What It Is
Malware is short for malicious software. On a website it rarely looks dramatic. More often it is a few lines of hidden code that redirect visitors to scam pages, insert spam links for other sites, send junk email from your server, or steal card numbers typed into a checkout. It usually gets in through an outdated plugin, a weak password, or a pirated theme downloaded from an unofficial source.
Why It Matters for Your Business
An infected site can be flagged by Google with a red warning screen, dropped from search results, and blocked by email providers if your server starts sending spam. A local landscaping company might not notice anything is wrong until a customer calls to say the website sent them to a casino page. Cleanup takes time and money, and lost trust can take longer to rebuild.
Good to Know
Prevention is cheaper than cleanup. Keep everything updated, remove plugins you no longer use, and never install "free" copies of paid themes, which are a common way malware spreads. Keep recent backups stored away from the server. If you are infected, restoring a clean backup is often the fastest fix, but you also need to close the hole that let the malware in, or it will return.