HTTP Security Header
An HTTP security header scan is a tool that checks the security headers of a website and provides a report on its security posture. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the underlying protocol used to transfer data between a web server and a web browser. Security headers are additional HTTP headers that provide security-related information to the browser and help to protect against various web-based attacks.
An HTTP security header scan typically performs the following checks:
Content Security Policy (CSP): The scan checks whether the website has implemented a CSP header, which specifies the domains from which resources can be loaded. A CSP header can help to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by restricting the sources of executable scripts.
Strict Transport Security (HSTS): The scan checks whether the website has implemented an HSTS header, which forces the browser to use HTTPS for all subsequent requests. HSTS can help to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by ensuring that all communication between the browser and the server is encrypted.
X-XSS-Protection: The scan checks whether the website has implemented an X-XSS-Protection header, which enables the browser's built-in XSS protection. This header can help to prevent XSS attacks by blocking malicious scripts from executing.
X-Frame-Options: The scan checks whether the website has implemented an X-Frame-Options header, which controls whether the website can be displayed within an iframe. This header can help to prevent clickjacking attacks by preventing the website from being embedded in a malicious site.
Referrer-Policy: The scan checks whether the website has implemented a Referrer-Policy header, which controls the information sent in the Referer header. This header can help to prevent sensitive information leakage by limiting the amount of information sent in the Referer header.
The results of an HTTP security header scan can help website owners identify security issues and improve the security posture of their website. Users can also use HTTP security header scans to check whether a website is secure before providing sensitive information or making online transactions.
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