How to Check Website Security (Quick Answer)
To check website security:
- 1Run automated security scan using tool like FounderScan to check for vulnerabilities
- 2Verify SSL certificate is valid, not expired, and uses strong encryption
- 3Test security headers like HSTS, CSP, X-Frame-Options are present
- 4Scan for malware and unauthorized code modifications
- 5Check for exposed sensitive files like config files or database backups
- 6Verify software is updated including CMS, plugins, themes
- 7Review findings and implement fixes starting with critical issues
Most comprehensive security checks complete in under 5 minutes using automated tools. Below is the detailed step-by-step process with examples and specific tools to use.
Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
Run Automated Security Scan
Start with comprehensive automated scan to identify vulnerabilities across multiple security dimensions.
Automated security scanners check hundreds of vulnerabilities in minutes—far more efficient than manual testing. Professional scanners test for OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, security misconfigurations), outdated software, exposed sensitive files, weak encryption, and configuration issues.
How to Run Security Scan:
- Visit FounderScan.com (or similar security scanner)
- Enter your website URL in the scan field
- Click "Scan" and wait 2-5 minutes for comprehensive analysis
- Review the security score and issue breakdown by severity
- Unlock detailed report for step-by-step fix instructions (typically $19)
Recommended Tools: FounderScan (best overall value - $0-$19), Sucuri SiteCheck (free basic scan), Qualys SSL Labs (SSL-specific), WPScan (WordPress-specific).
Verify SSL Certificate & HTTPS
Check SSL certificate validity, expiration, encryption strength, and proper HTTPS implementation.
HTTPS encryption is mandatory—Google Chrome marks non-HTTPS sites as "Not Secure," immediately destroying visitor trust. However, having SSL isn't enough. Expired certificates, weak encryption, incomplete certificate chains, or misconfigured protocols create vulnerabilities despite having HTTPS.
What to Check:
- Certificate Validity: Not expired, issued by trusted CA, matches domain
- Certificate Chain: Complete chain from site to root CA
- TLS Version: TLS 1.2 minimum, TLS 1.3 preferred
- Cipher Suites: Strong modern ciphers (AES-GCM), no weak ciphers (RC4, DES)
- Mixed Content: No HTTP resources loaded on HTTPS pages
How to Check: Use Qualys SSL Labs (ssllabs.com/ssltest) for detailed SSL analysis or FounderScan's SSL checker. Look for A or A+ grade with no critical warnings.
Test Security Headers
Validate presence and proper configuration of security headers protecting against common attacks.
Security headers are HTTP response headers instructing browsers how to handle security-sensitive operations. Missing or misconfigured headers leave sites vulnerable to clickjacking, XSS, protocol downgrade attacks, and data theft. Proper headers add defense-in-depth security layers.
Critical Security Headers:
- Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS): Forces HTTPS, prevents protocol downgradeShould have max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains
- Content-Security-Policy (CSP): Prevents XSS by controlling resource loadingRestricts script sources, inline code execution
- X-Frame-Options: Prevents clickjacking by controlling iframe embeddingShould be DENY or SAMEORIGIN
- X-Content-Type-Options: Prevents MIME-type sniffing attacksShould be nosniff
How to Check: Use browser DevTools (Network tab → Headers), SecurityHeaders.com, or FounderScan. Look for all critical headers present with secure values.
Scan for Malware & Backdoors
Detect malicious code, unauthorized modifications, or indicators suggesting prior compromise.
Malware infections are often silent—hackers inject code that runs undetected for months, stealing data, injecting spam links, redirecting visitors, or using server resources for cryptocurrency mining. Regular malware scans catch infections early before they cause major damage like Google blacklisting or hosting suspension.
Signs of Compromise:
- Unexpected redirects to spam or phishing sites
- Unfamiliar files in uploads or wp-content directories
- Google Safe Browsing warnings or blacklist notices
- Spam links injected into page content
- Unexpected admin accounts or user changes
- Suspicious outbound traffic or resource usage spikes
How to Check: Use Sucuri SiteCheck (free), VirusTotal, Google Safe Browsing Status, or FounderScan's malware detection. Check daily if suspicious activity detected.
Check for Exposed Sensitive Files
Verify configuration files, database backups, and admin panels aren't publicly accessible.
Web servers often accidentally expose sensitive files: configuration files containing database credentials, backup files with complete site data, development/debug files with system information, or admin panels accessible without authentication. Attackers search for these using automated tools, gaining instant access if found.
