When running a WordPress website, one of the crucial things to take care of is its security. When we talk about a website’s security, two terms are more commonly used among web developers and webmasters: Malware & Viruses.
Most webmasters are confused between malware and a virus. We also get several queries from our customers, and they use these words interchangeably. So, we thought of writing a brief blog post to explain the key differences between malware and viruses.
Let’s begin!
What is malware?
Malware is a broad term that refers to malicious code or software. Malware scripts/codes are created to harm, exploit, or get unauthorized access to a system, which is a WordPress website in this case. Malware can take various forms, including backdoors, phishing pages, malicious redirects, and spyware.
What is a virus?
A virus, on the other hand, is a specific form of malware. Similar to a biological virus, it tends to spread across the ‘host’, for example, a WordPress site. A virus on a website usually:
- Spread to other files within your website.
- It replicates itself, making it harder to remove.
- Disrupt normal website functions, such as crashing pages or corrupting data.
To sum up, here are the key differences between malware and viruses:
- Scope: Malware is, in a broad sense, an umbrella that may include all types of harmful software; however, a virus is just one form of malware (one of the malware forms).
- Behavior: Viruses replicate and spread. But that’s not the same with all types of malware. Some malware may stay hidden, steal data, or redirect traffic without spreading.
How severe can malware and viruses be for a WordPress website?
- They can slow down your WordPress site’s performance.
- Your customer’s sensitive data can get compromised.
- Your website may get blacklisted by Google.
- They can damage your business reputation among your website visitors.
If you feel your WordPress website has been compromised, contact a WordPress expert to repair your infected site immediately.
How do web developers secure a WordPress site?
While we do not recommend DIY for your website’s security, here are a few steps most WordPress developers take to secure a website.
- Keeping the WordPress site’s core, themes, and plugins updated.
- Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts.
- Regularly back up the site.
- Installing & configuring SSL & Firewall.
- Customizing the default admin username and URL.
- Restricting the crucial file permissions.