Whether you’re a small business owner or a website manager, ensuring that your website is secure is crucial to protecting your users’ data and your business’s reputation.
While there are many companies that offer website security services, it’s important to understand how to check your website’s security yourself or hire the right professionals to do it for you.
Website security
Website security refers to measures taken to protect websites from cyber attacks and unauthorized access.
Without proper security, websites are vulnerable to attacks that can compromise user data and damage the website’s reputation.
Data and Website breaches
You may have heard about data breaches and website security breaches in the news.
It can be scary to think that your website and your customers’ personal information could be at risk.
But don’t worry, by prioritizing website security, you can protect your customers and visitors from cyber attacks and safeguard your website’s reputation.
Find Out Which CMS You Are Using
If you’re looking to perform a website security check online, one important step is to identify which content management system (CMS) your website is using.
This information is crucial as each CMS has its own unique security vulnerabilities.
Here are 3 ways to identify your website’s CMS:
- Use online tools such as BuiltWith, Wappalyzer, or WhatCMS to scan your website and provide you with a detailed report on which CMS your website is using, as well as other information such as plugins, themes, and server information.
- Check the source code of your website by right-clicking on any page of your website and selecting “View Page Source” or “View Source” from the menu that appears.
- Search for specific tags or keywords that indicate which CMS your website is using. For example, if your website is using WordPress, you’ll likely see tags such as “wp:post” or “wp:category”. Similarly, if your website is using Drupal, you’ll likely see tags such as “<drupal>” or “drupal:block”.
Quick Wins First
Before diving into more in-depth website security checks, it’s a good idea to first get some basic feedback on quick security wins.
This can be done by using free online scanners such as Sucuri SiteCheck or Qualys SSL Labs, which can provide you with a quick and easy report on your website’s security status.
Sucuri SiteCheck scans your website for malware, blacklist status, and other security issues, while Qualys SSL Labs checks your website’s SSL configuration and provides a rating based on its security level.
These free online scanners can be a great starting point to identify any quick security wins and areas that need improvement.
Top Free 3 Online Tools To Scan Your Website With
#1. SecurityHeaders.com
If you’re looking for a free tool to perform a website security scan, securityheaders.com is a great option.
This online tool allows you to check the security headers of any website, including your own.
The security headers of a website contain important information about its security status, including whether it has implemented measures to protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, clickjacking, and other vulnerabilities.
| Tool | Price | Registration Needed |
|---|---|---|
| https://securityheaders.com | Free | No |
#2. UpGuard Website Security Scan
UpGuard is a website security tool that offers a free version for limited results, along with a paid version for more comprehensive scans.
It is a great option for those who want to get an idea of their website’s security posture without spending any money.
To use UpGuard, simply visit their website and enter the URL of the website you want to scan in the search box.
The tool will then scan the website for any security vulnerabilities and provide you with a report that includes a security score, a breakdown of each issue, and recommendations for improving security.
While the free version is limited in results, it can still be a useful tool for identifying any obvious security issues on your website.
If you need more comprehensive scans, you can upgrade to the paid version of UpGuard or simply continue to the next tool.
| Tool | Price | Registration Needed |
|---|---|---|
| UpGuard | Free* | No |
#3. VirusTotal
VirusTotal is a free online tool that allows users to scan files, URLs, and IP addresses for malware and other security threats.
One of the unique features of VirusTotal is its ability to search for relationships between files and websites.
VirusTotal can help you to identify any potential threats.
By analyzing the metadata and other information associated with a file or URL, VirusTotal provides valuable insight into the relationships between different pieces of content.
To use VirusTotal for website security scanning, simply upload the URL of your website to VirusTotal and let the tool perform its analysis.
VirusTotal will search for any relationships between your website and other files or URLs that may be associated with it.
| Tool | Price | Registration Needed |
|---|---|---|
| VirusTotal | Free | No |
What to do if You Want to Invest in Cybersecurity
Free website security scans are a great starting point for securing your site.
However, to invest in more comprehensive cybersecurity measures, you need a reputable company to protect your website and business.
Look for Those With A Location You Can Visit
One of the best ways to find a good cybersecurity company is to look for companies with a physical location that you can visit.
This allows you to meet with the company in person, ask questions, and get a sense of their capabilities and expertise.
Plus, having a physical location can give you more confidence in the legitimacy of the company and its operations.
When researching cybersecurity companies, look for companies that specialize in website security, and have experience working with businesses like yours.
Ask for references and case studies that demonstrate their expertise. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their processes and methodologies.
Leave It To The Professionals
It can be tempting to try to handle website security on your own. But there are many benefits to leaving cybersecurity to the professionals.
Cybersecurity companies have the expertise, tools, and resources needed to stay up-to-date.
One of the main benefits of working with a cybersecurity company is that they can provide a comprehensive, customized security service that is tailored to your specific needs, budget and risks.
They can help you to identify potential vulnerabilities in your website and recommend solutions to mitigate those risks.
Websecurity Scans might Get Blocked
Note that website security tools may be blocked by Cloudflare, WordPress plugins, or hosting providers, limiting scans to identify vulnerabilities and threats.
This is because these tools may be seen as potential threats or attacks, and may be blocked as a result.
If you’re using Cloudflare or WordPress plugins/hosting providers, it’s important to be aware of this potential issue.
You can decide to whitelist the scanning system that you’re using, so that it can bypass security measures.
While security configurations block threats, they may limit identification of vulnerabilities.
Allowing your scans to bypass initial security filters provides a more comprehensive view of security.
To Conclude
As you can see, there are many free online tools available for website security scans, but it’s important to keep in mind their limitations.
While these free scans can provide a basic overview of your website’s security posture, investing in more comprehensive cybersecurity measures can provide added protection and peace of mind for your business and your customers.
Have you had any experiences with website security scans, either free or paid? How did they work out for you? Let us know in the comments below!