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Website Security: Essential Practices to Protect Your Business Online

Learn website security best practices to block malware, protect against hackers, and stay PCI DSS compliant with Spider AF SiteScan.
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Introduction

Every business that operates online relies on trust. Customers enter payment details, personal information, and business inquiries through websites and expect their data to remain secure. A single breach can break that trust and expose a company to financial, reputational, and legal damage.

Website security refers to the set of technologies, practices, and monitoring systems that protect a site from unauthorized access, misuse, or theft of data. It is more than deploying SSL certificates or running occasional scans—it requires a layered approach that defends both server infrastructure and the client side of the browser.

High-profile incidents show how quickly an insecure website can lead to harm. The British Airways breach in 2018, caused by a malicious JavaScript injection, leaked 380,000 payment records and resulted in a £20 million fine. Ticketmaster experienced a similar compromise through a third-party chatbot, exposing the records of 40,000 customers. More recently, attackers have exploited Google Tag Manager to disguise malicious scripts as legitimate marketing tools.

Governments and regulators have responded by raising security standards. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) v4.0.1, effective March 2025, requires businesses to monitor and secure scripts running in customer browsers. Similarly, the U.S. HTTPS-Only Standard mandates that public websites enforce encrypted connections and use HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to prevent downgrade attacks.

The message is clear: website security is not optional. It is essential for protecting customer trust, maintaining compliance, and ensuring long-term business resilience.

Common Website Security Risks

Website Malware Protection Against Infections

Malware is often introduced through outdated software or compromised plugins. Once inside, malicious code can spread across a site, inject redirects, or steal sensitive data. Automated attack tools continuously scan the internet for vulnerable systems, meaning unpatched software quickly becomes a liability. Robust website malware protection solutions can detect these threats early and minimize damage.

SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

SQL injection (SQLi) attacks exploit poorly sanitized input fields to execute malicious queries against a database. Cross-site scripting allows attackers to run harmful scripts in a user’s browser. Both remain common because many sites continue to rely on insecure coding practices. The NIST Guide to Secure Web Services (SP 800-95) highlights these flaws and emphasizes secure coding and validation as critical to reducing exposure.

Client-Side Website Security and Third-Party Script Abuse

Modern websites rely heavily on third-party tools for analytics, payments, and marketing. Since these scripts run on the client side, they bypass many server protections. Attackers increasingly target these dependencies, knowing they are often poorly monitored. The British Airways and Ticketmaster breaches illustrate how dangerous unchecked third-party scripts can be. Monitoring client-side website security is now essential.

Phishing and Fake Websites

Cybercriminals create fraudulent versions of legitimate sites to trick users into providing credentials. According to CISA browser security guidance, secure browser configurations and vigilant certificate monitoring help reduce phishing exposure. These examples underline why website security is important not only for compliance but also for customer trust.

Bot Traffic and Ad Fraud

Beyond direct data theft, websites face a growing wave of automated bot traffic. These bots execute credential-stuffing attacks, overwhelm analytics with fake visits, and waste ad budgets by generating fraudulent clicks. According to Spider AF’s 2025 Ad Fraud White Paper, the average ad fraud rate reached 5.1% in 2024, with some networks recording fraud levels as high as 46.9%. In extreme cases, businesses saw more than half of their advertising budgets lost to invalid traffic.

Website Security Best Practices

Enforce HTTPS Everywhere

All website traffic should be encrypted with HTTPS. The federal HTTPS-Only Standard requires public websites to adopt HTTPS and HSTS, ensuring that connections remain secure even if attackers attempt to downgrade them. For businesses, this is no longer just best practice but a baseline expectation for customer trust.

Keep Software Updated

Unpatched systems are prime targets. Content management systems, e-commerce platforms, and third-party plugins should be updated consistently. The NSA Network Infrastructure Security Guidance highlights patching as one of the most effective defenses against cyberattacks.

