Google detected harmful content on some of your site’s pages.
until then, browsers such as Google Chrome will display a warning when users visit or download certain files from your site. The message indicates that Google has detected harmful or malicious content on your website, which can potentially harm users visiting your site. Therefore, Google is warning you to address this issue quickly to prevent visitors from being exposed to malware, phishing, or other harmful activities.
If left unresolved, your site will be flagged with a warning message in Google Chrome and other browsers, discouraging users from visiting it.
Google Detected Harmful content. Meaning of the problem
Google detected harmful Content: The content flagged could include malware, spam, phishing scripts, or other vulnerabilities that compromise the safety of your website visitors. As a result, your site may be at risk.
Search Engine Penalty: Consequently, your site’s visibility on Google search results may decrease, potentially impacting your traffic.
User Trust: Furthermore, a visible warning could damage the trust users have in your site, leading to a loss of confidence.
This article will for sure help you solve your problem if you come across any problem that concerns warning or security problems in Google search console. The Image might look different, but the way of solving is one and the same. It is all about cleaning your website.
Live Example:
The live example is that My website was flagged by Google in March with message like google detected harmful content, and I resolved the issue in November. As you can imagine, the duration was quite long. A problem that that be solved within 30 minutes or less happened to take almost nine months due to ignorance from my side.
When you don’t know things become difficult. It reached a point I lost hope on my website and created others just I did not know to solve the issue.
But you are very lucky that you got this article which saves both your time and also solve your problems.
The Steps Of Solving the Security Warning ‘Google detected harmful content.’
There are a lot of ‘solutions like’ outside there but I will give you the one that I followed solved this error ‘ google detected harmful content‘
The steps we should follow.
Step 1
- Download the latest version of WP Cerber from our website to your computer using this link: https://downloads.wpcerber.com/plugin/wp-cerber.zip.
- Next, log into your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Then, open the Plugins admin page.
- After that, click the Add New button located near the title of the page.
- Next, click the Upload Plugin button located near the title of the page.
- Now, select the downloaded wp-cerber.zip file.
- Once selected, click the Install Now button.
- Finally, click the Activate Plugin button.
Image from wordpress website
Step 2
- After downloading, installing, and activating the plugin, WP Cerber will appear at the bottom of your dashboard.
Click “Activate Plugin.” After you activate the plugin, it will appear on your dashboard, just below the settings. Next, you will see a page like this. Then, click WP Cerber as the arrow directs you.
After Clicking on WP Cerber, you will see a page as shown below. Next, simply click the “Site Integrity” column.
If you go down on this page and click full scan. The software will scan you website and shows you all the errors on your pages.
After clicking the Start full Scan, it will display a page like the one given below.
The Above Page Displays Three Different Things.
Firstly, number 1 shows the number of errors found on your website. Secondly, numbers 2 and 3 indicate, or point to, the locations in your website’s files where the errors are found.
In first arrow above, this website shows two(2) issues or two errors are found. Out of these two errors, nothing is critical (meaning they are not very dangerous) and that is why is shows 0/2.
But in case you see 1/3(means total problems found are 3 and only 1 is critical) or 2/5 means total problems found are 5 and only 2 are critical ) or any other fraction that you get. Always the numerator shows the critical ones and the denominator shows the total issues found in your website.
What Do These Errors Mean, First?
Depending on the error you encounter, each one can signify different issues. For instance, it could indicate mismatched URLs, malware, corrupted files, or many other potential problems.
But the most important thing is to know to identify the error and know to solve it and also to prevent it from happening in the future. Irrespective of the error that you get, the method of resolving them is just same.
How to solve these errors ?
Solving them is quiet clear. if you just follow my guidelines clearly and things will be done as you wanted.
- Just click the links showed by the arrow 2 and 3. They will direct you the location where the code that is causing the error is. After clicking the link they show a page like the one shown below.
The actual errors shown do not matter. What matters is the location shown
<?phpheader( $_SERVER['SERVER_PROTOCOL'] . ' 404 Not Found');header( 'Status: 404 Not Found'); |
Issue: Executable code found
This is what matters. Keep in mind that we are going to follow link given below for the rest of the process we going to do.
File: /home/u3833402341/domains/example.com/public_html/wp-content/uploads/wpforms/cache/index.php
To remove the errors, you have to go your hosting account where your website files is saved. I mean hostings like hostinger(in my case), Go Daddy or any other hosting you use.
