> Strange Japanese text in Google results? Your WordPress site may be infected with the Japanese Keyword Hack. Learn how it works, how to clean it fully, and prevent reinfection. Source: https://easifytechnologies.com/japanese-keyword-hack-in-wordpress/ [Insights](https://easifytechnologies.com/insights/) [Security](https://easifytechnologies.com/insights/security/) # Japanese Keyword Hack in WordPress | Complete Removal & Prevention Guide 9 July 2025 4 min read ![Japanese Keyword Hack, Japanese SEO Spam Hack](https://res.cloudinary.com/c3ccc6ni/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1400/easify/2025/07/3812645-scaled) Work with us Japanese spam pages showing up under your domain in Google? [Start a conversation _↗_](https://easifytechnologies.com/contact/) [WordPress Support & Maintenance](https://easifytechnologies.com/services/wordpress-maintenance/) ## **What Is the Japanese Keyword Hack?** The **Japanese Keyword Hack**, also known as the **Japanese SEO Spam Hack**, is a form of **search engine cloaking** where hackers inject Japanese language content and spammy links into your WordPress site often without altering the frontend you or your users see. This hack exploits your website’s SEO reputation to: - Insert fake Japanese e-commerce pages - Redirect search engine traffic to spam or phishing stores - Damage your search engine rankings and trustworthiness ## **How the Hack Works Behind the Scenes** This attack uses a multi-layered infection method: **Method** **Description** **Database Injection** Spammy Japanese content is inserted into your wp\_posts and wp\_options tables. **File Injection** PHP backdoors are placed in files like functions.php, wp-config.php, and often inside wp-content/uploads. **Cloaking Mechanism** Malicious code checks if a visitor is a bot (Google) or a real user — and serves different content accordingly. **Sitemap Hijack** A fake sitemap is created and submitted to Google, flooding your indexed URLs with spam. **.htaccess Modifications** Conditional redirects may be added based on IP or referrer. Hackers may use obfuscated PHP functions (eval(), base64\_decode, gzinflate, etc.) to hide malicious payloads. ## **Symptoms of the Japanese SEO Spam Hack** These are the most common indicators: **👁️ Visible Symptoms:** - Japanese characters or product listings (セール, 安い, etc.) appear in **Google search results**, but not on your actual pages. - Search Console alerts: “Hacked content detected.” - Your site title/meta in search appears in Japanese. - Increased bounce rate from organic traffic. **🔍 Hidden Technical Signs:** - Fake pages like [https://yoursite.com/セール-時計/](https://yoursite.com/セール-時計/) indexed by Google. - New sitemap submitted (e.g., sitemap\_japan.xml). - Unknown users or plugins in WordPress admin. Suspicious cron jobs or unfamiliar .php files in wp-content/uploads/. ## **Step-by-Step Guide: Removing the Japanese Keyword Hack** ### **Step 1 – Scan Your Site (Externally & Internally)** **External:** - Use[**Sucuri SiteCheck**](https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/) or[**VirusTotal**](https://www.virustotal.com/) to check indexed spam. Check your site’s results on Google using: site:yourdomain.com セール site:yourdomain.com 時計 **Internal:** - Install **Wordfence** or **MalCare** to scan core files and themes. Use SSH or FTP to search for: grep -r 'base64\_decode' . grep -r 'eval(' . ### **Step 2 – Audit WordPress Files** Focus on: - functions.php - wp-config.php - .htaccess - Any unknown files in wp-content/uploads, wp-includes 🚨 Warning: Some malicious code is **obfuscated** or injected with whitespace or comments — don’t assume it’s safe because it "looks empty." ### **Step 3 – Clean the Database** - Go to **phpMyAdmin** and search tables like: wp\_posts - wp\_options - wp\_users Look for Japanese terms, iframe injections, or base64-encoded content. 