Is Your Website Leaving the Door Open to Hackers?

Introduction

Your website is more than just a marketing channel - it’s your digital front door.
And just like a physical office, it can be left wide open to opportunistic intruders if simple precautions aren’t in place.

While cybercriminals often make headlines for large data breaches, most attacks actually target small and medium-sized businesses. In fact, over 560,000 new cyber threats are detected every day, and around 81% of UK businesses affected by cyberattacks are small or medium-sized (Source).

Automated bots continuously probe websites looking for weak spots - expired SSL certificates, insecure cookies, or outdated configurations - all of which can be exploited in seconds.

The Hidden Risks Behind “It’s Just a Website”

Many business owners assume their website is safe because it was professionally built or uses a well-known platform such as WordPress. However, many websites can overlook basic configuration settings or fail to review their security regularly:

• No secure (HTTPS) connection – leaves data exposed during transmission.

• Insecure cookies – can allow attackers to steal or hijack user sessions.

• Missing website security rules (CSP) – can make sites vulnerable to injected code.

• Too much data sharing with other sites (CORS) – may expose private data unintentionally.

• Visible server details – provide attackers with clues about software vulnerabilities.

Even simple misconfigurations like these can quietly open the door to real-world cyberattacks.

The Cost of Neglect

A compromised website can have far-reaching consequences regardless of the size of your organisation:

• Reputation damage: Visitors receive “Not Secure” warnings or are redirected to malicious pages.

• Data loss: Forms or login details can be intercepted.

• Financial loss: Website downtime or reputational harm leads to lost sales or service interruptions.

• Insurance implications: Some Cyber Liability policies may exclude claims if reasonable security precautions weren’t taken.

Just as businesses are expected to lock physical premises, insurers increasingly expect evidence of reasonable cyber hygiene, and that begins with website configuration.

A Simple Way to Check Your Website’s Security

For many small businesses, technical audits sound complex or expensive, but they don’t need to be. One useful option is a free online tool, the Web Page Security Scanner (Wisteria Security), which offers a quick, non-invasive way to evaluate your website’s configuration and highlight common security weaknesses. It’s a good starting point for any organisation beginning its cybersecurity journey.

The scanner performs over 20 safety checks, including HTTPS configuration, cookie protection, security headers, and content integrity.  Results are shown instantly with plain-English explanations and optional downloadable reports, ideal for website owners, developers, or compliance documentation.

Prevention Is better Than Cure

Cyber resilience is not just about having backups or antivirus software - it’s about reducing the likelihood of an incident in the first place. Performing a simple website scan, applying recommended fixes, reviewing your business continuity plan, and using a prevention checklist to identify wider risks are cost-effective steps that can drastically improve your cyber posture.

Ratcliffes supports businesses not only with Cyber Liability Insurance, but also with practical advice to help reduce risk before a claim ever arises.

Conclusion

Your website is the digital face of your business, so you will want to ensure that it reflects your professionalism and commitment to security.
Taking five minutes to check your site could save you from days of disruption later.
If you would like to discuss cyber insurance coverage or how to strengthen your business’s digital resilience, our team at Ratcliffes Insurance Brokers is always here to help.