I've been testing website scanning services for years. Sadly, most site monitoring services are either excessively expensive or at best just malware-centric web page monitoring services (that is, just page monitoring services wrapped in malware-related marketing).
While there's some value in these external web page checking services, the best monitoring services monitor your website from the inside, checking every file at least daily. TVCNet Website hosting provides daily malware scanning free with their hosting service, though if you can't move your website there are lots of free options. Monitoring is one piece of the BUMM routine: Backup, Update, Maintain, Monitor.
Free monitoring services
Google Alerts
I should have a T-shirt made, because "I love Google Alerts!"
I use Google Alerts to notify me of new links or updates that appear at Google.com. You may find Google Alerts helpful for malware monitoring as well. To better explain how I've created this sweet little video for you:
Below are a few website monitoring examples:
site:yourdomain.com/ (accutane|antibiotics|doxycycline|nolvadex|celebrex|zithromax)
site:yourdomain.com/ (cialis|viagra|xanax|levitra|tramadol|orlistat)
site:yourdomain.com/ (coach|"louis vuitton"|hollister|louboutin|"michael kors")
site:yourdomain.com/ (pharmacy|"no prescription"|"online without prescription")
site:yourdomain.com/ (essay|brides|"term paper"|your-word")
Simply replace "yourdomain.com" with your website address, then click the "Create Alert" button. You'll then receive email alerts if any of these words appear on your website.
Visualping (formerly ChangeDetection.com)
ChangeDetection.com has been around for years and now redirects to Visualping, a service that watches web pages and notifies you when they change. Check its current plans, since the free limits change.
WatchThatPage.com
You select which pages to monitor and WatchThatPage will notify when pages have changed.
Firefox Plugin: Update Scanner
I used the Firefox add-on Update Scanner for years to be notified of web page changes. It is still listed, but it has not been updated since 2019, so treat it as optional.
WordPress-Specific Website Monitoring
WordPress: Melapress File Monitor (formerly Website File Changes Monitor)
It can be a bit annoying at first since it reports all changes made within your website. Though once you get used to how it works you'll find Melapress File Monitor indispensable for monitoring all of your blogs from the inside (for free!).
Solid Security
Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security, and before that Better WP Security) includes file-change monitoring as well. Features differ between the free and Pro versions, so check its current feature list.
Paid Monitoring Services?
As mentioned above, the best monitoring services check your website from the inside out. External scanning services can't see those hidden back door scripts hackers like to scatter within the websites they've hacked.
My website has been hacked. Now what do I do?
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