How to Check & Fix Website Security Vulnerabilities

It can lead to data leaks, malware infections, or even a complete shutdown of your website. For this reason, it is essential to regularly review your website and continuously address any vulnerabilities.

In this article, we will discuss how to check your website’s security and fix vulnerabilities using the best modern methods for 2025. Whether you are managing an online store, a blog, or a business website, this article will help you protect your site and ensure the safety of your visitors’ data.

Why is security and protection for websites one of the most important factors in creating any website?

Due to increasing cyber threats: hackers use modern techniques like AI-powered attacks, ransomware, and zero-day security vulnerabilities.

Data privacy regulations: Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) require the protection of user data from breaches, or else hefty fines will be imposed.

User trust: A secure website builds lasting trust between it and its users, and any breach could destroy the website’s reputation. Therefore, protecting the site from cyberattacks strengthens its trust with customers.

Financial impact: Due to these ongoing attacks, if you are unable to confront them and protect your site from these threats, it may lead to site disruption, causing major disasters like lost revenue, funds in accounts, and the money spent to recover the systems and the website.

Important note: One of the most important reasons why you must be very careful when creating your website is to choose a good hosting service with a solid reputation, as it forms the core infrastructure of any website. This hosting contributes to 70% of your website’s protection and ensures your site does not go down at any time. There is a whole section dedicated to hosting reviews, so you can choose the right hosting for your website. If you are hesitant about choosing hosting, feel free to send us a comment, and we can assist you with that.

Let’s now get to the heart of the matter. One of the most important strategies for checking your website for vulnerabilities, so you can protect your site from cyberattacks and fraud, is to verify a few things, as follows:

Verify Updates and Plugins on Your Website

One of the reasons attacks on websites succeed is the use of outdated software, which makes it easier for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in content management systems (CMS), plugins, and themes. However, there are important steps you must take, which include verifying your content management system and ensuring you are using the latest versions of CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Secondly, you should consistently update installed plugins and themes whenever new updates are available.

To fix these issues, you must enable automatic updates for your CMS, plugins, and themes so that if a new update is available, it will be applied automatically. You can use update monitoring tools, such as the WP Updates Notifier, to receive notifications for all new updates.

2. Use Strong and Diverse Passwords

Weak passwords are a significant security risk. Hackers can easily guess or brute-force simple passwords, gaining unauthorized access to your website.

Steps to Verify:

• Review all user accounts with access to your website.
• Ensure passwords are strong and unique for each account.

How to Fix:

• Use password managers like LastPass or 1Password to generate and store complex passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security.

3. Check User Permissions and Privileges

Granting excessive permissions to users can lead to accidental or intentional security breaches. It’s essential to limit access to only what’s necessary.

Steps to Verify:

• Review user roles and permissions in your CMS.
• Ensure only trusted users have administrative access.

How to Fix:

• Use plugins like User Role Editor (for WordPress) to customize user permissions.
• Regularly audit user accounts and remove inactive or unnecessary users.

4. Scan Your Website for Malware

Malware can compromise your website’s functionality, steal sensitive data, or even spread to your visitors. Regular malware scans are essential for maintaining website security.

Steps to Verify:

• Use security tools like Sucuri or Wordfence to scan your website for malware.
• Check your website’s source code for suspicious scripts or files.

How to Fix:

• If malware is detected, use your security tool to remove it immediately.
• Conduct a thorough review to identify the source of the infection and prevent future breaches.

5. Activate Firewalls

A firewall acts as a barrier between your website and potential threats, blocking malicious traffic before it reaches your server.

Steps to Verify:

• Ensure a firewall is enabled on your server or through a security plugin.
• Check that the firewall settings are up-to-date and configured correctly.

How to Fix:

• Use tools like Cloudflare or Wordfence to enable a firewall for your website.
• Configure the firewall to block suspicious IP addresses and prevent common attack vectors.

6. Check for Malicious Links and SQL Injection Attacks

SQL injection is a common attack method where hackers exploit vulnerabilities in your website’s database queries to gain unauthorized access.

Steps to Verify:

• Use security tools to scan for SQL injection vulnerabilities.
• Test all user input fields (e.g., forms, search bars) to ensure they’re secure.

How to Fix:

• Use prepared statements and parameterized queries when interacting with your database.
• Install security plugins like Sucuri or Wordfence to protect against SQL injection attacks.

7. Check Server Configuration Files

Server configuration files like .htaccess (for Apache servers) or wp-config.php (for WordPress) contain sensitive information that hackers can exploit if accessed.

Steps to Verify:

• Ensure these files are properly protected and not accessible to unauthorized users.
• Verify that security settings in these files are correctly configured.

How to Fix:

• Change file permissions to restrict access (e.g., set .htaccess to 644).
• Add security rules to your .htaccess file to block unauthorized access to sensitive files.

8. Use an SSL Certificate to Encrypt Data

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts data transmitted between your website and its visitors, protecting sensitive information like passwords and credit card details.

Steps to Verify:

• Ensure your website uses HTTPS instead of HTTP.
• Verify that your SSL certificate is valid and up-to-date.

How to Fix:

• Purchase an SSL certificate from a trusted provider or use Let’s Encrypt for a free option.
• Enable automatic redirection from HTTP to HTTPS using plugins like Really Simple SSL.

9. Perform Regular Security Testing

Regular security testing helps you identify and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by hackers.

Steps to Verify:

• Use security testing tools like Nessus or Acunetix to scan for vulnerabilities.
• Test your website after making significant changes or adding new features.

How to Fix:

• Schedule monthly security scans to stay ahead of potential threats.
• Address any vulnerabilities identified during testing immediately.

10. Monitor Website Activity

Monitoring your website’s activity can help you detect and respond to suspicious behavior in real time.

Steps to Verify:

• Use tools like Google Analytics or Sucuri to monitor traffic and user behavior.
• Set up alerts for unusual activity, such as multiple failed login attempts.

How to Fix:

• Block suspicious IP addresses using your firewall or security plugin.
• Investigate and address any unusual activity promptly.

Conclusion: Protect Your Website in 2025

In 2025, website security is more critical than ever. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can check your website for vulnerabilities, fix them proactively, and protect your visitors’ data. From updating your software and using strong passwords to enabling firewalls and SSL certificates, these best practices will help you build a secure and trustworthy website.

Remember, security is an ongoing process. Regularly monitor your website, stay informed about the latest threats, and adapt your strategies to stay ahead of cybercriminals. By taking these steps, you can ensure your website remains safe, secure, and successful in 2025 and beyond.

Additional Resources

• Sucuri: Website security and malware removal.
• Wordfence: WordPress security plugin with firewall and malware scanning.
• Let’s Encrypt: Free SSL certificates for your website.
• OWASP: Open Web Application Security Project for best practices.

By combining these resources with the right tools and practices, you can create a robust security strategy that protects your website and your visitors.