# WordPress hack cleanup: process and pricing orientation

> How Larsik Corp handles hacked WordPress sites — containment through verification, what drives cost, and how WP Security Ninja fits prevention vs cleanup.

Source: https://larsik.com/wordpress-hack-cleanup/

Security

# WordPress hack cleanup: process and pricing orientation

When a site is compromised, you need a calm sequence — not a panic scan that deletes one spam page and leaves the backdoor. This page explains how I work, what drives cost, and how[WP Security Ninja](https://wpsecurityninja.com/?utm_source=larsik&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=hack-cleanup) fits prevention versus a hands-on cleanup.

[Security & cleanup service](/services/security-cleanup/)[Tell me what you are seeing](/contact/)[Book a call](https://cal.com/lars-koudal-llz9fb/15min?utm_source=larsik&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=hack-cleanup)

## The recovery process

1.  1
    
    ## Contain
    
    Limit damage: maintenance mode if needed, rotate credentials, revoke unknown admins, snapshot for forensics. Suspension by a host is not the same as a clean site.
    
2.  2
    
    ## Assess
    
    Core checksums, uploads for PHP backdoors, recently changed theme/plugin files, database injections, cron/mu-plugins, and logs — file infection, DB spam, stolen access, or all three.
    
3.  3
    
    ## Clean
    
    Remove malware and persistence (not only the visible spam page). Backdoors, rogue crons, poisoned .htaccess, and injected options get the same attention.
    
4.  4
    
    ## Harden
    
    Firewall and login protection, least-privilege users, 2FA where appropriate, updates for the likely entry path, remove unused themes/plugins and public staging copies.
    
5.  5
    
    ## Verify
    
    Re-scan, check Safe Browsing / Search Console security issues, spot-check spam URLs, test forms/checkout/mail, monitor logs. Request Google review only when you are confident.
    

Deeper write-ups: [cleanup after a hack](/blog/wordpress-security-cleanup-after-hack/) · [first 30 minutes](/blog/what-i-check-first-when-a-site-gets-hacked/) · [how I approach WordPress security](/blog/wp-security-ninja-wordpress-security/)

## Pricing orientation (no fake flat rate)

Cleanup pricing depends on reality on the server — not a marketing package name. I quote after I understand severity and access. These factors usually move the estimate:

-   How deep the compromise goes (files only vs database + backdoors + cron)
-   WooCommerce, memberships, or multi-site — more moving parts, more verification
-   Whether you still have usable hosting / SFTP / database access
-   Google Safe Browsing or host suspension already in play
-   How urgently you need same-day triage vs a scheduled cleanup window
-   Whether the entry path is obvious (outdated plugin) or still unknown

Same-day triage is often possible; full cleanup timing depends on depth. You get a realistic timeline once I have looked at the situation — not a promise that every infection is a two-hour job.

## Product vs cleanup engagement

## WP Security Ninja

Self-serve WordPress security plugin: firewall, malware scanner, login protection, scheduled scans. Best for prevention and ongoing hardening on sites you control.

[wpsecurityninja.com →](https://wpsecurityninja.com/?utm_source=larsik&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=hack-cleanup)

## Larsik cleanup

Hands-on recovery when you are already hacked: contain, clean, harden, verify, and explain the entry path. Often followed by maintenance so updates do not slip again.

[Security & cleanup service →](/services/security-cleanup/)

## What to prepare before you contact me

-   Hosting and WordPress admin access (or SFTP + database)
-   When you first noticed the issue
-   Messages from Google, your host, or customers
-   Whether you have a backup from before the hack

## Common questions

Can you clean a hacked WordPress site?+

Yes. Cleanup, hardening, and verification are core work — from the same person who builds WP Security Ninja. Start with the security & cleanup service when you are ready to engage.

How much does WordPress hack cleanup cost?+

There is no honest flat price without seeing severity and access. Cost scales with depth of infection, WooCommerce/complexity, urgency, and whether credentials and backups are available. Share the site URL and what you are seeing for a concrete quote.

Is WP Security Ninja the same as hiring you for cleanup?+

No. WP Security Ninja is a WordPress security plugin (firewall, scanner, login protection) you can run yourself for prevention and hardening. A Larsik cleanup engagement is hands-on recovery when you are already compromised — then we often install and configure hardening tools, including WP Security Ninja, so the door stays closed.

Will Google Safe Browsing warnings clear automatically?+

Not instantly. Clean and harden first, then request a review when you are confident. Warnings that clear while malware remains just come back.

Do I need a new host after a hack?+

Often not. Many compromises are outdated plugins, weak passwords, or no firewall — not a bad host. If the server itself is shared-compromised or unmanaged, I will say so.

What should I do in the first hour?+

Do not keep logging in with the same password. Preserve access details for whoever will clean the site, avoid restoring a random old backup over evidence, and read the first-30-minutes checklist on the blog if you need a calm sequence.