Hello,
We apologize for the issue you are facing with your website being hacked and the persistent HTML tag verification in Google Search Console (GSC). Thank you for raising this concern.
To remove the HTML tag verification from GSC, you can follow these steps:
- Access Your Website’s Files: Since you’ve already scanned through your files via FTP, ensure that you check the
header.php file of your active theme, as the HTML tag might be added there.
- Check for Other Plugins: Sometimes, other plugins may also add verification tags. Ensure that no other SEO or verification plugins are active that might be adding this tag.
- Use Rank Math Settings: If you still have Rank Math installed, go to Rank Math SEO → General Settings → Webmaster Tools and check if the Google Search Console field has any code. If it does, remove it and save changes.
- Verify in GSC: After removing the tag, go back to GSC and try to unverify your site by clicking on the Remove Property option if available.
Regarding the Japanese keywords hack, here are some steps to help you clean your site:
- Scan for Malware: Use a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri to scan your website for malware and vulnerabilities.
- Change Passwords: Change all passwords associated with your website, including FTP, database, and admin accounts.
- Check User Accounts: Ensure there are no unauthorized users in your WordPress admin panel.
- Restore Backup: If you have a clean backup of your site before the hack, consider restoring it.
- Contact Hosting Provider: They may have additional tools or services to help clean up your site.
Once cleaned, focus on optimizing your original content and submitting a reconsideration request in GSC if necessary.
If you need further assistance with the setup or cleaning process, we recommend considering our professional setup service at Rank Math Services, which requires a PRO subscription. This service can help ensure your plugin setup is correct and adheres to the latest SEO standards.
Please reply to this ticket with any additional details or questions, and a human agent from our support team will assist you further.
Thank you for your patience, and we hope to resolve this issue for you soon!
Sources:
How to Verify Your Website on Google » Rank Math
How to Verify Your Website on Google » Rank Math
I’ve done virtually what the Bot said. Please, I need a Human assistance.
Hello,
Thank you for contacting Rank Math support, and sorry for any inconvenience that might have been caused due to that.
Please note that the Japanese keyword hack goes beyond just the WordPress installation and isn’t caused by Rank Math. We strongly recommend contacting your hosting provider, as the issue likely involves server-level compromises.
Regarding the HTML tag, if Rank Math has been disabled or removed, all tags it adds would no longer load. Please clear all caches and check if another plugin or theme is still adding the tag.
For a full cleanup guide, you can follow this article: https://rankmath.com/kb/fix-japanese-keyword-hack/
Looking forward to helping you.
Thank you, Jeremy, for your reply.
However, I went through the article you suggested and did virtually everything in there, but I still have the same issues, especially the auto-verification on GSC.
Hello,
Thank you for your patience.
In this case, try removing/deleting your website property from your Google Search Console.
Once done, verify your website again by following this guide:
https://rankmath.com/kb/google-site-verification/
Looking forward to helping you.
Thank you, Reinelle.
I’ve done all of that – remove the site from GSC. But each time I try adding the site, it verifies automatically. That is, the HTML Tag verification. All others are not verified unless the HTML Tag which I earlier used on RankMath to verify the site.
Now, I’ve uninstalled RankMath, deleted my site from GSC but when I tried adding it, it verifies automatically even without adding the HTML Tag file on my site.
Hello,
We are glad that everything has been sorted out.
Do you still need our assistance with anything else or can we go ahead to close the ticket?
We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
I beg your pardon, Adetayo. Nothing has been sorted out.
I am still having the same problem(s).
Please, read through my comments again.
Thank you.
Hello,
We apologise for the confusion.
Please confirm no <meta name="google-site-verification"> tag or gtag.js tracking code exists in your live site header.
Then submit a permanent removal in GSC: Settings → Ownership Verification → Remove this HTML tag method.
Alternatively, re-verify using a different method, like DNS TXT record, then remove the HTML meta approach.
This should help unhook the automatic meta tag verification behavior.
Please note that since your sites were infected with the Japanese keyword hack, double-check for lingering malicious verification tags in all themes, child themes, or cached files; these could reintroduce the tag. A full security cleanup remains the best next step.
Hope that helps, and please do not hesitate to let us know if you need our assistance with anything else.
Hello,
Since we did not hear back from you for 15 days, we are assuming that you found the solution. We are closing this support ticket.
If you still need assistance or any other help, please feel free to open a new support ticket, and we will be more than happy to assist.
Thank you.
