Warning: If you suspect your website has been compromised, act quickly but calmly. many successful recoveries start with clear, methodical detection followed by containment and restoration.

Understand: A website compromise can look like many things, from overt defacement and spam injection to subtle data exfiltration or hidden cryptocurrency miners. this guide walks through seven practical checks you can run right away to assess whether your site has been hacked and what to do next.

Why it matters: The real cost of an undetected compromise

Consider: A hacked website is more than an embarrassing banner or a few spam links. it risks customer data, search engine reputation, email deliverability, and your hosting relationship. attackers can embed backdoors that let them come back later, use your site to phish visitors, or add code that mines cryptocurrency and exhausts resources.

Remember: The longer a compromise remains undetected, the higher the chance of permanent damage, lost backups, leaked credentials, or downstream harm to users. early detection sharply reduces cleanup time and cost.

Check 1: Google search console and "security issues"

Check: If you haven't already, register your site with google search console (gsc) and confirm ownership. gsc includes a "security issues" panel that reports malware, social engineering, and hacked content detected by google's crawlers.

Tip: gsc often provides example URLs and infected snippets. even if the report is sparse, treat a security alert as high priority, google will sometimes suppress search listings and show warnings to users before you notice traffic drops.

How to use it

Action: Open search console ? security & manual actions ? security issues. follow the remediation links, then request a review after you clean the site.

Check 2: Google safe browsing & third-party site reputation checks

Verify: Google safe browsing maintains a blocklist used by browsers. several public tools let you query whether your domain appears in that database; if your domain is listed, visitors will see red warnings in chrome, firefox, and safari.

Also: Use multiple reputation tools (for example, site scanners, "isitdown" pages, or web malware checkers) because each scanner has slightly different signatures and heuristics. a clean result on one scanner doesn't guarantee safety, use a small battery of checks.

Check 3: Visible site behavior, defacement, redirects, and odd UI

Look: Walk through your site as a new visitor would, using an incognito window or a machine that doesn't have admin cookies. look for unexpected banners, popups, forced downloads, or content that doesn't belong to you.

Read the entire article inside the Is it hacked blog: https://isithacked.com/blog/is-my-site-hacked-7-wa...

As 2024 draws to a close, Typing AI Biometrics reflects on a year filled with innovation, collaboration, and major milestones. From groundbreaking partnerships to cutting-edge product launches, the company has strengthened its position as a leader in AI and biometric authentication.

1. Second year in the Google AI Startup Program - Scale Tier

In its second year as part of the prestigious Google AI Startup Program - Scale Tier, Typing AI Biometrics capitalized on the resources and support provided by Google. Key benefits included:

• Substantial cloud credits: The program offered up to $350,000 USD in Google Cloud and Firebase usage credits over two years. In the first year, credits totaled $250,000 USD, with 100% of Google Cloud expenses covered, including an additional $150,000 USD exclusively for AI startups. In the second year, 20% coverage of up to $100,000 USD was provided.
• Enhanced support: The company received $12,000 USD in Google Cloud Enhanced Support credits, ensuring access to expert technical assistance.
• Workspace productivity: Free access to Google Workspace Business Plus for 12 months streamlined communication and collaboration within the company.

These resources empowered Typing AI Biometrics to develop advanced cloud-based biometric solutions and enhance its operational efficiency.

2. Joining the MongoDB for Startups Program

In January 2024, Typing AI Biometrics joined the MongoDB for Startups program, further strengthening its technological infrastructure. Key benefits included:

• Database credits: $500 in MongoDB Atlas credits, with the potential for an additional $4,500 at the end of the first 12 months.
• Expert collaboration: Access to MongoDB experts for fast-tracked support, strategic partnerships, and joint go-to-market opportunities.
• Showcasing innovation: A platform to highlight Typing AI Biometrics’ AI solutions to MongoDB’s extensive user base, customers, and partners.

This partnership played a pivotal role in optimizing the company’s database operations, supporting its mission to revolutionize biometric authentication through AI-driven innovation.