Click websites and then click the dashboard of the domain name that has the problem.
Click the file manager
Cick the public_html folder
click wp-content
know that am following this link, continue clicking the next file or folder as you follow the link untill you find the page where the error contains and delete the error causing the problem.
After finishing this, go back to the wp cerber software and click Start full scan again.
Finally,Write a review to Google to remove your site from blacklist
Here’s a refined version of your instruction with smooth transitions:
1. Go to Google Search Console
First, navigate to Google Search Console and select your property (domain name).
2. Access the Error Link
Next, click on the error link related to your website.
3. Submit the Following Review
Then, you can use the review-style message below to explain the actions you’ve taken to resolve the issues with your website and request a revalidation:
Request for Website Revalidation After Issue Fixes
Request for Website Revalidation After Issue Fixes, My Dear Google Search Console Team,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you that, recently, I conducted a comprehensive scan of my website using WP Cerber Security software and identified several issues that were affecting its performance and security. As a result, I thoroughly addressed and fixed these issues. Therefore, I am now requesting that you kindly recheck and validate my website.
Summary of Actions Taken:
- Full Website Scan: I performed a complete security scan using WP Cerber, which identified critical vulnerabilities and performance issues.
- Fixes Implemented:
- Fixed all detected security vulnerabilities and errors.
- Removed any malicious content or unauthorized access points.
- Ensured that all security plugins are up-to-date and configured correctly.
- Resolved performance issues, including improving load times and optimizing security settings.
Request for Revalidation:
Now that these issues have been thoroughly addressed, I kindly request that you review and validate my website once again. I believe the actions taken have resolved the issues that led to my website being blacklisted, and I would like to request the removal of any existing blacklist status, ensuring that my site can appear properly in the Google Search Console.
I appreciate your time and support in resolving this matter, and I look forward to your assistance in re-indexing and validating my website.
Thank you for your attention to this request.
This message is clear and professional, providing Google with the necessary information to understand the actions you’ve taken and your request for revalidation.
How Do you Prevent these Errors From happening again?
How Do you Prevent these Errors From happening again? Protecting against malware or any threat is a combination of common practices, tools, and a certain level of vigilance. Adhere to the following guide step by step:
Install Reliable Antivirus Programs
Get a good antivirus or antimalware program for your devices. Always have it ready in case of emergent and upcoming threats.
Ensure to Update Your Software
Enhance your operating system, browsers or other apps. Most of the time, updates fixed the issues that were available due to malwares to take advantage of. Make sure that all your plugins and themes are up to date
Be Careful in Getting any Files
Download files or software only from sources that you can trust. Beware of cracked applications, since they are the ones which contains viruses the most.
Avoid Clicking Links At All
Do Not Click on Links Without Thinking Never click on any dubious links found in emails, texts, or websites. Instead, seek the right source first.
Installing firewall
Firewall Should Be Installed: It is important to turn on your device’s firewall to prevent intruders from accessing your device and potentially incoming malware.
Safe Internet Practices Should Be Observed
Safe Internet Practices Should Be Observed, Additionally, do not attempt to access untrusted or suspicious websites. Always check the URL of the site for HTTPS, which indicates a secure connection.
Don’t open email attachments from unknown senders.
Even if the sender looks familiar, double-check if the email seems unusual.
Never open random incoming emails with attachments. For example, if the person is known, still confirm whether the message is suspicious or not.
Make Use of Hard To Guess Yet Distinctive Passwords
When a strong password is used to account and locked up, it is difficult to access the account and plague it with malware such as ransomware.
Activate Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Incorporating an additional barrier of safety to protect your accounts presents difficulty to an attacker who tries to break into them.
Data And File Protection Takes Backup
Adopt a practice of regularly saving important documents in a removable disk or safe online storage. In case malicious programs attack, the files can be retrieved.
For Sensitive Activities, Do Not Use Public Wi-Fi
For Sensitive Activities, Do Not Use Public Wi-Fi Using public Wi-Fi to access the internet allows hackers to easily intercept the information being transmitted. Where used, ensure a VPN is used because of the densely populated areas that public networks address.
I also have a nice article about VPN, especially NordVPN. check it from here for more
Educate Yourself. Stay informed about the latest malware threats and scams. Awareness is key to prevention. Implementing these habits and tools significantly reduces the risk of malware infections. Stay vigilant!
I have a good article about NordVPN, You can also read on
