If you’ve opened your website and noticed a red warning page saying "Deceptive Site Ahead", "This site may harm your computer," or "Unsafe website," it means Google has detected something suspicious on your site.
This warning is part of Google Safe Browsing, a system designed to protect users from visiting hacked or infected websites. While it’s a safety measure for visitors, it can be devastating for website owners, causing loss of traffic, a drop in SEO rankings, and serious damage to your brand reputation.
This article explains what the warning means, why it appears, and the exact steps you can take to remove it.
Why Google Flags Websites as Unsafe
Google may flag your website for several reasons, including:
- Malware infections: Hackers inject malicious code that redirects users, downloads harmful software, or displays unwanted ads.
- Phishing scripts: Attackers insert scripts that try to steal login details or personal information from your visitors.
- Spam links or redirects: Compromised sites often contain hidden links or redirects to malicious websites.
- Infected plugins or outdated software: Using old or vulnerable WordPress plugins and themes can open doors for attackers.
Once Google detects these issues, it immediately warns visitors and may even remove your site from search results until it’s cleaned.
Step-by-Step Guide to Remove the Google Red Warning
Follow these steps carefully to clean your website and restore your reputation:
STEP 1: Verify the Warning in Google Search Console
Start by confirming the exact reason your website was flagged.
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Add and verify your website if you haven’t already.
- Go to the Security Issues section to see the list of problems Google found.
This report helps you identify whether it’s a malware infection, phishing issue, or spam-related flag. You’ll also need Search Console access later to request a review once your site is clean.
STEP 2: Scan Your Website Thoroughly for Malware
Next, scan your entire website for infections. Use a reputable security scanner such as:
- Sucuri SiteCheck
- Wordfence Security Scanner
- MalCare Security Plugin
These tools analyze your website’s files, database, and code for:
- Infected or modified files.
- Malicious scripts and redirects.
- Hidden links or spam content.
If you’re using WordPress, you can also run scans from within your dashboard for convenience.
STEP 3: Remove Infected Files or Malicious Code
After identifying the infected areas, clean your website by removing suspicious files or harmful code. Here’s how to do it safely:
- Delete any unfamiliar or unauthorized files in your themes, plugins, or uploads folders.
- Replace your WordPress core files with fresh copies downloaded from WordPress.org.
- If you’re unsure which files are infected, restore your website from a clean backup taken before the infection occurred.
Note: Always back up your current website before making any file changes. This ensures you can recover quickly if something goes wrong.
STEP 4: Update All Website Components
Outdated software is one of the leading causes of website infections. Once your website is clean, make sure everything is up to date:
- Update your WordPress version to the latest release.
- Update all plugins and themes.
- Delete any unused or outdated plugins and themes, they can still contain vulnerabilities.
Regular updates ensure your site has the latest security patches and prevents hackers from exploiting known issues.
STEP 5: Request a Security Review from Google
Once your site is fully cleaned and updated, go back to Google Search Console and request a Security Review.
To do this:
- In Search Console, open the Security Issues section.
- Click Request a Review.
- Explain the steps you took to remove malware and secure your site.
Google’s system will re-scan your website. If it confirms that the infection has been removed, the red warning will disappear within a few days.
STEP 6: Strengthen Your Website’s Security
Removing the red warning is just the beginning. To prevent it from happening again, apply these essential security practices:
- Install a security plugin: Tools like Sucuri, Wordfence, or MalCare can continuously monitor and protect your site.
- Enable a firewall: This blocks malicious traffic before it reaches your website.
- Use strong passwords and limit login attempts: Prevent unauthorized access to your admin area.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of protection for your accounts.
- Schedule regular backups: So you can restore your site quickly if an issue ever returns.
Proactive security keeps your site safe, your SEO intact, and your visitors’ trust strong.
If you need help identifying malware, cleaning files, or strengthening your website’s protection, kindly reach out to our support team. We’re always available to guide you through the process and ensure your website stays clean and secure.