Common Exposed Files:
- .env files: Environment variables with database passwords, API keys
- config.php, wp-config.php: Database credentials and secret keys
- .git directories: Complete source code history
- Database backups: .sql, .sql.gz, database.bak files
- phpinfo.php: System configuration details
- Admin panels: /admin, /administrator without authentication
How to Check: Security scanners test common sensitive file paths. Manually test: yoursite.com/.env, yoursite.com/.git, yoursite.com/config.php, yoursite.com/backup.sql
Verify Software Updates
Check CMS, plugins, themes, and server software are current with security patches applied.
Outdated software is the #1 cause of website hacks. When security vulnerabilities are disclosed, developers release patches—but sites not updating immediately become targets. Automated attacks scan millions of sites for outdated versions with known exploits. Average time from vulnerability disclosure to mass exploitation: 24-48 hours.
What to Update:
- CMS Core: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla—update within 24 hours of security releases
- Plugins: Check for updates weekly, install security patches immediately
- Themes: Update themes regularly, remove unused themes entirely
- Server Software: PHP, MySQL, Apache/Nginx—coordinate with hosting provider
- Dependencies: JavaScript libraries, frameworks, third-party components
How to Check: WordPress: Dashboard → Updates. For other platforms, check admin panel update sections. Security scanners detect outdated software automatically.
Review Results & Implement Fixes
Prioritize vulnerabilities by severity and systematically address each issue.
Security scans identify problems—now you need to fix them. Don't get overwhelmed by long vulnerability lists. Focus on critical issues first (those enabling immediate compromise), then high-severity issues, working down to medium and low priority items. Most critical vulnerabilities fix in 15-60 minutes.
Remediation Priority:
- 1.Critical (Fix Immediately): SQL injection, remote code execution, authentication bypass, exposed credentialsTimeline: Within 24 hours
- 2.High (Fix This Week): XSS vulnerabilities, weak encryption, missing security headers, outdated softwareTimeline: Within 1 week
- 3.Medium (Fix This Month): Information disclosure, clickjacking, incomplete security configurationsTimeline: Within 1 month
- 4.Low (Address Eventually): Best practice recommendations, optimization opportunitiesTimeline: When convenient
Pro Tip: After fixing issues, re-scan to verify fixes work correctly. Save before/after reports to track improvement and demonstrate security efforts to stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check website security?
Check website security monthly at minimum, or weekly for high-value sites. Scan immediately after: deploying updates, adding features, installing plugins, security incident reports, or vulnerability announcements affecting your platform. Continuous daily scanning is ideal for development teams. Regular checks catch vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
Can I check website security for free?
Yes, many tools offer free basic security checks: FounderScan (free scan showing all issues), Sucuri SiteCheck (free malware scan), Qualys SSL Labs (free SSL testing), Mozilla Observatory (free security headers). Free scans show what issues exist. Detailed fix instructions typically require affordable one-time payment ($19 for FounderScan) or monthly subscriptions ($99-$130 for professional tools).
Do I need technical knowledge to check security?
No technical knowledge required to run security scans—just enter your website URL. However, understanding and fixing vulnerabilities often requires technical skills. FounderScan is designed for non-technical founders: scans run automatically, reports explain issues clearly, fix instructions include code examples. You can implement many fixes yourself or share reports with developers.
What if security scan finds vulnerabilities?
Don't panic—finding vulnerabilities is why you scan. Review findings by severity: fix Critical immediately (within 24 hours), High within a week, Medium within a month. Follow remediation guidance for each issue. Most critical vulnerabilities fix in 15-60 minutes (update software, change configuration). Re-scan after fixes to verify issues resolved. Finding and fixing vulnerabilities prevents breaches.
Will security scanning affect my website?
Reputable security scanners are safe for production websites. They use non-destructive testing that detects vulnerabilities without actually exploiting them or damaging data. Scanners send requests similar to normal traffic with minimal performance impact. Aggressive penetration testing can affect performance—best for staging environments. FounderScan is designed for safe production scanning without site impact.
Related Security Resources
What is a Website Security Scan?
Complete guide explaining website security scanning concepts, types, and benefits.
Website Security Scanner
Professional security scanner with 12+ specialized vulnerability detection modules.
SSL Certificate Checker
Verify SSL/TLS encryption, certificate validity, and HTTPS implementation.
Complete Website Analysis
Multi-dimensional scan: Security (35%), SEO (25%), Performance (25%), Compliance (15%).