Removing Fake Google AdSense Malware from WordPress Website

A client contacted us about unauthorized Google AdSense advertisements appearing across their WordPress website. Despite never setting up AdSense, popup ads and banners were displaying on every page, creating a poor user experience and potential security risks.

Problem Statement

The client’s WordPress website was displaying unauthorized Google AdSense advertisements without their knowledge or consent. The malicious ads included:

Intrusive popup advertisements
Banner ads in header and footer areas
Mobile redirects to suspicious websites
Ads using hijacked publisher ID: ca-pub-16445279507—-

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1644527950797005"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<script async custom-element="amp-auto-ads"
        src="https://cdn.ampproject.org/v0/amp-auto-ads-0.1.js">
</script>

Key Issues

Plugin Vulnerability: Header Footer Code Manager plugin was compromised
Database Injection: Malicious entries inserted into plugin’s database table
Code Injection: Unauthorized JavaScript loading external ad scripts
Security Bypass: Malware disguised as legitimate custom code
Persistent Infection: Code automatically regenerated after manual removal attempts

Solution Overview

Our comprehensive malware removal approach included:

Phase 1: Investigation & Analysis

Complete source code examination
Database forensic analysis
Security vulnerability assessment
Malware identification and classification

Phase 2: Malware Removal

Database cleanup of malicious entries
Removal of compromised Header Footer Code Manager plugin
File system scan and cleaning
Core file integrity verification

Phase 3: Security Hardening

Implementation of security monitoring
Plugin security audit
Access control improvements
Backup system verification

Key Results

Immediate Results:

✅ 100% removal of unauthorized advertisements
✅ Complete elimination of popup interruptions
✅ Restored normal website functionality
✅ Eliminated security warnings and flags

Long-term Benefits:

✅ Improved website loading speed
✅ Enhanced user experience
✅ Restored search engine trust
✅ Protected brand reputation
✅ Prevented unauthorized revenue theft

Security Improvements:

✅ Implemented real-time malware monitoring
✅ Established plugin vetting procedures
✅ Enhanced database security protocols
✅ Created automated backup systems

Impact Metrics

Security Risk Level: Critical
Malware Type: Known javascript malware (rogueads2unwanted_adsense.5)
Affected Pages: 100% of website pages
User Experience: Severely degraded due to popup interruptions
SEO Risk: High potential for search engine penalties
Revenue Loss: Unauthorized ads generating income for attackers
Brand Reputation: Damaged by association with suspicious advertisements