Are you concerned about your website’s security? Do you know how to scan for vulnerabilities on your website? In this guide we cover all the basics of vulnerability scanning required to get started. First, we’ll discuss what a vulnerability scanner is, and then how to use it, and the benefits of scanning your website for vulnerabilities. So whether you’re a business owner or a web developer, this guide is for you.
What is a vulnerability scanner?
Put simply, it is a tool or software that scans websites, networks, and systems for potential security weaknesses. It does this by scanning your website or systems for known security risks.
Benefits of vulnerability scanning:
There are many benefits to testing your website for vulnerabilities, including:
- Improved security posture – By scanning your website for weak points you are taking the first step towards fixing them. This will ultimately lead to a more secure website and give you a better sense of web application pentesting in the process.
- Early detection of attacks – Vulnerability scanners can help you detect malicious activity on your website early, which can minimise damage and prevent data breaches.
- Enhanced protection against cyber threats – By identifying vulnerabilities on your website, you can take measures to protect your site against future attacks.
- Improved compliance posture – If you are required to comply with certain security standards (e.g., PCI DSS), scanning your website for vulnerabilities is a necessary part of the compliance process.
- Improved customer confidence – Customers are more concerned about the security of their personal information than ever before. You may demonstrate to your consumers that you regard their data security seriously by scanning your website for bugs.
Now that you know what a vulnerability scanner is and the benefits of using one, let’s discuss how to use it.
How to use a vulnerability scanner?
- The first step is to find a good vulnerability scanner. There are several free and paid scanning tools. We have included a short list below but do your own research as well.
- Once you have selected a scanner, install it and run a scan. This can be as easy as entering a website’s URL. To perform a more comprehensive scan, you may need to provide additional information, such as IP addresses, domain names, or login credentials.
- After the scan is complete, the scanner will provide a report that includes all of the identified vulnerabilities. Each vulnerability will be given a severity rating, which will help you prioritise which ones to fix first.
- Finally, any flaws discovered in the preceding steps must be fixed. Fixing them as soon as feasible is vital, although it may be time-consuming. Study the scanner’s instructions carefully so you know how to operate it properly.
Top 3 vulnerability scanners:
As we mentioned earlier, picking the right tool for your website is crucial. Each packs a different set of features and you’ll have to do some research to find out which one can meet your requirements.
Astra Website Protection:
This is a website malware and vulnerability scanner along with a web application firewall (WAF). What you get is protection from 100+ flaws, 3000+ security tests, round the clock support online. The firewall lets you monitor traffic and blacklist IP addresses that portray anomalous behaviour. The scans are performed with compliance and industry standards in mind so this is a great tool for meeting compliance requirements.
Burp Suite Pro:
Burp Suite Pro is a vulnerability scanner that also includes a proxy server. It’s possible to capture and analyse the traffic between your browser and the website you’re scanning using the proxy in this tool. It also includes a number of other features, such as spidering and crawling, which can help you find vulnerabilities more quickly.
Nessus Pro:
This is a well-known commercial vulnerability scanner that has been in operation for more than 20 years. It includes many features, such as the ability to scan for vulnerabilities in remote systems and databases. It also integrates with other security tools, like a firewall or intrusion detector.
Url Fuzzer by Sitechecker:
Url Fuzzer tool scans your site for vulnerabilities. This tool will show you all directories and hidden files
on your site. After scanning, you will get a detailed list of tips to solve all the detected problems. This
will help you protect your site from adding malicious code or stealing confidential information.
Conclusion
Now that you know everything to get started with vulnerability scanning. You can start scanning your website for vulnerabilities and take steps to fix them. This will help improve your website’s security posture and give you peace of mind.
