Cloudways Autonomous includes built-in Malware Protection that helps protect your applications automatically.
It scans your website, detects suspicious activity, and blocks threats before they cause damage, all without requiring manual setup.
This guide explains how Malware Protection works in Cloudways Autonomous, including its Proactive Defense feature and how it helps keep your application secure.
Key Features of Malware Protection
Malware Protection in Cloudways Autonomous includes the following features:
Continuous real-time protection that scans your application for malware and threats without requiring manual intervention.
Proactive Defense monitoring that detects suspicious behavior and potentially harmful activity before it can impact your application.
Automatic malware detection and removal to help keep your website secure and reduce the risk of infections.
Detailed logs and alerts that provide visibility into detected threats and security-related events.
Reduced downtime and security risks through early threat detection and automated protection.
Fully managed security with no setup, maintenance, or technical expertise required.
Performance-friendly protection designed to operate without impacting application performance or autoscaling.
Included by default at no additional cost for Cloudways Autonomous applications.
Together, these features provide multiple layers of protection, helping keep your application secure while allowing you to focus on your website and business.
What is Proactive Defense
Proactive Defense is a feature within Malware Protection that focuses on detecting suspicious activity before it becomes a serious threat.
It monitors your application in real time and identifies unusual behavior such as malicious script execution or unauthorized access attempts.
Instead of reacting after damage occurs, Proactive Defense helps prevent attacks early by identifying and reporting them instantly.
Understanding the Proactive Defense Dashboard
The Proactive Defense section in your Cloudways dashboard shows all detected security events in a simple table format. This helps you quickly understand what happened and take action if needed.
You will see:
Date and time of the event
A short description of the issue
Script path where the issue occurred
Host details
IP Address
History Tab
The History tab provides a record of all malware scans performed on your application. It shows details such as the scan date, scan type, total objects scanned, and scan results.
You can also run an on-demand scan using Scan Now and view additional details for a specific scan from the Actions column.
Threat Tab
The Threat tab displays malware threats detected during scans. It includes information such as the threat status, file type, affected file path, detection reason, and scan date.
You can review threat details, refresh the results, and restore files if required. This tab helps you monitor and manage detected malware within your application.
How to Access and Enable/Disable Proactive Defense
Follow the navigational steps below to Enable/Disable Proactive Defense.
Enable Malware Protection
From the left menu, click on Autonomous.
Click on My Applications.
Select the application you want to protect.
From the top menu, click on Security.
Click on Malware Protection.
Click Enable Malware Protection.
Once enabled, you will see a confirmation message, and your application will be marked as Protected.
Disable Malware Protection
In the Malware Protection section, click on the three dots (⋮) menu.
Click Disable Protection.
A confirmation popup will appear. Click Disable to proceed.
You will see a confirmation message once Malware Protection is disabled.
Important:
Malware Protection is enabled by default for all newly launched applications in Cloudways Autonomous. You do not need to manually enable it unless it has been disabled for your application.
How Malware Protection Works
Malware Protection works continuously in the background using two main components:
1. Proactive Defense
Monitors behavior inside the application
Detects unusual or harmful activity
Logs events and provides alerts for quick action
2. Malware Scanner
Scans files in real time
Detects malware, viruses, and suspicious code
Automatically removes or isolates threats
Together, these components provide a complete security system that helps protect your website from threats without requiring manual intervention.
Note:
It is fully automated and does not require configuration
It does not replace authentication or password security
Logs and alerts help you understand detected events
You can enable or disable the feature from the dashboard
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Malware Protection affect performance?
No, it is optimized to not impact application performance.
Do I need to install any plugins?
No, Malware Protection is built into Cloudways Autonomous and works automatically.
What happens if malware is detected?
The system automatically removes or blocks the threat and logs the event for your review.
Can I customize the security settings?
The feature is managed by Cloudways, so customization options are not available to ensure consistent protection.
Is this feature Chargeable?
No, Malware Protection is included in all Cloudways Autonomous plans at no extra cost.
That’s it! We hope this article was useful.
Need Help?
If you need assistance, feel free to:
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Or create a support ticket anytime.
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