3. Strategic Partnership with Kartaca

In June, Typing AI Biometrics announced a strategic collaboration with Kartaca, a technology consulting firm specializing in Google Cloud services. This partnership enabled Typing AI Biometrics to leverage Google's state-of-the-art AI tools, including:

• Gemini AI: For advanced natural language understanding and generative tasks.
• DialogFlow: To enhance conversational agents and streamline user interactions.
• Document AI: For automated document processing and data extraction.
• Vertex AI: To efficiently build, deploy, and scale machine learning models.

Read the entire article on the Typing AI blog: https://typing.ai/blog/typing-ai-biometrics-2024-y...

Cybersecurity threats changing quickly. More people working remotely. Businesses need digital identity verification solutions more than ever to use cloud services, and making online transactions. These solutions help confirm customer identities and keep sensitive information safe from unauthorized access.

New technologies like artificial intelligence, biometrics, and passwordless authentication are making security stronger. These advancements help businesses deal with ongoing cybersecurity challenges and build trust with their customers.

Importance of User Authentication

Good user authentication methods keep sensitive information safe and stop unauthorized access. It helps prevent identity theft and impersonation by verifying who users are. It ultimately helps in ensuring only the real owner can access their accounts.

Also, many industries have strict rules about data protection and privacy. Using strong authentication methods helps you follow these rules. It can keep you out of legal trouble and help you avoid fines.

Read the entire article on the Is it hacked blog: https://isithacked.com/blog/top-authentication-tre...

n an era where the internet plays a pivotal role in our daily lives,

ensuring cybersecurity is more critical than ever. As we navigate

through the digital landscape in 2024, the risks and threats continue to

evolve. To safeguard your online presence and protect sensitive

information, here are essential cybersecurity recommendations for

browsing safely on the internet.

1. Keep software and systems updated

One of the fundamental aspects of cybersecurity is regularly updating your software and operating systems. Developers frequently release updates to patch vulnerabilities and enhance security. Ensure that your operating system, antivirus software, browsers, and other applications are up-to-date. Enable automatic updates when possible to stay protected against the latest cyber threats.

2. Use strong and unique passwords

Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Create strong, complex passwords for your online accounts, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information such as birthdays or names. Additionally, consider using a reputable password manager to generate and store unique passwords for each of your accounts.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, typically a code sent to your mobile device. Enable 2FA whenever possible, especially for critical accounts like email, banking, and social media. This additional step makes it significantly more challenging for unauthorized individuals to gain access to your accounts.

Read the entire article on the Protectumus blog: https://protectumus.com/blog/details/cybersecurity...

In the ever-evolving landscape of web security, PHP malware and viruses pose a significant threat to websites, potentially compromising sensitive data, disrupting services, and tarnishing the reputation of online platforms. Protectumus, a leading Website Security & Performance provider, leverages AI and Machine Learning to counteract these threats effectively. In this article, we'll explore the nuances of PHP malware, the potential risks they bring, and the advanced strategies Protectumus employs to safeguard websites.

Understanding PHP Malware

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely used server-side scripting language, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities. PHP malware typically infiltrates web servers through code injection, compromised plugins, or vulnerable themes. Once embedded, these malicious scripts can perform a myriad of activities, including data theft, defacement, and unauthorized access.

Read the entire article on Protectumus blog: https://protectumus.com/blog/details/how-to-protec...

Introduction

In an era dominated by digital interactions, ensuring robust security measures is of paramount importance to safeguard sensitive information and maintain user trust in online platforms. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool, offering innovative solutions to bolster security across various domains. Particularly in the realm of authentication and user identity verification, generative AI techniques like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) have opened up new avenues for building more reliable, sophisticated methods to verify user identities, detect fraud, and fortify cybersecurity.

The Power of Generative AI

Generative AI involves training models to produce content that mimics specific data distributions. GANs and VAEs, two prevalent types of generative models, have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in generating data that is virtually indistinguishable from genuine samples. This technology is now being harnessed to enhance security protocols in novel and effective ways, particularly in the domains of authentication and user identity verification.

Read the entire article on the Typing AI Biometrics blog: https://typing.ai/blog/enhancing-security-through-...

