HTTP Security Headers Checker – Test Website Security Headers Online
HTTP security headers are an important part of modern website security. They tell web browsers how your website should handle HTTPS connections, embedded content, browser features, MIME types, referrer information, and potentially dangerous scripts.
Our free HTTP Security Headers Checker allows you to quickly scan a website and check whether important security headers are present in the HTTP response. Enter a public website URL and the tool analyzes the response headers and provides an easy-to-understand security report.
What Are HTTP Security Headers?
HTTP security headers are response headers sent by a web server to provide browsers with security-related instructions. They can help reduce risks such as clickjacking, MIME-type sniffing, insecure connections, unwanted browser capabilities, and certain types of content injection attacks.
Security headers do not replace secure application development, authentication, input validation, server security, or regular vulnerability testing. Instead, they provide an additional layer of protection for websites and web applications.
Strict-Transport-Security
The Strict-Transport-Security header, commonly called HSTS, tells compatible browsers to access your website using HTTPS instead of HTTP.
Example:
max-age=31536000
Content-Security-Policy
Content-Security-Policy helps control which types of content and resources a browser is allowed to load. A properly configured CSP can help reduce certain XSS and content injection risks.
X-Frame-Options
X-Frame-Options controls whether a page can be displayed inside a frame. It can help protect pages against clickjacking attacks.
Common value:
SAMEORIGIN
X-Content-Type-Options
This header helps prevent browsers from MIME-sniffing resources and interpreting content as a different type from the one declared by the server.
Recommended value:
nosniff
Referrer-Policy
Referrer-Policy controls how much referrer information browsers send when users navigate from one page to another.
Example:
strict-origin-when-cross-origin
Permissions-Policy
Permissions-Policy allows websites to control access to browser features such as camera, microphone, geolocation, and other capabilities.
Example:
camera=(), microphone=()
How Does the HTTP Security Headers Checker Work?
The checker sends a request to the website URL you provide and examines the HTTP response returned by the server. It then checks for several commonly used security headers and reports whether each header is present.
- Enter a complete website URL such as https://example.com/.
- Click the Check Security Headers button.
- The tool requests the website's HTTP response.
- The response headers are analyzed automatically.
- The results show which security headers are present or missing.
- You can use the report to identify areas that may need additional server-side security configuration.
Understanding Your Security Score
The security score provides a quick overview of the HTTP security headers detected by the checker. A higher score generally means that more of the checked security headers are present.
A low score does not automatically mean that a website has been hacked or is unsafe. Security headers are only one part of website security. A website can use other security controls that are not measured by this particular header check.
Use the score as a starting point for improving your server configuration rather than treating it as a complete security audit.
Why Are Security Headers Important?
- Help browsers enforce safer communication rules.
- Reduce certain browser-based security risks.
- Help prevent clickjacking when properly configured.
- Reduce MIME-type sniffing behavior.
- Provide control over browser capabilities.
- Help control referrer information.
Who Should Use This Tool?
The checker can be useful for website owners, developers, SEO professionals, system administrators, agencies, and security-conscious businesses.
- Website developers
- WordPress administrators
- PHP and CodeIgniter developers
- SEO professionals
- Web agencies
- Small business website owners
- Server administrators
Important Security Note
A security header checker cannot perform a complete penetration test or vulnerability assessment. Missing headers should be reviewed in the context of your website's requirements. Before adding strict policies such as a detailed Content-Security-Policy, test them carefully because an incorrectly configured policy can block legitimate scripts, styles, APIs, advertisements, fonts, or other website resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an HTTP Security Headers Checker?
A: It is an online tool that checks HTTP response headers returned by a website and identifies commonly used security headers such as HSTS, CSP, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy.
Q: Is this security headers checker free?
A: Yes. You can use the HTTP Security Headers Checker online without creating an account.
Q: What does a missing security header mean?
A: It means the requested website response did not contain that particular HTTP header. Depending on the website, server configuration, and application requirements, the header may or may not be necessary.
Q: Does a low security score mean my website is hacked?
A: No. The score only reflects the security headers checked by this tool. It is not a complete malware scan, penetration test, or vulnerability assessment.
Q: Can I check HTTPS websites?
A: Yes. Enter a publicly accessible HTTPS website URL and the checker will analyze the HTTP response headers returned by that website.
Q: Can security headers affect website functionality?
A: Yes. Some policies, especially Content-Security-Policy and Permissions-Policy, can affect scripts, external resources, browser features, advertisements, APIs, and embedded content if configured incorrectly. Always test changes before applying strict policies to a production website.