5 Things Hackers Check First When Attacking Your Website

Think like an attacker to defend like a pro

Penetration testers follow a predictable checklist. Here's what they look for — and how to fix each one before they find it.

1. Exposed admin panels

/admin, /wp-admin, /phpmyadmin — bots scan these 24/7. Move them to non-obvious URLs and add IP whitelisting.

2. Outdated software versions

Check HTTP headers, /package.json, or CMS version tags. One unpatched CVE = game over. Automate updates.

3. Default credentials

admin/admin, root/password, test/test. You'd be shocked how often they work. Enforce strong passwords on everything.

4. Open ports

A quick nmap scan reveals your attack surface. Close every port you don't need. SSH on 22? Move it.

5. Missing HTTPS / security headers

No HTTPS? Credentials sent in plaintext. Missing CSP? XSS playground. Use securityheaders.com to audit yourself.

Fix these 5 things and you've eliminated 80% of common attack vectors.