto Installers (Fantastico) was warned against,
    due to security vulnerabilities and making it much easier for malicious hackers to do what they do.
    Not sure if they fixed that yet.

    2. HG has not responded in a week? Have you tried live chat?
    Most likely you'll get help that way in less than 30 min.
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  • Profile picture of the author bsurb
    So basically just make sure all of the plugins are updated?

    HG opened up a ticket for me but haven't replied or done anything in over a week.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Originally Posted by bsurb View Post

      HG opened up a ticket for me but haven't replied or done anything in over a week.
      A number of members here have reported poor response from help tickets, but as Arnold said above, if you use the live chat support, Hostgator is very responsive.
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by bsurb View Post

        I'm not sure why, but how come every new blog I start under Host Gator it comes up with this malware crap, "reported hacked site". The password is extremely long and difficult and I haven't installed any after market plugins.

        Is this because of poor hosting or am I just an idiot?

        Its been over a week and the support still hasn't replied with help.
        My bet is you're doing something wrong on your end because I have multiple sites hosted with Hostgator & never been hacked.









        Originally Posted by Sid Hale View Post

        A number of members here have reported poor response from help tickets, but as Arnold said above, if you use the live chat support, Hostgator is very responsive.
        Your doing it wrong.

        Use the Live Chat.

        I've been running Hostgator for years, still running today with awesome uptime & support (Live Chat).
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        • Profile picture of the author ara67
          Same here no problems with hostgator or support for over 5 years now, I use askimet to protect my blogs and so far it has worked......
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  • Profile picture of the author bsurb
    Iv never had any blogs hacked before until recently. And I have a ticket opened for malware scan but live chat didn't do anything, they just said its in line waiting to be resolved.

    So you recommend installing askimet to help keep it secure?
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by bsurb View Post

      Iv never had any blogs hacked before until recently. And I have a ticket opened for malware scan but live chat didn't do anything, they just said its in line waiting to be resolved.

      So you recommend installing askimet to help keep it secure?
      Doubtful anyone will reply to a ticket. Live Chat is the only way to get support.

      Also, don't ask generalized questions on the chat/support, be very specific. Example, don't ask: Is my site hacked?




      Askimet, doesn't do anything.

      If you have to run comments on your site use something like the Facebook iframe code so nobody is actually posting to your site/blog.

      If you don't need comments, delete the comment form from your theme & turn off comments in the WP Admin. If you're running Wordpress.
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  • Profile picture of the author KenW3
    Originally Posted by bsurb View Post

    So you recommend installing askimet to help keep it secure?
    Akismet is comment spam prevention. Install the WordFence plugin, set it up, and have it check your site for problems.

    Not all plugins (or themes for that matter) are secure - even if fully up-to-date - so it's up to you to research those you decide to use and make sure they're safe, maintained by the author, and compatible with each WordPress core software update.
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    • Profile picture of the author habibkhan01
      Banned
      Hostgator is so disgusting support. Waste of time as if it is very popular hosting I have no interest on them.

      I have purchased I hosting from them but after 1 week it hacked my hosting then I contracted their support but they told me that its technical problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    I have the same issue. Well, that is why I use HTML code now. It is easy to maintain and hackers have a harder time breaking in. Do we get a lot of hacking on sites using word press. Frankly, the answer is yes. Magnet to flies says me. OK so that has been my experience. Still have a few tiny niche sites using word press. Need to quickly convert those over.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vincent Abrugar
    Your server probably have backdoor scripts.

    Try requesting hostgator to move your account to a different server..
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    • Profile picture of the author professorrosado
      I'm going to chime in on this one to say that it's about time that hosting companies begin to shield websites more efficiently. There are a few scripts that can work server side and where are the developers out there? Start making high security databases, scan for malicious code - just don't let things run without question.

      Once these guys get into the back office (db), you're done and your hosting company can't do anything about it now. They should have installed all possible scripts as a basic business practice.

      My suggestion: move your sites and only choose a hosting company that proves its security is the best possible and will keep updating and purchasing or developing new protections for their accounts.

      That with automatic updates on all plugins and themes, frequent PWD changes including FTP PWD / Emails and Desktop security should keep WP and others safe.

      Will be happy to hear which hosts have all the latest DB security scripts running and can clean account files and back up intelligently.
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      • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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        • Profile picture of the author professorrosado
          Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

          Aside from the fact that it's not their job, I think you might not fully understand what a hosting companies role is, in terms of server-side security. .
          That's a given, but don't you think that as you said, I paraphrase, "most web admins aren't techies", that hosts should address the needs of their customer base? And if they do not (I have an experience where a hosting company knew of a script that scanned from the server side) why then is it my responsibility when I have no access to their root servers? The option could have saved my accounts from being hacked, but they did not afford me that option.

          All I am saying is that there should be a host that vigorously defends their accounts with all the tools and /or creates the tools to give the less techie client (the majority) some survivability. After all, if and when more sites get hacked into oblivion, they won't be doing "their jobs" for long.
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  • Profile picture of the author archixet
    As far as my experience : HostGator ain't as safe as other hosting companies.
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