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Re-establishing Your WooCommerce Store After a Site Hack and Plugin Reinstallation and reconnecting to Webgility Desktop

This article helps WooCommerce users restore their store functionality after a website hack by guiding them through the reinstallation of the core WooCommerce plugin. It includes steps to reconfigure essential store settings and verify the connection with Webgility Desktop to ensure seamless integration and order processing.

Overview

After your WooCommerce website has undergone a security cleanup following a hack, its core functionality might be disrupted, often requiring a fresh installation of the WooCommerce plugin itself. This guide provides the necessary steps to reinstall the WooCommerce plugin, reconfigure its basic settings, and verify that your online store is fully operational again. It also includes instructions on how to test your WooCommerce connection within Webgility Desktop.

Prerequisites

Before starting this process, please ensure the following:

  • WordPress Admin Access: You have successfully recovered full administrative access to your WordPress dashboard.
  • Malware Removal: Your website has been thoroughly scanned and cleaned of all malware and malicious content by your hosting provider or a security service. Do not proceed if your site is still compromised.
  • Backups: You have recent backups of your website (files and database), if available, before and after the cleanup.

Step-by-Step Workflow

Follow these steps to reinstall the WooCommerce plugin, reconfigure your store, and verify the Webgility connection.

1. Confirm Site Access and Cleanliness

  1. Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard (e.g., yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
  2. Verify that you can navigate through the admin area without encountering any errors or signs of lingering malware. If you're unsure, consult your hosting provider or a web security specialist to confirm the site is fully clean.

2. Install and Activate the WooCommerce Plugin

If WooCommerce functionality is missing, you'll need to reinstall the plugin.

  1. In your WordPress Admin Dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
  2. In the search bar, type "WooCommerce".
  3. Locate the official WooCommerce plugin (usually by Automattic).
  4. Click "Install Now".
  5. Once installed, click "Activate".

3. Complete WooCommerce Onboarding and Reconfigure Store Settings

After activating the plugin, you might be prompted to go through the WooCommerce Setup Wizard. Even if not, you'll need to review and reconfigure essential store settings.

  1. Follow the WooCommerce Onboarding Wizard (if prompted): If the wizard appears, follow its steps to quickly set up your store's location, industry, product types, and other basics.
  2. Manually Reconfigure Key Settings:
    • Go to WooCommerce > Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
    • Review and reconfigure your:
      • Payment gateways: Ensure your preferred payment methods (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) are connected and configured correctly.
      • Shipping options: Set up your shipping zones, methods, and rates.
      • Tax settings: Configure your tax rates and how they apply to your products.
    • Go to Products > All Products to ensure your product catalog is intact. If products are missing, you might need to import them from a backup.

4. Verify Store Functionality

After reconfiguring, it's crucial to test your store's basic functions.

  1. Visit your storefront: Browse your products and navigate through your website.
  2. Create a test product: If possible, try creating a new product in your WordPress admin to ensure the product management features are working.
  3. Place a test order: Add an item to your cart on the storefront and proceed through the checkout process to confirm that payment and shipping options work as expected.

5. Verify WooCommerce Connection in Webgility Desktop

If you use Webgility Desktop, ensure it's still properly connected to your re-established WooCommerce store.

  1. Open Webgility Desktop.
  2. Go to Connections > Sales Channels > Manage Sales Channel.
  3. Select your WooCommerce store profile.
  4. Click Edit.
  5. Click the Test Store Connection button.
  6. If the connection fails, try clicking Reconnect and re-enter your WooCommerce credentials (Store Module URL, username, password).
  7. If the connection is successful, confirm that orders and product data are syncing correctly between Webgility and your WooCommerce store.

Best Practices

  • Regular Backups: Implement a robust system for regular backups of your entire website (files and database). This is your most critical tool for recovery after a hack.
  • Strong Security: Use strong, unique passwords, keep all themes and plugins updated, and consider using a reputable security plugin or service for ongoing protection.
  • Immediate Action: If your site is ever compromised again, immediately isolate it (e.g., by taking it offline or cleaning it) to prevent further damage.