Security headers are short instructions your server sends with every page. They tell browsers to block certain risky behaviour. They cost nothing and take minutes to add. Yet many sites still miss them, which makes some attacks easier.
The most useful security headers
- Strict-Transport-Security forces browsers to use HTTPS.
- Content-Security-Policy limits where scripts and styles may load from.
- X-Frame-Options stops other sites from framing your pages.
- X-Content-Type-Options prevents browsers from guessing file types.
- Referrer-Policy controls how much address data leaves your site.
- Permissions-Policy turns off features like camera access when not needed.
Start with the easy ones
Most headers can be added without changing your site. Add them in the server configuration, in a plugin or through your CDN. Start with HSTS, frame options and content type options. Test your site after each change.
Content Security Policy needs care
This header is powerful but can break features. Start in report-only mode to see what would be blocked. Add trusted sources step by step. Switch to enforcement only when the reports are clean.
Check your score
Our free site audit checks which headers your site sends. It shows missing ones and explains why they matter. Run it again after changes to confirm the fix.
Part of a bigger plan
Headers do not replace updates, strong passwords or backups. They are one layer among several. Combine them with a valid certificate and regular scanning. Our website security service helps you manage these layers together.
A quick win
If you do one thing this week, add HSTS and frame options. It takes a few minutes. Your visitors are better protected, and audit tools will show a better score. Small steps like these make attacks harder and keep trust high.
Example configuration
On LiteSpeed or Apache servers, headers can be added in the .htaccess file. On Nginx, they go in the server block. Many WordPress security plugins also add them for you. Choose one method only, so headers are not sent twice with different values.
