How To Remove Japanese SEO Spam Malware From WordPress Website

How to Remove Japanese SEO Spam Malware from WordPress Website

Japanese SEO Spam Malware, also known as “Japanese keyword hack”, is a common WordPress security issue where your website’s pages or search engine results show Japanese text, fake product listings, or spam links—usually promoting fake brand-name products like Nike, Adidas, etc.

This not only damages your site’s reputation and SEO rankings, but also risks blacklisting by Google and loss of user trust.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions to identify and remove Japanese keyword spam malware.

Symptoms of Japanese SEO Spam Malware

Japanese text or characters showing in Google search results.
Search results show titles like: “ナイキ、アディダスの靴を購入する”
Random pages like /nike-sale.html, /cheap-shoes-japan/ are indexed.
New spammy sitemaps like sitemapx.xml, sitemap_index.xml are created.
Google Search Console warning: “Hacked content detected”
Redirects to spammy or foreign shopping websites.
Unwanted .htaccess, PHP, or JavaScript code injected in files.

Step 1: Scan and Identify the Malware

Tools to Use:

Google Search:
Type: site:yourdomain.com and look for Japanese pages.
Google Search Console
Check for security issues and manual actions.
Security Plugins
Wordfence
MalCare
Sucuri Security
Online Scanners
VirusTotal
Sucuri SiteCheck

Step 2: Clean the Infected Files

Commonly Infected Locations:

wp-config.php
.htaccess
index.php
functions.php of your theme
Random PHP files in /wp-content/uploads/ or /wp-includes/
Fake sitemap.xml or sitemap_index.xml

🧹 Actions to Take:

Manually review core files (index.php, .htaccess, wp-config.php) for strange base64 or eval() code.
Delete unknown files or folders in /uploads/, /themes/, /plugins/.
Restore hacked core files by replacing them with fresh copies from WordPress.org.
Remove fake sitemaps and check for spammy redirects in .htaccess.

⚠️ Tip: Always back up your website before making changes.

Step 3: Check and Clean Database

Malware often hides in the WordPress database, especially in:

wp_posts
wp_options
wp_users (hidden admin accounts)

Actions:

Use phpMyAdmin or a plugin like WP phpMyAdmin.
Search for suspicious entries: Japanese text, iframe, base64, eval, gzinflate, etc.
Look for spammy SEO titles or descriptions in wp_posts.
Delete any unknown users with admin roles.

Step 4: Change All Credentials

Change WordPress Admin Passwords
Change FTP/cPanel/Hosting Passwords
Change Database Password
Update all user account passwords

Step 5: Fix Google Search Console Issues

Go to Google Search Console → Security & Manual Actions.
Request a Review after confirming all malware is removed.
Resubmit clean sitemap.xml.
Use URL Removal Tool to de-index spam URLs.

Step 6: Harden Your Website Security

Recommended Security Measures:

Install a security plugin like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or MalCare.
Disable file editing from WordPress dashboard: Add this in wp-config.php:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

Use 2FA (Two Factor Authentication).
Restrict admin access by IP (via .htaccess or plugin).
Keep all themes, plugins, and WordPress core updated.
Use secure admin username and strong passwords.

Optional: Hire a Professional

Removing malware can be complex. If you’re not tech-savvy or the infection is deep:

You can hire a WordPress Malware Removal Expert (like WebDevDoer)

100% cleanup guarantee
Google Console SEO issue fix
Free security hardening
No downtime and fast delivery

Final Checklist

Website loads normally and no Japanese spam in source code
No fake URLs in site:yourdomain.com
Google Search Console is clean
Database and core files cleaned
Security plugins installed and configured

Conclusion

Japanese SEO spam malware can severely harm your website’s SEO, branding, and user trust. With the right approach—careful scanning, file/database cleanup, and ongoing protection—you can restore your website fully.

Stay secure, stay updated!

How to Remove Japanese SEO Spam Malware from WordPress Website