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Website security is a crucial aspect to consider when you own a website, regardless of its type and size. The potential cyber threats that can harm your website and the data it holds are numerous, and it’s essential to have a reliable security scanner at your disposal to keep them at bay.
Windows is one of the most popular operating systems, and it’s crucial to ensure the security of websites hosted on servers running this OS. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top 7 website security scanners for Windows that can help you protect your website and keep it secure from cybercriminals.
Video Tutorial:
What Website Security Scanners Can Do?
Website security scanners are powerful tools designed to detect vulnerabilities and security weaknesses in your website’s code. These tools can scan your website’s source code, web pages, and web applications to identify potential security risks. Once the vulnerability is detected, the scanner provides recommendations to fix the issue, which helps to prevent potential cyber attacks.
One key feature of website security scanners is that they can analyze website content for malware or malicious code. It’s important to scan your website for malware regularly as cybercriminals can use malware to steal sensitive information from your users or attack other websites.
Website security scanners can also detect other types of security risks like cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection (SQLi), and others. A good scanner provides in-depth analysis of security issues and offers remediation recommendations to make your website more secure.
What Factors Should Be Considered While Choosing Website Security Scanners?
When it comes to selecting website security scanners, there are several important factors that you should consider. These include:
1. Types of Scans
The website security scanner should be capable of performing different types of scans, including full scans, quick scans, and deep scans. Full scans take longer to complete, but they are more thorough as they scan the website’s entire codebase. Quick scans are faster, but they can miss some vulnerabilities. Deep scans are the most detailed scans that can identify the most complex vulnerabilities.
2. User Interface
A website security scanner’s user interface should be straightforward and easy to use. The tool should provide clear and concise reports that are easy to understand, even for non-technical users. A good scanner should also offer a customizable dashboard that enables the user to prioritize and manage security risks according to their importance.
3. Database of Known Vulnerabilities
A reliable website security scanner should have a comprehensive database of known vulnerabilities. The scanner should be updated regularly to keep up with the latest security threats and provide the most secure and up-to-date scanning results.
4. Pricing
Pricing is an important consideration when selecting a website security scanner. Some scanners offer free trials, but they may not include all features. Others offer a subscription-based pricing model with varying levels of support and features, which may be more suitable for businesses with specific security needs.
Top 7 Website Security Scanners for Windows
Top 1: Netsparker
Netsparker is a popular website and web application security scanner that can identify vulnerabilities in any type of web application, regardless of the technology used. It is easy to use and provides detailed reports that can be understood by non-technical users. Netsparker uses proprietary Proof-Based Scanning™ that ensures accurate results. It also offers support for integration with popular tools like Jira and Slack.
Pros:
– Exceptionally fast scan
– Deep scans
– Proprietary Proof-Based Scanning™
Cons:
– Expensive compared to other scanners
– Occasional false-positive results
Top 2: Acunetix
Acunetix is a web vulnerability scanner that can detect and report on vulnerabilities in web applications. Acunetix was built with a focus on web security and comes with a suite of features that make it more suitable for use by experienced users. Acunetix also offers support for integration with a vast range of tools as well as a RESTful API.
Pros:
– Deep scans and in-depth reports
– Integration with a range of tools
– RESTful API
Cons:
– Expensive subscription-based model
– Can generate many false positives
Top 3: Burp Suite
Burp Suite is a web application security scanner that offers a range of utilities to help with web application testing. Burp Suite consists of a modular structure, making it flexible, and it’s ideal for experienced users. The tool also offers support for integration with different tools and a RESTful API.
Pros:
– Modular structure for flexibility
– Advanced customization options
– Support for many tools and RESTful API
Cons:
– Complicated interface for non-technical users
– Expensive model for small businesses
Top 4: Vega
Vega is a flexible and open-source web application security scanner that offers detailed reports of identified vulnerabilities. Vega also offers support for integrating with different tools, and it is easy to use. The tool supports high-level testing using HTTP proxies and Google Chrome.
Pros:
– Great for exploring and testing applications
– Open-source scanner
– Supports multiple platforms
Cons:
– Lack of options for deep scans
– Possibility of false positives
Top 5: Qualys WAF
Qualys WAF provides firewall protection and acts as a web application security scanner. It features an AI and ML-powered threat mitigation service that analyzes and protects against a range of threats. It has a handy feature that provides support for automation and scaling to carry out a variety of application security tests.
