10IPS IP & network intelligence
Guide · Website & Domain

What are security headers (and which you need)?

Security headers are small instructions your server sends with every page that tell the browser how to protect your visitors — cheap to add, and they close real attack classes.

Tool: Headers checker Try it now — free, no signup. Open →

What it is

They're HTTP response headers. The key ones: HSTS (force HTTPS), Content-Security-Policy (limit what scripts can load — stops most XSS), X-Content-Type-Options (no MIME sniffing), X-Frame-Options / frame-ancestors (block clickjacking), and Referrer-Policy.

Why it matters

Missing headers leave the door open to cross-site scripting, clickjacking and protocol downgrade attacks. They're also an easy, visible signal of a well-run site — and some are checked by security scanners and partners.

How to check

Enter your URL in the tool above. It grades your headers, lists which are present and missing, highlights risky settings (like a wildcard CORS policy), and gives a ready-to-paste config snippet.

How to fix

  • Add HSTS once you're fully on HTTPS.
  • Add a Content-Security-Policy — start in report-only mode, then enforce.
  • Set X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff and a frame policy.
  • Avoid Access-Control-Allow-Origin: * on anything sensitive.

FAQ

Which header matters most?

CSP stops the widest range of attacks (XSS), but it needs care. HSTS and nosniff are quick, safe wins to start with.

Will headers break my site?

CSP can if set too strictly — that's why you start in report-only mode. The others are generally safe.

Where do I add them?

In your web server or CDN config (Nginx, Caddy, Cloudflare). The tool gives you a snippet.

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