How to solve and avoid Google Safe Browsing warnings for WordPress sites

Google Safe Browsing is a service that warns users about dangerous websites and downloads, while also notifying webmasters about compromised sites. It maintains lists of URLs containing malware or phishing content, which are used by various browsers to protect users. The service offers a public API and claims to enhance safer browsing experiences across the internet.

For WordPress webmasters, avoiding accidental malware publication is crucial because Google Safe Browsing could flag their site as dangerous, potentially leading to a significant loss of traffic and user trust.

attachmentAV is a WordPress plugin that integrates antivirus scanning capabilities directly into the WordPress media upload process. It automatically scans all files uploaded to the WordPress media library using the Sophos antivirus engine. If a file is detected as malicious or potentially harmful, attachmentAV prevents it from being uploaded and alerts the user, effectively stopping infected files from being published on the website. This proactive approach helps webmasters maintain a clean and secure website, reducing the risk of being flagged by Google Safe Browsing and protecting both the site’s reputation and its visitors.

Scenario without malware protection for WordPress

1. The editor accidentally uploads an infected file.
2. The editor publishes a post referencing the infected file.
3. Google crawls the website and detects malware.
4. Google Safe Browsing adds the WordPress site into its database of websites containing malware.
5. When users try to open the website in their browser, a big red warning is shown, as illustrated by the following screenshot.
6. Google ranks down the WordPress site in searches.
7. Traffic and revenue drops significantly.

Scenario with attachmentAV for WordPress

1. The editor tries to upload an infected file.
2. The WordPress plugin attachmentAV scans the file during the upload process.
3. attachmentAV detects the malware and cancels the upload.

Is my site blocked by Google Safe Browsing?

To check whether a WordPress site is blocked by Google Safe Browsing, you can follow these steps:

1. Use Google’s Transparency Report:
   • Go to https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search
   • Enter your website’s URL in the search box
   • Google will display the current safety status of your site
2. Check Google Search Console:
   • If you have your site registered with Google Search Console, log in to your account
   • Look for any security issues or warnings in the “Security & Manual Actions” section
   • Google will notify you here if your site has been flagged
3. Use the Safe Browsing Site Status API:
   • You can use Google’s Safe Browsing API to programmatically check your site’s status
   • The API endpoint is: POST https://safebrowsing.googleapis.com/v4/threatMatches:find?key=API_KEY HTTP/1.1
   • You’ll need to obtain an API key from Google Cloud Console to use this method
4. Browser warnings:
   • Try accessing your site using different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
   • If your site is blocked, you’ll see a warning page instead of your content
5. Online safety check tools:
   • Use online tools like VirusTotal.
   • These tools can scan your website for malware and check if it’s listed on various blacklists, including Google Safe Browsing

Remember, if your site is indeed blocked, it’s crucial to identify and remove the threat, then request a review from Google to lift the block. Regular security checks and using protective measures like attachmentAV can help prevent such issues in the future.

Summary

In today’s digital landscape, protecting your WordPress site from malware is not just an option, but a necessity. Tools like attachmentAV provide a crucial line of defense against accidental malware uploads, helping to maintain your site’s integrity, user trust, and search engine rankings. By implementing robust security measures and regularly checking your site’s status with Google Safe Browsing, you can ensure a safer browsing experience for your visitors and safeguard your online presence.

Get started with attachmentAV for WordPress!