If you don’t know who Matt Cutts is, Matt Cutts works for the Search Quality group in Google, specializing in search engine optimization issues. He is well known in the SEO community for enforcing the Google Webmaster Guidelines and cracking down on link spam. Cutts also advises the public on how to get better website visibility in Google.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Cutts
In the video below, Matt speaks on the topic of Blog and Blog product hacking.
It’s a very LONG video, so if you want to just watch this section, start at 13:53 and watch through 18:35.
The Theme: WordPress is easy to hack. But then, so is any of the other CMS (Content Management Systems) such as Joomla or Drupla.
What to do if you are hacked?
1) Take down the site or blog immediately.
2) Restore all data from Backups.
3) Submit your site for Reconsideration to Google.
How to know if you’ve been hacked?
1) Google may inform you of hacked code in your webmaster tools account email.
2) You should use some type of product to be alerted if you’ve been hacked using a variety of “watch criteria” so you will know as soon as you can that it’s happened.
A word of advice from Acorn Marketing
If you are using any type of CMS (Content Management Systems) such as WordPress, Drupal or Joomla for your Website or Blog content, you need to make sure your hosting company, or you yourself, if you manage your own Website / Blog is...
1) Diligent in getting any and all new updates loaded immediately as they are released.
2) Keeps quality backups of all content and layouts.
3) Is prepared to handle a hacking attack.
Because in today’s internet world, it’s not a case of “IF” you’ll be hacked, but “WHEN” you’ll be hacked. And you MUST be ready.
Otherwise your Website or Blog will most likely be pulled from the search engines until it has been restored as “CLEAN” and you’ve submitted a “Reconsideration” request (and it’s been approved) by the various search engines.
In the mean time, your presence on the Web, and your ability to generate business will be comprised.
Finally, keep in mind that any of your guests visiting a Website or Blog that has been “Hacked” with Spyware or damaging Virus Downloading Code will be in jeopardy that their PC also being compromised. Not a great impression for an existing or new guest that might be looking to stay at your inn.
Lisa Kolb
President and Co-Founder Acorn Marketing
"Educating our Industry 1 Innkeeper at a time!"
