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Understanding HTTP Security Headers
HTTP security headers are response headers that web servers send to browsers to enable security features and prevent common web vulnerabilities. Properly configured headers can protect against XSS, clickjacking, MIME-type sniffing, and other attacks.
Essential Security Headers
| Header | Purpose | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Content-Security-Policy | Prevents XSS and code injection | Critical |
| Strict-Transport-Security | Enforces HTTPS connections | Critical |
| X-Frame-Options | Prevents clickjacking | High |
| X-Content-Type-Options | Prevents MIME sniffing | High |
| Referrer-Policy | Controls referrer information | Medium |
Content Security Policy (CSP)
CSP is the most powerful security header, allowing you to control which resources can be loaded on your page. A well-configured CSP can prevent most XSS attacks by blocking inline scripts and limiting script sources.
Example CSP Header:
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'HSTS Configuration
HSTS should be configured with a max-age of at least 31536000 (1 year) and include the includeSubDomains directive. For additional security, consider adding your domain to the HSTS preload list.
Recommended HSTS Header:
Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preloadCross-Origin Headers (COOP, COEP, CORP)
The newer cross-origin headers enable cross-origin isolation, which is required for some browser features like SharedArrayBuffer. However, they can break third-party integrations, so test carefully before deploying.
COOP
Cross-Origin-Opener-Policy isolates your browsing context from cross-origin windows.
COEP
Cross-Origin-Embedder-Policy requires all resources to opt-in to being loaded.
CORP
Cross-Origin-Resource-Policy controls who can load your resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Security Headers Analyzer
This tool analyzes 13 key security headers: Content-Security-Policy (CSP), Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS), X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, Cross-Origin-Opener-Policy (COOP), Cross-Origin-Embedder-Policy (COEP), Cross-Origin-Resource-Policy (CORP), Expect-CT, X-XSS-Protection, X-Permitted-Cross-Domain-Policies, and X-DNS-Prefetch-Control.
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ℹ️ Disclaimer
This tool is provided for informational and educational purposes only. All processing happens entirely in your browser - no data is sent to or stored on our servers. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties about the completeness or reliability of results. Use at your own discretion.