Free WordPress Malware Scanner: Check Your Site in Under a Minute
The fastest way to find out whether your WordPress site is infected is to scan it. A good free WordPress malware scanner checks your site for injected code, skimmers, outdated plugins and missing security headers — in under a minute, with no signup. Here's what a scan can (and can't) tell you, and what to do with the result.
Try it now: run a free MageArgus scan on any WordPress or WooCommerce site.
- A remote scan is instant and needs no install — MageArgus
- On-disk scanning is required to confirm a site is truly clean — Sucuri / MageArgus
What a free remote scan checks
A remote scanner fetches your site the way a visitor would and flags what's visible: outdated WordPress/plugin versions, reachable malicious or skimmer scripts, missing HTTPS/HSTS and security headers, exposed files (backups, readme.html, debug logs), and known bad redirects. It's the ideal first check — instant and free.
What a remote scan can't see
It can't read files or the database on your server, so it won't catch on-disk backdoors, obfuscated PHP in wp-content/uploads, or database-level injections that are cloaked from anonymous visitors. To prove a site is clean you also need an on-disk scan — see how website malware scanners work.
How to scan your WordPress site
- Enter your URL and run the scan — no signup needed.
- Review the findings by severity.
- For anything critical, verify on the server with WP-CLI:
wp core verify-checksums wp plugin verify-checksums --all wp user list --role=administrator
If the scan finds something
Don't ignore a warning or panic-delete. Follow the malware removal guide: back up, replace core/plugins from clean sources, remove backdoors, reset secrets, patch the entry point, and re-scan to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free scanner as good as a paid one?
For finding version exposure, misconfigurations and reachable malware, a free remote scan is genuinely useful — run one regularly. Paid/on-disk tools add server-side depth that's essential after a suspected compromise, but the free scan is the right first step.
Will scanning slow down or harm my site?
No. A remote scan just fetches your public pages like any visitor. It makes no changes and adds negligible load.