Website servers are just as vulnerable to malware as PCs are. Cyber criminals use this to their advantage by infecting websites with malicious software that is then distributed over the whole website. Hackers can then use this infiltrated malware to obtain sensitive information.
By the time operators of infected websites have become aware of the malware, it is often too late. Search engines like Google may start threatening with sanctions, or you will receive complaints from affected visitors. Since most are malicious scripts, which are integrated into the original code of the website, they cannot be identified from the outside straightaway. The website seems to work as requested, but in reality it is actually functioning as an instrument for hackers with the help of Cross-SiteScripting (XSS).
If you use different applications when creating and maintaining your homepage, it can increase your susceptibility. Programs that are the most vulnerable are content management systems, blog, and forum software as well as e-commerce solutions. Many operators rely on open source software since it is free and can be adapted to your needs. The popularity of this software, and the fact that it is made up of thousands of codes from different programs, means it is often a target for hackers. Plugins for popular web applications are used as loopholes for malware.