If you’re running a website, you’ve probably heard that security scanning is important. But what actually happens when you set up an automated scan? Understanding the process helps you make better decisions about protecting your site and interpreting the results you get.
I’ll walk you through what goes on behind the scenes when a security scanner analyzes your website, what it’s looking for, and why this matters for keeping your site safe.
The Initial Connection and Site Mapping
When an automated security scan starts, the first thing it does is connect to your website and build a map of its structure. The scanner acts like a visitor browsing your site, but it’s specifically looking for all the pages, directories, and resources that exist.
This mapping phase is crucial because the scanner needs to know what’s there before it can check for problems. It follows links, looks at your sitemap if you have one, and identifies different types of content – HTML pages, JavaScript files, images, forms, and other resources.
I remember when I first started scanning sites regularly, I was surprised by how many forgotten pages and old directories scanners would find. One client had an entire staging environment that was accidentally left public for months. The scanner found it within the first few minutes.
Checking for Known Vulnerabilities
Once the scanner knows what it’s dealing with, it starts checking for known security issues. This is where things get interesting. The scanner compares what it finds on your site against databases of known vulnerabilities.
If you’re running WordPress, for example, the scanner checks your WordPress version, your theme, and all your plugins against lists of known security flaws. It’s looking for things like outdated software with publicly disclosed vulnerabilities, components with known exploits, and configurations that create security risks.
This happens continuously throughout the scan. The scanner isn’t just checking once – it’s systematically going through every component it can identify and cross-referencing it with vulnerability databases that are updated daily.
Malware and Suspicious Code Detection
Next, the scanner looks for actual malicious code. This is different from checking for vulnerabilities – now it’s searching for signs that your site has already been compromised.
The scanner examines your files for suspicious patterns, hidden iframes, obfuscated JavaScript, and other red flags that indicate malware. It’s looking for things like credit card skimmers, backdoors, spam injectors, and redirect scripts that attackers commonly use.
Modern scanners use pattern recognition and behavioral analysis to find malware. They don’t just look for exact matches to known malware – they look for suspicious behaviors and code patterns that don’t belong on a legitimate website.
Configuration and Security Headers Review
A thorough security scan also checks your server configuration and security headers. These are the behind-the-scenes settings that control how your website behaves and what security features are enabled.
The scanner checks things like whether you’re using HTTPS properly, if you have security headers like Content Security Policy configured, whether your cookies are set securely, and if directory listing is disabled. These might sound technical, but they’re fundamental to website security.
I’ve seen plenty of sites that had good software security but weak configuration. One site I worked with had everything updated but was missing basic security headers, making it vulnerable to clickjacking attacks. The scan caught it immediately.
Form and Input Validation Testing
If your site has forms – contact forms, login pages, search functions – the scanner tests how they handle input. It’s looking for common vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and command injection.
The scanner sends various test inputs to see if your forms properly validate and sanitize what users submit. It’s not trying to cause damage, but it is checking whether a malicious user could exploit these entry points to attack your site or database.
This testing happens automatically and safely, but it’s checking for some of the most dangerous vulnerabilities that exist. Many major data breaches start with poorly validated user input.
SSL Certificate and Encryption Analysis
Security scans also verify your SSL/TLS configuration. They check whether your certificate is valid, properly configured, and using strong encryption protocols.
The scanner looks at when your certificate expires, whether you’re forcing HTTPS connections, if you’re using outdated protocols like TLS 1.0, and whether your encryption is configured correctly. Weak SSL configuration can leave your users’ data exposed even if you have a valid certificate.
Reporting and Prioritization
After completing all these checks, the scanner compiles everything into a report. Good scanners don’t just dump a list of problems – they prioritize issues based on severity.
Critical vulnerabilities that could lead to immediate site compromise get flagged as high priority. Medium-priority issues might be configuration problems that should be fixed but aren’t immediately exploitable. Low-priority items are often best-practice recommendations.
The scan results should tell you not just what’s wrong, but why it matters and what to do about it. That’s the difference between useful security scanning and just generating noise.
How Often This All Happens
With automated scanning, this entire process repeats regularly – daily for most services. That’s important because new vulnerabilities are discovered constantly. A site that was secure yesterday might have a critical flaw today if a vulnerability in your theme or plugin was just disclosed.
The automated nature means you get continuous protection without having to remember to run manual scans. The scanner keeps checking, and you get alerts when something changes or new issues appear.
Common Questions About Security Scans
Will scanning slow down my website? Properly configured scans are designed to minimize impact. They spread requests over time and avoid overwhelming your server.
Can a scan break my site? Legitimate security scanners are read-only. They look for vulnerabilities but don’t modify anything on your site.
Do I still need scanning if I keep everything updated? Yes. Updates fix known vulnerabilities, but scanning finds misconfigurations, malware, and zero-day vulnerabilities that updates won’t catch.
Understanding what happens during a security scan helps you appreciate why it’s such a valuable tool. It’s not magic – it’s systematic, thorough checking of every aspect of your site’s security, happening automatically so you can focus on running your business while staying protected.