Pros:
– Great for apps supported by AI & ML algorithms
– Comprehensive UI
– Automation and scale features are supported
Cons:
– Expensive pricing model
– Advanced setup may be difficult for new users
Top 6: OpenVAS
OpenVAS is an open-source and free web application security scanner that can scan a wide range of network services and web applications. The tool has the ability to identify over 75,000 vulnerability checks with more than 50,000 daily updates made to its database.
Pros:
– Open-source software
– Detection of a comprehensive list of network services and web applications
– Great for scanning multiple systems at the same time
Cons:
– Has some difficulty in identifying low or medium-level risk issues
– Can be slow for in-depth scanning
Top 7: AppTrana
AppTrana is an AI-powered website security scanner built to scan web applications that could prevent cyber-attacks and shield a website from the ever-increasing risks online. AppTrana provides comprehensive protection against network layer DDoS, SSL layer DDoS, and application layer DDoS attacks, thus providing a complete package for website’s security.
Pros:
– The complete package for website security
– Trend Analysis
– Comprehensive protection against network layer DDoS, SSL layer DDoS, and application layer DDoS attacks
Cons:
– Offers single package bundles that may not meet unique business needs
– May not guarantee zero false positives or negatives
Comparison Table
We’ve created a comparison table to make it easier to compare the website security scanners mentioned above based on a few key factors.
| Free Trial | Price | Ease-Of-Use | Value For Money | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netsparker | Yes | Expensive | Easy to use | High value for money |
| Acunetix | Yes | Expensive | Easy to use | High value for money |
| Burp Suite | Yes | Expensive | Complicated | Average value for money |
| Vega | Yes | Free | Easy to use | High value for money |
| Qualys WAF | No | Expensive | Advanced | Average value for money |
| OpenVAS | Yes | Free | Easy to use | High value for money |
| AppTrana | Yes | Custom | Easy to use | Value according to bundling |
Our Thoughts on Website Security Scanners
Website security scanners are essential tools to ensure the safety of any website. The scanners’ features, ease of use, pricing, and suitability will depend on the unique requirements of the user or business. OpenVAS is an excellent open-source software if financial budgets are a constraint. Vega is an ideal entry-level scanner for those starting out, as it is easy to use and free. AppTrana provides a comprehensive security suite for websites with different security needs. Those looking for more customization opportunities can consider Burp Suite. Acunetix and Netsparker offer robust scanners, although they can be expensive compared to other scanners.
FAQs About Website Security Scanners
Q1: Is It Safe to Use Free Open-Source Scanners?
A1: Using a free open-source scanner for website protection may seem risky but certain open-source scanners are equally efficient compared to their proprietary counterparts. Open-source scanners must be updated to their latest versions and offer safety against the latest threats in the cyberspace.
Q2: Do Free Trials of Website Security Scanners Include All Functions?
A2: No. Free trials do not cover all functions of website security scanners. Most free trials cover the scanner’s basic features to provide the user with a general idea of its operation and capabilities.
Q3: Can Using Multiple Website Security Scanners Offer More Protection?
A3: Yes. Multiple website security scanners can offer more protection than using a single scanner. Every security scanner has its set of capabilities and inclusions that can help identify the most minute details of the website’s source code.
Q4: How Often Should I Run Website Security Scans?
A4: For best practice, depending on the nature and scale of the website, website security scans should be performed at least twice a month.
Q5: Can Website Security Scanners Detect All Forms of Attacks?
A5: No. Website security scanners are designed to look for specific vulnerabilities in website source code. While they are effective, they may not be able to detect advanced cyber threats that can occur in the website’s back-end servers.
Final Words
Choosing the right website security scanner for your Windows-based website is an important decision that can impact the security of your site. We’ve introduced you to the top 7 website security scanners for Windows that can help protect your website from cyber threats. By considering factors like types of scans, user interface, database of known vulnerabilities, and pricing, you can select the scanner that precisely meets your security needs and budget. Regularly performing website security scans can be a proactive way of protecting your website and the critical data it holds.