📌 Tip: Use SQL queries to speed this up: SELECT \* FROM wp\_posts WHERE post\_content LIKE '%iframe%' OR post\_content LIKE '% RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule. /index.php [L] # END WordPress ``` ### **Step 5 – Re-secure and Re-submit to Google** - **Delete any unknown admin users** - **Change all admin passwords and salts** - **Submit cleanup request** via Google Search Console: Use **“Security Issues”** tool - Submit reconsideration request if penalized **Submit new, clean sitemap** ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/c3ccc6ni/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1024/easify/2025/07/cyber-attack-with-unrecognizable-hooded-hacker-using-virtual-reality-digital-glitch-effect) ## **How to Prevent the Japanese Keyword Hack (Permanently)** **Best Practice** **Details** 🔐 Strong Passwords Use a password manager and require 2FA for all admins. 📦 Only Trusted Plugins No nulled or third-party plugins/themes from shady sources. 🔄 Keep Everything Updated WordPress core, themes, and plugins must always be current. 🔍 Scheduled Scans Use Wordfence/MalCare for daily scans and alerts. 🧱 Harden wp-config.php Disable file editing and directory browsing. 🧰 Backups Use UpdraftPlus or BlogVault for automated, off-site backups. ### **Tools to Help You** **Tool** **Purpose** **Wordfence** Real-time malware scanner + firewall **MalCare** One-click cleanup and backup **Sucuri** External monitoring, blacklist removal **UpdraftPlus** Automatic backups to Google Drive, Dropbox **Google Search Console** Detect indexed spam, submit sitemap ## **Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Clean — Fortify** The Japanese Keyword Hack is a **SEO-driven cyberattack** that often comes back if not completely cleaned. Many WordPress users remove the visible symptoms but leave behind backdoors, cron jobs, or fake admin accounts resulting in reinfection. Cleaning it thoroughly means: - Deep file and DB audits - Resetting access credentials - Fixing your SEO presence in Google Work with us ## Japanese spam pages showing up under your domain in Google? Send us the address of the site and a screenshot of what Google shows. We will tell you how deep the infection goes before we quote, clean it, close the way in and get the spam out of search. We reply within one business day. [Start a conversation _↗_](https://easifytechnologies.com/contact/) [WordPress Support & Maintenance](https://easifytechnologies.com/services/wordpress-maintenance/) On this page - [What Is the Japanese Keyword Hack?](#what-is-the-japanese-keyword-hack) - [How the Hack Works Behind the Scenes](#how-the-hack-works-behind-the-scenes) - [Symptoms of the Japanese SEO Spam Hack](#symptoms-of-the-japanese-seo-spam-hack) - [Step-by-Step Guide: Removing the Japanese Keyword Hack](#step-by-step-guide-removing-the-japanese-keyword-hack) - [Step 1 – Scan Your Site (Externally & Internally)](#step-1-scan-your-site-externally-amp-internally) - [Step 2 – Audit WordPress Files](#step-2-audit-wordpress-files) - [Step 3 – Clean the Database](#step-3-clean-the-database) - [Step 4 – Remove Rogue Sitemaps & Reset .htaccess](#step-4-remove-rogue-sitemaps-amp-reset-htaccess) - [Step 5 – Re-secure and Re-submit to Google](#step-5-re-secure-and-re-submit-to-google) - [How to Prevent the Japanese Keyword Hack (Permanently)](#how-to-prevent-the-japanese-keyword-hack-permanently) - [Tools to Help You](#tools-to-help-you) - [Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Clean — Fortify](#final-thoughts-don-t-just-clean-fortify) Keep reading - [ ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/c3ccc6ni/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_560/easify/2025/08/975-scaled) ### Fake Plugins in WordPress: The Hidden Malware That Gives Hackers Full Access ](https://easifytechnologies.com/wordpress-fake-plugin-malware/) - [ ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/c3ccc6ni/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_560/easify/2025/07/3878182) ### Casino Redirect Hack in WordPress: Full Cleanup & Prevention Guide ](https://easifytechnologies.com/wordpress-casino-redirect-hack-removal/) Want this done properly on your own site? [Start a conversation _↗_](https://easifytechnologies.com/contact/)