How to Perform a Website Security Check: Tips for Business Owners

Performing a website security check is a must for business owners, especially as the threat landscape continues to evolve and threats become increasingly more sophisticated and stealthy. Recent data shows website attacks increased 52% in the past year, with the average website facing 94 attacks per day. In addition, an estimated 12.8 million websites are infected with malware worldwide.

To guard against cyberthreats, it’s crucial to perform a website security check on a regular basis to help protect your bandwidth, traffic, visitor data, and reputation, as well as reduce your chances of getting blacklisted by Google.

How To Check A Website for Security Vulnerabilities

Though much of what we use the web for is positive, there are many hidden threats lurking in the background. These threats can harm or hijack websites and use them for malicious purposes. This is why it is important to check a website for security vulnerabilities and malware. Ensure you take the following actions during your website security check:

Look for warning signs of malware

One of the simplest steps you can take is looking out for common signs of a malware infection. Common warning signs include a rapid drop in traffic, a site that freezes or crashes, or unauthorized changes to account logins. If you notice unusual changes in search engine results, or if Google blacklists your site, those are also warning signs of malware.

Know the common website vulnerabilities

It’s also essential to be aware of common website vulnerabilities, which are weaknesses in your site’s code that hackers can exploit. Some of the most common types of vulnerabilities include SQL Injection Vulnerabilities (SQLi), Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF).

Regularly check for vulnerabilities

Website owners should frequently check their website for security vulnerabilities and take steps to prevent them. These steps include regularly updating applications, investing in an automated malware scanning solution, and using a web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic.

How Secure is Your Website?

Luckily, there are many solutions to help you check your website for security vulnerabilities. Before selecting one, it is important to understand what threats your site is facing.

Learn more about securing your website with SiteLock today. Contact us and speak with one of our specialists who can review the health of your website.