UPDATE: My blog has been deemed CLEAR by Google – you should not be getting a Malware Alert any longer! Thanks to the folks at Google 🙂
Yesterday afternoon I started getting emails, tweets, Facebook notes & conversations on Etsy about Malware alerts. Thanks to each and every one of you for giving me the heads up on my big nightmare!
So let’s talk a little bit about how I got hacked. It wasn’t really my fault, but that didn’t keep it from happening. Now is the time that I tell you from my own wisdom to be very, very careful of the ads you accept on your blog. My hack came through an ad – because that website was hacked and started bleeding all over the internet (I will not link to them – but if you have an ad from PSPrinting REMOVE IT NOW!) Their backdoors were open, and it led straight into mine. I removed the link, which removed my problem.
So what do you do if you’ve been hacked and you’re on Blogger? Go to Google Webmaster Tools – by copy and pasting this into your browser:
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/home?hl=en&siteUrl=http://www.INSERTYOURBLOGNAME.com/
Be sure to change the link with YOUR blog URL where it says INSERTYOURBLOGNAME – this takes you to your Google Webmaster Dashboard
It will show you if there have been issues – select Check Site Health to see where your problem is.
It will show a pop up box, then click Malware Detected?
Now you can see which pages are infected. Click on “Details”
I recognized the Suspected Injected Code from an ad that was placed a couple of months ago. Although I did review the website before I accepted them as a sponsor, I had no idea that they would be hacked (hey, it can happen to ANYONE!) If you cannot find your issue in a widget, try looking under your HTML in your DESIGN settings.
When you find the code in your HTML (mine was in a widget), REMOVE IT.
Once you have removed the code from your website, go back to the page showing the list of bad links.
Up above all those links, there will be a yellow box to request a review. Click Request a review and fill in the info. Then wait for them to recrawl your site (it will take a couple of days, be patient!)
So, my problem is fixed. You are NOT at risk!
I’m so, so embarrassed that this happened – but it really can happen to anyone. I just hope that sharing my nightmare can help someone else in the future if they have a similar issue….
I’ll be back later today with my 31 days post 🙂
Debby says
Someone just notified me that they tried to get to my blog and you blog name came up with the malware virus. Thanbks for all the advice. I think I will have my husband try it, too confusing for me.
Debby says
How do I keep others from getting it from my blog. I don’t remember clicking on anything from your blog…….just read it????
Whytney says
Gina-
People are reporting that they have deleted your link out of fear… I am going to repost this so others can access the information!
Traci says
Gina, thank you so much for this info. I got a virus on my laptop two weeks ago. I had to take it in to be repaired and all my files recovered. $150 later I am back up and running. It was great that you could figure out where it came from.
Thanks again for the info.
Traci
The Vintage Farmhouse says
Don’t be embarrassed it really can happen to anyone! I’m glad you figured it out and got it resolved! ♥
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says
Thanks for these tips, Gina! I’m bookmarking them for future use though I hope never to have to use them! Btw, Google Chrome is still telling me its detecting malware from your site, but hopefully it just hasn’t caught up yet that its gone.
~Sues Treasures on the Porch~ says
It can happen to anyone so happy you are all fixed up! Happy Blogging friend!!
Stacey@A Sort Of Fairytale says
so sorry! i am still getting malware notices from your blog…will this go away soon? thanks!
Carmie of the Single Nester says
I am so sorry to hear about this. Thank you for providing the info.
Sue Frazier says
sorry about all this mess for you…glad you got it cleared up though!
Lesley says
What a disaster! It’s such a shame that something so joyful and innocent as a blog can be corrupted with people out there to hurt.
Checked mine and it’s all safe. Thanks for the tips!
ShabbyArtAngel says
thanks for sharing
Katie Franck says
so glad you got it fixed & thanks for the tutorial…hopefully I’ll never need it…
Deborah March says
What a NIGHTMARE this must have been for you…so pleased you have it fixed…have saved your tutorial…just in case…thanks Gina…keep on keepin’ on!
Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans says
Thanks Gina for all that great info! It is good to know how to check it out!
Bunny Jean says
Hi Gina,
I am still getting the warning when visiting your blog. I just ignored it this time because I wanted to see if you have posted about this issue. I am glad I was brave and did so 🙂
Just yesterday I visited another blog and it warned that they were not safe because they have content from your blog.. on their blog.
This only happens when using Chrome!
I did many hours of research last night and this morning, and feel that you are safe 🙂 BUT…
My concern is that for those who use Chrome and get this warning, that they will not visit these blogs!
My main blog is fine, but the weirdest part is that just starting last night… when trying to access my DASHBOARD, I get that same warning saying that I have linked to you! In my dashboard? Really!
I HATE Blogger and Chrome for not correcting this issue!!!
xoxo Bunny Jean
Maureen says
What a nightmare! I’m glad you were able to get it all patched up!
Tammy says
So glad you posted this! I too had a couple of blogs that the warning came up. Glad to know it was fixed and that you know where it came from.
Loribeth says
I knew it had to be an issue with an ad or something. I’m glad you found it and were able to get the whole thing fixed. What a pain!!!
The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ says
my heart breaks for you my friend — i am just happy it is straightened out! hugs…
janet says
So glad to see this post…I thought you were mad at me for asking about it on your Facebook page. When I came back later my FB comment was deleted..I thought you were angry that I said something publicly.
So glad you were able to fix it. I have seen this on other blogs.
Now I can join TT..;->
Janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
Shannon at madiganmade says
So glad you found the problem and could fix it. I just came over through Chrome and IE without a problem. Bookmarking this for the future! Great advice!
Weird thing is… a couple of my readers commented they were getting a similar message on my site. I do not have ads… but I have suspected that the blogger generated reading list I was using in my sidebar could’ve been the problem, especially if the links listed had problems. I’ve had to delete a few blogs off that list and it helped. Now – I just deleted the whole thing. Not sure if that’s it, but no more messages.
gail says
Saw Amanda’s post where you helped her! I pinned this for future reference, hoping I never need it.
I’m sorry you couldn’t come to Cracker Barrel, I was looking forward to meeting you. Hopefully all is well and you can go to Portland!
gail