Hacker on my new WP Site?

Eldon · 19th Feb 2012, 09:03 PM

I just started a new site (My first actually, as I am brand new) and have not even started to get backlinks or anything yet. I post one article on EzineArticles. I got a comment from a guy saying something like...Thanks for the information, nice looking site - and then he asked me what WP Theme I was using.
Am I just being paranoid, or is it possible that this guy can hack into my site by somehow knowing what Theme I am using?

Rick W · 19th Feb 2012, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by afme

I just started a new site (My first actually, as I am brand new) and have not even started to get backlinks or anything yet. I post one article on EzineArticles. I got a comment from a guy saying something like...Thanks for the information, nice looking site - and then he asked me what WP Theme I was using.
Am I just being paranoid, or is it possible that this guy can hack into my site by somehow knowing what Theme I am using?

This comment is a bot or an automated generic message from a commenting program like scrapbox trying to get links into your site, do not reply

WillR · 20th Feb 2012, 05:06 AM

Anyone can find out what Wordpress theme you are using by clicking on your page source and looking at the theme name. It takes less than 20 seconds. I can do it. You could do it. Anyone can do it. It's nothing to worry about because this information is already there in your page source code for anyone to see.

freelancewriting · 21st Feb 2012, 08:28 AM

The reality is that WordPress blogs are a favorite target for hackers. If you're concerned about getting hacked, I recommend secure hosting. That will reduce the risks but increase your costs. The other option is to buy Blog Lock Down and find out how to secure your blog.

CircleofDocs · 21st Feb 2012, 08:33 AM

Use Wang guard program for spammers... We all hate them too

jadesource · 21st Feb 2012, 09:06 AM

Getting hacked is a rite of passage.

I remember the first time I got hacked. I panicked! You go to a site and there is the typical hack page etc and I thought sites are out of control and vulnerable.

Couple of things I learned, and then did:

Generally, the hackers only get the index.php file in your wordpress blog. And that's just a standard php file so it's an easy thing to re upload. That always did the trick for 90 % of my hacks.
Then change the wordpress password in the USER section.
And if you are using Roboform, I generate a new password that even I can't remember.
Make a backup. There are lots of ways to do this and I'm not sure which one warriors recommend, but keep it simple. The files and the database are what you need. Try to do it weekly or even every couple of days.
I started using a firewall plugin (I think it's called wordpress firewall)
and it emails me reports if somebody tries to get in.)
Makes me feel more secure. Has not seemed to affect ranking, traffic or income, and no hacks to date.

Remember, the tallest poppy gets clipped off first. And if you succeed people will go after you.

So, it's a good thing! Just protect yourself.

Any other members please chime in on techniques to protect. I'm not strong in this area and always want to see how to do it better.

Mark

jadesource · 21st Feb 2012, 09:07 AM

But right, in this case, you didn't get hacked it was just a bot.

beeswarn · 21st Feb 2012, 12:21 PM

My company hosts two wordpress sites and a few hundred Joomla and HTML sites. The two wordpress sites attract more hacking attempts than all the others combined. I hate them.

Quentin · 21st Feb 2012, 11:54 PM

That's interesting as we used to have lots of joomla sites that got hacked on a regular basis so we moved to wordpress and had almost no problems.

Go Figure.

skagenweb · 23rd Feb 2012, 03:46 AM

Couldve just been a spammer trying to get backlinks

JForsberg · 23rd Feb 2012, 04:07 AM

That one spammer there ain't gonna be the only one. Get Akismet for your blog. It's free but has paid option - simply to support the developer.
It blocks most spam, and leaves the questionable ones in spam queue for you to delete or approve. So far I've had 34 spam posts removed by it and that's from a very unknown website.

flamewave · 23rd Feb 2012, 06:50 AM

Lets be clear here, you were not hacked. Your Wordpress blog is set to auto approve comments by the sound of it.

An automated tool then scraped the net looking for WP sites, found yours and auto posted a comment.

Its not a hack its a feature of WordPress to be able to comment on it.

dee4d · 23rd Feb 2012, 07:07 AM

Nice replies to the OP. Just know that there is nothing private on the internet, and be ready for anything. Nothing serious though, keep on doing what you have to to build your site.

19th Feb 2012, 09:03 PM	#1
Eldon Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: U.S. Posts: 64 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: I just started a new site (My first actually, as I am brand new) and have not even started to get backlinks or anything yet. I post one article on EzineArticles. I got a comment from a guy saying something like...Thanks for the information, nice looking site - and then he asked me what WP Theme I was using. Am I just being paranoid, or is it possible that this guy can hack into my site by somehow knowing what Theme I am using?

