What is a Japanese Keyword hack? How to remove it? How can you revamp your website from an SEO perspective after the hack?

In my career, I have seen many websites facing the issues and losing all the years of SEO hard work on a weekend. The Japanese keyword hack often results from vulnerabilities in a website’s server or hosting environment, which hackers exploit to gain unauthorized access. Understanding these server-related issues is crucial to both preventing the hack and cleaning up after it.

Mostly I have found the issues, due to the:

1. Outdated Server Software:

Many websites run on hosting servers with outdated PHP,?Apache,?Nginx, or other server software versions. These outdated versions may contain known vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to inject malicious code.

For example, a vulnerability in the server’s software stack can allow an attacker to gain root access or escalate privileges to modify website files, databases, and configurations.

2. Insecure File Permissions:

Incorrect file and directory permissions can expose your website to unauthorized modifications. If the server allows write access to important files (like .htaccess, configuration files, or plugin/theme files), hackers can easily plant malicious scripts or create fake pages.

Ensuring that files are set with the correct permissions (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for directories) can prevent unauthorized access.

3. Unpatched Vulnerabilities:

Even if you have strong CMS security (like WordPress or Joomla), server-side vulnerabilities such as unpatched exploits in cPanel, Plesk, or other hosting control panels can be an entry point for attackers. These vulnerabilities often give hackers control over the server's file system, databases, and email.

Some of these vulnerabilities can also come from database management software (like MySQL) or the server’s operating system (e.g., Linux, Windows Server).

4. Weak Server Credentials:

Weak or default FTP, SSH, or database passwords are a common way hackers break into websites. If server credentials are compromised, hackers can upload malicious files or modify existing files directly from the server.

Many hosting environments use weak encryption algorithms or have unsecured ports that hackers target.

5. No Security Layers (WAF, SSL):

A lack of essential security layers, like a Web Application Firewall (WAF), can leave your server vulnerable to common exploits, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), which are used to inject spammy content and create malicious pages.

Insecure websites without SSL certificates can also expose sensitive data like login credentials, making it easier for hackers to intercept and manipulate requests through Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks.

6. Shared Hosting Vulnerabilities:

On shared hosting, multiple websites use the same server resources. If one site on the server is hacked, all other websites on that server can be at risk. Hackers can use cross-site contamination methods to spread malware or exploits from one compromised site to others on the same shared server.

This risk is often heightened when server administrators do not apply adequate isolation measures between websites.

How to Remove the Hack and Address Server-Related Issues:

1. Update Server Software:

Ensure that your server software (e.g., PHP, Apache, Nginx, MySQL) is updated to the latest, stable versions. This will close security holes that hackers could exploit.

If your host manages your server, contact them to ensure they regularly update server software and security patches.

2. Check File Permissions:

Audit and reset file and folder permissions on your website. For instance:

Directories should have permission 755.

Regular files should have permission 644.

Sensitive files, such as the .htaccess and wp-config.php, should have restricted permissions like 600.

3. Scan and Secure Server Access:

Change all passwords for FTP, SSH, cPanel, or any other server-level access. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible.

Ensure your SSH access is set up with private key authentication and not just passwords.

Use tools like Fail2Ban to block repeated failed login attempts, and ensure that important services like FTP and SSH are protected by firewalls and only accessible by trusted IP addresses.

4. Install a Web Application Firewall (WAF):

Install a WAF to filter and monitor HTTP traffic between the web application and the internet. A WAF can block SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other malicious payloads from reaching your website.

Consider using services like Cloudflare or Sucuri that provide managed WAFs with built-in DDoS protection.

5. Secure Your Database:

Ensure your database software is updated and configured securely.

Set strong, unique database passwords and restrict database user permissions to minimize the risk of SQL injections or unauthorized access.

Regularly back up your database and use encryption for sensitive data.

6. Audit Server Logs:

Check your server logs (Apache/Nginx logs, error logs, FTP logs) to look for unusual activities such as unexpected file uploads, changes in directories, or abnormal access attempts.

Monitoring tools like OSSEC or Tripwire can alert you to changes in important server files, potentially warning you of a breach early on.

7. Rebuild from a Clean Backup:

If the hack is severe, it’s often best to restore from a clean backup. Ensure that your backup is malware-free by scanning it before restoring it.

Always maintain regular, automated backups to quickly recover in case of future attacks.

Revamping Your Website from an SEO and Server-Security Perspective After the Hack:

1. Reinforce Server Security:

Conduct a full server security audit to check for open ports, vulnerabilities, and weak credentials.

Implement ongoing monitoring and automatic patching for server components.

Set up firewalls, anti-virus, and intrusion detection/prevention systems on the server to monitor and block malicious activity.

2. Monitor Server Performance and Uptime:

Track the performance and security of your server through monitoring services like Pingdom or UptimeRobot to ensure that no further hacks or suspicious activities occur.

Consistently review your server resources and optimize them for better SEO performance (e.g., reducing server response times).

3. Fix Server-Related SEO Issues:

Ensure that your sitemap is accurate and that the malicious pages have been removed from search engines.

Check your robots.txt file for any unauthorized changes, ensuring it's not preventing legitimate content from being indexed.

Reinforce 301 redirects where needed to prevent broken links and maintain SEO integrity.

Also, check your .htacess file with the developer team.

Do a pentest after uploading the website backup.

- By addressing both the server vulnerabilities and SEO issues, you can regain control of your site and prevent future attacks.