Hostinger offers a robust VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting platform with various features, including a powerful malware scanner integrated with Monarx. This combination allows you to proactively monitor and secure your VPS by detecting, managing, and cleaning compromised and malicious files.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing the Monarx detect agent on your VPS and explain how to view and manage scan results.
Installing the malware scanner
In your Hostinger account, navigate to the VPS section and click Manage on your chosen VPS instance. Then, locate the Security tab on the left and select Malware Scanner. Once there, click on the banner:
Finally, click on Install:
You won't be able to manage your VPS while installation is in progress. It may take up to 60 minutes.
Using the malware scanner
Once the Malware Scanner is successfully installed, go to the VPS management dashboard and then go to Security → Malware Scanner. Here, you'll find all the scan results.
The dashboard provides an overview of the total scanned files, including their status:
A compromised file is a file that's an intended part of the website into which malicious code has been injected; when auto removal is enabled, Monarx will clean such files by removing the injected malware
A malicious file is a file that contains malicious code only – nothing that is an intended part of the website. When auto removal is enabled, Monarx can be configured to either quarantine these files or else to block their execution via the Protect Zend extension. Since these files are not necessary for the proper functioning of customer websites, either of these actions is safe to take
If you don’t have a Monarx license, manual cleaning is required. You can delete or quarantine files directly in your VPS. However, if you want the Malware Scanner to take care of that, an additional license is required.
Purchasing a malware scanner license
In the Malware Scanner section, click on Get license and follow the instructions on the screen to activate the license for your VPS:
With a paid license, compromised and malicious files will be automatically cleaned, providing an added layer of security.
If no malware has been found on your server yet, but you still want to purchase the license right away, click on Activate in the Auto removal section:
Hostinger's VPS Malware Scanner, integrated with the Monarx detect agent, empowers you to maintain the security of your virtual private servers effectively. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your VPS remains free from compromised and malicious files, providing a safe environment for your web applications and data 🛡️