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying up-to-date with the latest vulnerabilities is crucial for protecting sensitive information and safeguarding digital assets. As 2023 unfolds, a new wave of threats has emerged, and it's essential for businesses and developers to remain vigilant against these potential dangers.

Here are the top 10 OWASP vulnerabilities that have been making waves in the cybersecurity world this year up until now:

• 1. Insecure APIs

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have become the backbone of modern software development, but their security remains a pressing concern. In 2023, the rise of API-based attacks has brought to light the importance of proper authentication, authorization, and data validation mechanisms. Failing to secure APIs can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and even complete system compromise.

• 2. AI and ML-Based Attacks

As artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies continue to advance, so do the methods employed by cybercriminals. In 2023, we witnessed an increase in AI and ML-based attacks, which exploit vulnerabilities in poorly implemented algorithms. Adversaries are using AI to craft sophisticated attacks, identify weaknesses in systems, and evade traditional security measures.

• 3. Supply Chain Attacks

The prevalence of supply chain attacks has intensified in 2023, targeting both software and hardware components. Malicious actors are compromising vendors and service providers to inject malicious code or hardware implants into legitimate products.

Read the entire article on the Protectumus website security blog: https://protectumus.com/blog/details/top-ten-owasp...

Penetration testing and ethical hacking are both important aspects of the cybersecurity domain. Even though the role of penetration tester and ethical hacker share some similarities, these are two entirely different fields. Both ethical hacking and penetration testing helps to identify IT systems’ vulnerabilities and help in preventing different cyberattacks.

People usually confuse both due to some similarities between ethical hacking and penetration testing. We will describe each of these in detail to let you better understand things in this regard.

Read the entire article on the Protectumus website security blog: https://protectumus.com/blog/details/what-is-ethic...

Top ways to secure a contact form against spammer and robots

If you want to secure your contact form against robots and spammers, then here are a few ways that will help you out:

Implementing CAPTCHA

It is a computer-generated test to test whether a human is submitting the contact form or a robot is doing it.

How to integrate CAPTCHA into a contact form?

You can integrate CAPTCHA into your contact form by opening WordPress forms, opening WPForms, then opening settings and clicking on CAPTCHA. You will see different types of CAPTCHA that you can integrate into your contact form.

Advantages of using CAPTCHA

• CAPTCHA can keep spammers and robots away from your contact form.
• You get fewer spammers on your website and fake subscriber requests.

Disadvantages of using CAPTCHA

• Not all browsers can support it.
• Sometimes reading CAPTCHA can get hard for a human to read as well.

Adding honeypot field

A human won't be able to see the honeypot field, but if the robot is filling out the form, it would only be visible to them.

If you don't want robots and spammers to fill your contact form, you will have to make a barrier, as we have discussed different methods like CAPTCHA, honeypot field, input validation, and third-party services. You must choose the right method depending on your website requirements. It would be best to go honeypot field because it is the only way to keep robots and spammers away from your contact form.

Read the entire article here:
https://protectumus.com/blog/details/how-to-secure-a-contact-form-against-spammers-and-robots

Protecting a Website's Security with Google Disavow

Backlinks can have a significant impact on a website's security. When a website has too many spammy or low-quality backlinks, it can become vulnerable to hacking, malware, and other security threats.

Hackers and other malicious actors can use these harmful backlinks to exploit vulnerabilities in a website's code and gain access to sensitive data or control of the website. They can also use these backlinks to spread malware or redirect visitors to other websites.

By using Google Disavow to disassociate themselves from these harmful backlinks, website owners can reduce their website's vulnerability to security threats. This can help protect their website and their visitors from harm and ensure that their website remains a safe and secure place for visitors to access.

Identifying New Backlinks with Google Disavow

Google Disavow can also help website owners identify new backlinks to their website that they were not previously aware of. When a disavow file is uploaded to Google Search Console, Google provides a list of the URLs that have been disavowed.

You can read the entire article on the Protectumus website security blog - https://protectumus.com/blog/details/how-google-di...