Websites Cop (formerly Websites Cop – Automatic File Disinfector): Features & Setup

Websites Cop (formerly Websites Cop – Automatic File Disinfector): Complete GuideWebsites Cop (formerly Websites Cop – Automatic File Disinfector) is a security tool designed to detect, disinfect, and prevent malicious files and code from affecting websites. This complete guide explains what Websites Cop does, how it works, when to use it, how to set it up, best practices, troubleshooting, and alternatives — all aimed at helping site owners, administrators, and developers keep web properties safe and performant.

What is Websites Cop?

Websites Cop is a website security application focused on automated scanning and disinfection of files and code that may contain malware, backdoors, or suspicious modifications. Originating as “Websites Cop – Automatic File Disinfector,” the product evolved to the shorter name while maintaining its core mission: continuously monitor website files, detect threats early, and automatically cleanse infected files where possible.

Key capabilities typically include:

• File scanning for known malware signatures and suspicious code patterns.
• Heuristic analysis to flag unusual or risky file changes.
• Automated disinfection or quarantine of infected files.
• Scheduled and on-demand scans.
• Logging, alerts, and reporting for administrators.
• Integration with common hosting environments and content management systems.

How Websites Cop Works

At a high level, Websites Cop combines signature-based detection with heuristic and behavioral analysis to identify malicious files. The typical workflow:

1. File inventory: The tool indexes files across the website—PHP, HTML, JavaScript, images, uploads, and configuration files.
2. Signature scanning: Known malware signatures and blacklisted patterns are matched against file contents.
3. Heuristic checks: Files are analyzed for suspicious indicators (obfuscated code, eval/base64 usage, unusual permissions, recent unexpected changes).
4. Behavior analysis: For environments where it’s possible, Websites Cop may observe file behavior or track changes over time to identify anomalies.
5. Disinfection/quarantine: When an infected file is found, the system attempts to remove malicious code while preserving legitimate content. If automatic cleaning isn’t safe, the file is quarantined.
6. Reporting & alerting: Administrators receive detailed reports and recommended remediation steps.

When to Use Websites Cop

Use Websites Cop if you:

• Manage one or multiple websites and want automated protection against file-based malware.
• Host dynamic sites (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, custom PHP) prone to file-based injections.
• Need continuous monitoring and quick detection of unauthorized file changes.
• Prefer an automated first-line defense that reduces manual cleanup time after an infection.

It’s less useful as a replacement for network-level protections (WAFs), secure coding practices, and strong access controls — it’s complementary to those layers.

Installation & Setup (Typical Steps)

Note: exact steps vary by the product version, hosting environment, and control panel.

1. System requirements:

   • Supported OS / control panels (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin) or standalone server support.
   • PHP/CLI, sufficient permissions to read/write website directories.
   • Optional mailbox or webhook endpoint for alerts.

2. Download & install:

   • Obtain the package or installer from the vendor.
   • Upload to the server or install via control panel plugin.

3. Initial configuration:

   • Set scan scope (document root(s), plugin/theme directories, uploads).
   • Configure scheduled scans (daily, hourly) and on-demand scan options.
   • Choose actions on detection: auto-clean, quarantine, notify only.
   • Configure alert channels (email, SMS, webhook, control panel notifications).

4. Baseline scan:

   • Run a full scan to establish a baseline of clean files.
   • Review findings and mark false positives as trusted if safe.

5. Monitor & maintain:

   • Check logs and reports regularly.
   • Update signature databases and the Websites Cop software to maintain detection accuracy.

Best Practices When Using Websites Cop

• Backup before cleaning: Always have recent backups (files + database) so you can restore if automatic disinfection removes legitimate content.
• Least-privilege access: Run the scanner with an account that has access only to necessary directories to limit potential misuse.
• Pair with other defenses: Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF), strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular software updates.
• Whitelist carefully: When marking files as safe, document the reason and review periodically.
• Monitor file integrity: Use File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) to detect unexpected changes in critical files and compare with Websites Cop findings.
• Test automatic cleaning: On a staging site, validate the auto-disinfection to ensure it preserves site functionality.

Common Threats Websites Cop Detects

• PHP backdoors and web shells that give attackers remote control.
• Injected JavaScript (malicious redirects, cryptomining scripts).
• Obfuscated code using base64, eval, gzinflate, str_rot13, etc.
• Modified core CMS files or plugin/theme files with added malicious payloads.
• Suspicious new files in upload directories or temporary folders.

Example: Handling an Infected WordPress File

1. Websites Cop flags a theme file with obfuscated PHP that calls eval(base64_decode(…)).
2. Depending on configuration, Websites Cop quarantines the file and creates a backup of the original.
3. Admin receives an alert and inspects the quarantined file via the control panel.
4. Admin restores a clean version from backups or replaces theme/plugin with a fresh copy from a trusted source.
5. Rotate passwords, update plugins/themes, and rescan to confirm cleanup.

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

• False positives: Some legitimate plugins use obfuscation or eval for licensing checks. Mark trusted files carefully and maintain notes.
• Permission errors: Scanner needs read (and sometimes write) permissions. Ensure proper ownership and temporarily elevate permissions if safe.
• High resource usage: Full scans can be CPU/disk intensive; schedule during low-traffic windows.
• Incomplete cleanup: If auto-disinfection fails, manual removal and restore from backups may be necessary.

Alternatives & Complementary Tools

Security Hygiene Checklist

• Keep CMS, plugins, themes, frameworks, and server software up to date.
• Enforce strong passwords and two-factor authentication for admin accounts.
• Secure file permissions and disable execution in upload directories where possible.
• Regularly audit user accounts and remove unused ones.
• Maintain frequent off-site backups and test restores.
• Run regular scans (Websites Cop + complementary tools) and monitor logs.

Final Notes

Websites Cop (formerly Websites Cop – Automatic File Disinfector) is a focused, file-oriented security tool that helps detect and remediate file-based website infections. It fits best as part of a layered defense strategy alongside WAFs, secure development practices, and robust backup/restore processes. Proper configuration, regular updates, and cautious handling of automatic cleanup actions will maximize its effectiveness while minimizing risk to legitimate site content.