Why Your Website Redirects to Another Site (And How to Fix It)

A redirect to another site is one of the scariest issues a business owner can face. Customers try to reach you and end up somewhere else. Sometimes it is a simple misconfiguration. Other times it is a sign of a hack. Either way, it hurts trust fast.

This guide explains why redirects happen, how to confirm the problem, and the fastest path to fix it. It is written for small business owners and non-technical teams who need answers quickly.

First, confirm the redirect is real

Redirect problems are sometimes device-specific. Before you assume the worst, confirm it:

1. Test in a private browser window.
2. Test on mobile and desktop.
3. Ask someone outside your network to check.

If the redirect happens in multiple places, it is real. If it only happens on one device, it could be a local issue or cached redirect.

Common reasons your site redirects elsewhere

Redirects usually fall into one of these buckets:

• DNS misconfiguration: Your domain points to the wrong server.
• CMS or plugin issues: A plugin is injecting a redirect rule.
• Hosting or CDN rule: A rule was added at the server or CDN layer.
• Malware or hack: Attackers inject conditional redirects.
• Expired domain: A new owner can redirect your traffic.

How to tell if it is a hack

Hackers often use conditional redirects so you do not see the issue but customers do. Signs include:

• Redirects only on mobile devices.
• Redirects only from search engines.
• Redirects that change over time.

If any of these are true, treat it as a security incident.

Quick fixes you can try first

If you control the site, try these basic fixes:

• Disable recently installed plugins.
• Roll back recent changes or deployments.
• Clear CDN or caching rules.
• Verify your DNS records.

When to escalate to your host

If you cannot find the redirect rule, contact your host. Provide:

• The URL that redirects.
• The destination URL.
• The time the redirect started.
• Whether it happens on mobile, desktop, or both.

Hosts can check server-level redirects and scan for malware.

How to prevent future redirects

Most redirect incidents are preventable with a few habits:

• Keep your CMS and plugins updated.
• Use strong passwords and limit admin access.
• Monitor for unexpected redirect changes.
• Enable alerts on domain and SSL expiration.

Why monitoring matters

Redirects can happen silently. Monitoring that checks the final URL will alert you as soon as traffic is sent somewhere else. That gives you a chance to respond before customers notice.