Manual Website Recovery Using FTP After a Crash or Hack

Recovery

Even with strong precautions, websites can crash or get hacked. Having a manual recovery plan and using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) ensures that your site can be restored efficiently, securely, and reliably.

Why You Need a Website Recovery Plan

Websites are constantly exposed to risks such as crashes, hacks, and server failures. If your site goes down, a well-prepared recovery plan is essential.

FTP allows you to connect to your web server remotely, retrieve backups, and restore your website quickly.

How to Manually Recover Your Website Using FTP

Step 1: Access Your Server Using FTP

Use an FTP client to connect to your server. You’ll need:

• FTP Server Address
• FTP Username and Password
• Port Number (21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP)

Popular clients include FileZilla, Cyberduck, and CrossFTP.

1. Open your FTP client and enter server address, username, and password.
2. Connect to the server. You should see the server’s file structure.
3. Navigate to the root directory (e.g., /public_html).

Step 2: Identify the Problem

Diagnose why your website crashed:

• Corrupted files
• Malware or hacking
• Database issues

Look for:

• Unexpected or suspicious files
• Missing or corrupted files
• Changes in file permissions

Step 3: Restore from Backup

1. • Locate Your Backup: Stored locally or with a backup service.
2. • Upload Backup Files: Use FTP to upload files or compressed archives (.zip, .tar.gz).
3. • Overwrite Corrupted Files: Replace compromised files with clean versions from backup.

If no recent backup exists, manually replace altered or deleted files using FTP.

Step 4: Clean Up the Server

• Remove suspicious or unknown files that may contain malware or backdoors.
• Check and correct file permissions (directories: 755, files: 644).
• Update CMS, themes, and plugins to latest versions.

Step 5: Secure Your Website

• Change all passwords (FTP, database, admin) to b, unique passwords.
• Install security plugins such as Wordfence or SiteLock for CMS sites.
• Enable HTTPS with an SSL certificate.
• Set up automated backups for continuous protection.

Step 6: Test Your Site and Monitor

• Check that all pages, links, forms, and scripts work correctly.
• Verify admin dashboard access.
• Use monitoring tools to detect suspicious activity in the future.

Why FTP Is Essential for Website Recovery

• Quickly access and manage corrupted or missing files.
• Efficiently upload backups to reduce downtime.
• Restore your server even if the website is offline.

Tips for Preventing Future Crashes or Hacks

• Regular automated backups of your website.
• Keep CMS, themes, and plugins updated.
• Use strong security measures (firewalls, encryption, security plugins).
• Monitor website activity for suspicious behavior or attacks.

Summary

Recovering your website after a crash or hack can be stressful, but FTP provides fast access for restoration. By following proper recovery steps and maintaining Strong security practices, your site can remain secure and recoverable.

RSH Web Services pre-made WHMCS knowledgebase articles provide clear, visual guides for cPanel FTP setup, praised for their user-friendliness. WHMCS Knowledge Base Articles

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• • How often should I back up my website? Weekly backups are recommended; daily if updates are frequent.
• • What if I don’t have a backup? Manually restore files or retrieve them from hosting provider backups.
• • Can FTP be used for secure recovery? Yes, SFTP encrypts the connection, offering safer recovery than standard FTP.
• • How do I prevent future hacks? Use b passwords, security plugins, keep CMS and software updated, and enable SSL encryption.

FTP Learning Resources and How To Instructions

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