Deploy Firewalls and Intrusion Detection

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) filter malicious traffic, while intrusion detection systems alert administrators to suspicious behavior. These measures block common attacks like SQL injections before they reach sensitive systems.

Automate Backups

Automated, encrypted backups stored in multiple locations ensure that websites can be restored quickly after a breach or ransomware incident.

Protect Your Website from Hackers with Strong Authentication

Administrator accounts should use strong authentication policies. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a proven method to protect websites from hackers. The FCC Cybersecurity for Small Businesses guide emphasizes access controls and MFA as essential safeguards for small enterprises.

Monitor Client-Side Scripts for Compliance

Traditional defenses often miss what happens in the browser. With PCI DSS v4.0.1, organizations are required to monitor third-party scripts running client-side. Tools like Spider AF SiteScan help companies maintain an inventory of scripts, detect tampering, and block unauthorized transmissions in real time.

Why Website Security Is Important for Businesses

Weak website security creates risks across financial, reputational, and legal dimensions. From fines to customer loss, the costs often outweigh prevention. The SBA cybersecurity guide points out that cyber incidents often reduce customer retention and sales, with disproportionate impact on small businesses.

Tools and Solutions for Stronger Website Security

Traditional Security Tools for Website Malware Protection

WAFs, malware scanners, and vulnerability assessments form the foundation of website malware protection. They help reduce the risk of known threats and give administrators visibility into potential vulnerabilities.

Client-Side Website Security with Spider AF SiteScan

Server-level tools cannot detect all client-side threats. Spider AF SiteScan addresses this by:

  • Monitoring scripts in real time for tampering.
  • Providing a complete inventory of third-party scripts.
  • Using AI-powered analysis to flag suspicious code.
  • Ensuring PCI DSS v4.0.1 compliance.

Organizations using SiteScan report reduced exposure to hidden vulnerabilities, improved compliance readiness, and lighter internal monitoring workloads.

Extending Security to Digital Advertising

Security extends beyond infrastructure. Spider AF’s broader suite, including PPC Protection and Fake Lead Protection, safeguards marketing investments from click fraud and fake conversions. Companies using these tools have seen ROI improvements of over 150%.

Conclusion

Website security is a shared responsibility across IT, marketing, and compliance teams. It requires more than server protections—it demands visibility into client-side scripts, adherence to regulatory standards, and resilience against fraudulent traffic.

The most effective strategies combine foundational best practices with advanced tools. By aligning with trusted guidance from NIST secure web services, NSA network security, CISA browser security, and federal HTTPS standards, businesses can meet compliance requirements and protect customer trust. By incorporating advanced monitoring solutions such as Spider AF SiteScan, organizations can close the gaps that traditional defenses leave open.

Now is the time to act, before attackers exploit vulnerabilities. Start by understanding your website’s risks. Scan your website for free with Spider AF SiteScan today: Spider AF SiteScan Free Trial.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is website security?
Website security is the practice of protecting websites from cyberattacks, malware, and unauthorized access. It includes encryption, firewalls, secure coding, and monitoring of client-side scripts to safeguard customer data and ensure compliance.

Why is website security important?
Website security is important because it prevents data breaches, protects customer trust, and avoids financial and legal penalties. Weak security can lead to fraud, reputational damage, and lost sales, especially for businesses handling sensitive information or online payments.

How can I protect my website from hackers?
You can protect your website from hackers by using HTTPS encryption, keeping all software updated, enabling multi-factor authentication, deploying firewalls, and monitoring third-party scripts. Tools like Spider AF SiteScan add extra protection against hidden client-side threats.

What is client-side website security?
Client-side website security focuses on monitoring scripts that run in a user’s browser. These scripts can be hijacked to steal payment or personal data, as seen in Magecart attacks. PCI DSS v4.0.1 now requires organizations to secure and monitor client-side activity.

What is website malware protection?
Website malware protection involves scanning and blocking malicious code that can compromise site functionality or steal data. Using malware scanners, web application firewalls, and automated monitoring helps reduce infection risks and maintain safe, reliable websites.

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