20th Feb 2012, 05:06 AM	#3
WillR Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 12,475 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: Anyone can find out what Wordpress theme you are using by clicking on your page source and looking at the theme name. It takes less than 20 seconds. I can do it. You could do it. Anyone can do it. It's nothing to worry about because this information is already there in your page source code for anyone to see.
	. ➨ Here's How to Make Your First $177 Online This Week Using the Piggyback Method... .

21st Feb 2012, 08:28 AM	#4
freelancewriting Nathan Segal Join Date: 2012 Posts: 16 Thanks: 8 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: The reality is that WordPress blogs are a favorite target for hackers. If you're concerned about getting hacked, I recommend secure hosting. That will reduce the risks but increase your costs. The other option is to buy Blog Lock Down and find out how to secure your blog.

21st Feb 2012, 08:33 AM	#5
CircleofDocs HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Central Coast California Posts: 167 Thanks: 23 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: Use Wang guard program for spammers... We all hate them too

21st Feb 2012, 09:06 AM	#6
jadesource HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Tarlac City, Philippines Posts: 130 Thanks: 29 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: Getting hacked is a rite of passage. I remember the first time I got hacked. I panicked! You go to a site and there is the typical hack page etc and I thought sites are out of control and vulnerable. Couple of things I learned, and then did: Generally, the hackers only get the index.php file in your wordpress blog. And that's just a standard php file so it's an easy thing to re upload. That always did the trick for 90 % of my hacks. Then change the wordpress password in the USER section. And if you are using Roboform, I generate a new password that even I can't remember. Make a backup. There are lots of ways to do this and I'm not sure which one warriors recommend, but keep it simple. The files and the database are what you need. Try to do it weekly or even every couple of days. I started using a firewall plugin (I think it's called wordpress firewall) and it emails me reports if somebody tries to get in.) Makes me feel more secure. Has not seemed to affect ranking, traffic or income, and no hacks to date. Remember, the tallest poppy gets clipped off first. And if you succeed people will go after you. So, it's a good thing! Just protect yourself. Any other members please chime in on techniques to protect. I'm not strong in this area and always want to see how to do it better. Mark

21st Feb 2012, 09:07 AM	#7
jadesource HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Tarlac City, Philippines Posts: 130 Thanks: 29 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: But right, in this case, you didn't get hacked it was just a bot.

21st Feb 2012, 12:21 PM	#8
beeswarn Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: USA Posts: 550 Thanks: 228 Thanked 166 Times in 108 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: My company hosts two wordpress sites and a few hundred Joomla and HTML sites. The two wordpress sites attract more hacking attempts than all the others combined. I hate them.

21st Feb 2012, 11:54 PM	#9
Quentin Web Marketing For Profit War Room Member Join Date: 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 2,895 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1,162 Times in 528 Posts Blog Entries: 10	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: That's interesting as we used to have lots of joomla sites that got hacked on a regular basis so we moved to wordpress and had almost no problems. Go Figure.
	DIY Product Creation Online Business Training on How To Create Products to sell online Plus Lots More.

23rd Feb 2012, 03:46 AM	#10
skagenweb Active Warrior Join Date: 2009 Location: Birmingham, U.K. Posts: 61 Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: Couldve just been a spammer trying to get backlinks

23rd Feb 2012, 04:07 AM	#11
JForsberg Reset Join Date: 2012 Posts: 83 Thanks: 8 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: That one spammer there ain't gonna be the only one. Get Akismet for your blog. It's free but has paid option - simply to support the developer. It blocks most spam, and leaves the questionable ones in spam queue for you to delete or approve. So far I've had 34 spam posts removed by it and that's from a very unknown website.

23rd Feb 2012, 06:50 AM	#12
flamewave Bespoke Chatbot Systems War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 249 Thanks: 60 Thanked 39 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: Lets be clear here, you were not hacked. Your Wordpress blog is set to auto approve comments by the sound of it. An automated tool then scraped the net looking for WP sites, found yours and auto posted a comment. Its not a hack its a feature of WordPress to be able to comment on it.
	Messenger Chatbot Marketing Systems - https://m.me/jaygriggschatbotbuilder

23rd Feb 2012, 07:07 AM	#13
dee4d HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 446 Thanks: 273 Thanked 51 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Hacker on my new WP Site? Share on: Nice replies to the OP. Just know that there is nothing private on the internet, and be ready for anything. Nothing serious though, keep on doing what you have to to build your site.