--- gravity_agent_document: 1 document_type: "page" page_id: "page:tips/monitor-your-website-for-a-keyword-not-just-uptime" representation_of: "https://www.websitemanual.com.au/tips/monitor-your-website-for-a-keyword-not-just-uptime/" canonical_html: "https://www.websitemanual.com.au/tips/monitor-your-website-for-a-keyword-not-just-uptime/" title: "Monitor your website for a keyword, not just uptime | Website Manual" summary: "A hacked website is usually still up, so an uptime check won't tell you. Check for a word that's always on your page as well." language: "en-AU" page_role: "page" content_intents: [] source_hash: "sha256:a8fff819b475281e05ef843f9e851132d1865f80146d6d840afd409f9911cc02" primary_entities: [] entity_refs: [] relationships: - subject: "page:tips/monitor-your-website-for-a-keyword-not-just-uptime" predicate: "related_to" object: "page:tips/train-a-new-team-member-with-a-saved-list" --- # Monitor your website for a keyword, not just uptime | Website Manual **Monitor your website for a keyword, not just uptime** A hacked website is usually still up, so an uptime check won't tell you. Check for a word that's always on your page as well. - Tip · Website care - By Daniel Doherty, MerlinFX - 8 November 2026 ## TL;DR Set up 24/7 monitoring that checks your home page every few minutes and looks for a word that's always on it, like your business name. If the site goes down, or the page loads without that word, you get an alert. We use Better Stack and check every 5 minutes. ### A hacked site is still up Most uptime monitors ask one question: does the site answer? A hacked website usually does. It can load fine while the home page has been swapped for someone else’s message, so an uptime check carries on saying everything is fine. When a website gets hacked, two things usually happen. The site is defaced, or the customer data in it is stolen, and sometimes both. ### Check for a word as well A keyword check loads your page and looks for a word you know is always there. If the site is down, or the page comes back without that word, you get an alert. That way the monitor tells you about a defaced home page before a customer does. ### How we set it up We use [Better Stack](https://betterstack.com/?utm_source=websitemanual.com.au&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=website-manual&utm_content=tips-monitor-your-website-for-a-keyword-not-just-uptime) for all our clients. 1. Add a monitor for your home page address. 2. Choose the keyword check and enter a word that’s always on the page, like your business name. 3. Set it to check around the clock. We check every 5 minutes. 4. Send the alerts to someone who will act on them, by email, text or app. Then test it once: put in a word that isn’t on the page and make sure the alert arrives. ### Questions **Which word should I monitor for?** Pick something that's on the page every day and wouldn't survive a defaced home page, like your business name. You can use the copyright year in the footer too, but then you have to change the monitor every January. **How often should it check?** Every 5, 10 or 15 minutes is fine, and it's up to you. We check every 5 minutes, so we hear about a problem within minutes. **Does Better Stack cost money?** Better Stack has a free plan as well as paid ones. Check their pricing page for what's included today. **Will this tell me if customer data has been stolen?** No. A keyword check catches a site that's down or defaced. Stolen data often leaves no sign on the page, which is why it pays to keep less of it on your website. MerlinFX client? [Ask for this done and recorded on your own site](https://www.websitemanual.com.au/request-a-recording/#request). ### More tips [Tip · Website care Delete form entries from your website automatically Every form someone fills in on your site is also saved in its database. Set your form plugin to delete entries after a few days, so a hack has less to steal. Article](/tips/auto-delete-form-entries-from-your-website/) [Tip · WordPress Delete the WordPress themes you don't use Most major WordPress updates install the year's new default theme. If your site runs on Astra and a child theme, delete the extras so your theme list stays clean. Article](/tips/delete-the-themes-you-dont-use/) [Tip · Website Manual Teach someone your website with one link Got a new team member to show around your website? Save the videos they need, share the list, and they open one link and start watching. Article + 3 videos](/tips/train-a-new-team-member-with-a-saved-list/) ## Related agent resources - [Tip · Website Manual Teach someone your website with one link Got a new team member to show around your website? Save the videos they need, share the list, and they open one link and start watching. Article + 3 videos](/tips/train-a-new-team-member-with-a-saved-list/index.md)