Malware infection

Malware is short for «malicious software»: Malware are harmful self-propagating programs or bits of code that allow harmful actions to be performed on a computer. This usually happens in the background so that the user of the computer does not notice. There are various types of malware. These include viruses, worms, trojans and spyware.

As a web hosting provider, we offer you a secure hosting and server environment. The malware mentioned above concerns the security of your website or your website system; it can be vulnerable despite a secure hosting environment. With our «SiteLockEntry» and «SiteLockPlus» offers, you can have your website automatically checked for vulnerabilities and malware on a daily basis. SiteLock automatically removes malware, closes known security holes in your website system and is also available free of charge as a trial version in your My Panel under «Hosting» → «Malware Protection».

More information about malware and how you can combat it can also be found at www.switch.ch/de/saferinternet.

Intruders often hide code on their victims’ websites, usually by exploiting a vulnerability in the website software that is used (e.g. Drupal, Joomla, Typo3, WordPress, osCommerce or PrestaShop), or by using passwords that are stolen or easy to crack. When users access one of these websites from their web browser, the harmful code is executed in the background. Depending on the type of malware, these types of infections can have consequences ranging from data and password theft to crashing the whole computer.

We regularly perform security tests to promptly identify malware. So that we may immediately inform you of any possible spread of malware through your website, make sure that your email address and phone numbers are always correct and up-to-date in My Panel.

All common browser makers have taken precautions to protect users against malware infections. For example, they warn internet users when they attempt to access websites that spread malware. Hoststar has no influence over this. This warning appears regardless of the measures Hoststar has in place and, in some cases, will still appear for some time even after the malicious code has been eliminated. After successfully removing the malicious code, you can use the Google Webmaster Tools to recheck your website.