While many people know that malicious file attachments spread malware, many users often forget that cybercriminals will also use hacked websites to spread malware and ransomware
When browsing online, using a website malware scanner is one of the most effective ways to avoid falling victim to malware-infected websites.
The list includes a mix of tools that organizations can use to scan their websites for malicious content. It prioritizes tools that support DAST And IAST scanning, and the ability to scan password-protected and unlinked pages that less comprehensive solutions miss.
Here is our list of the eleven best website malware scanners:
- ManageEngine Browser Security Plus EDITOR’S CHOICE This on-premises package enforces your company security policy with respect to allowed Web browsers and their configurations. Lockdown browsers with this system that runs on Windows Server. Get a 30-day free trial.
- Site24x7 Digital Risk Analyzer (FREE TRIAL) This cloud-based system is a type of vulnerability manager for online systems, such as websites, Web applications, and email servers. Get a 30-day free trial.
- Invicti Website malware scanner with DAST and IAST vulnerability scanning, dashboards, reports, and more.
- Acunetix Web application scanner with DAST and IAST scanning with scheduled and on-demand scans, security integrations, and more.
- Rapid7 InsightAppSec Website vulnerability scanner with DAST scanning, dashboards, compliance reports, integrations, and more.
- Qualys Web Application Scanning Web application scanner with vulnerability scanning, behavioral analysis, alerts, reports, and more.
- PortSwigger Burp Suite Web vulnerability scanner with web URL scanning, dashboards, reports, integrations, and more.
- Tenable Nessus Vulnerability management software that can detect over 57,000 CVEs with dashboards, reports, scan templates, and more.
- Sucuri Website Security Platform Online website malware checker with continuous scanning, alerts, reports, 24/7/365 support, and more.
- Indusface WAS Web application scanner with automated scanning, threat intelligence, 24/7 support, penetration testing, and more.
- SiteLock Website scanning software with real-time alerts, dashboard, a web application firewall, automated malware removal, and more.
The Best Website Malware Scanners
Our methodology for selecting website malware scanners
We reviewed the market for website malware blocking systems and analyzed the options based on the following criteria:
- A mix of testers, scanners, and blockers
- Automated testing for risk through DAST or SAST
- System hardening services to prevent vulnerabilities in browsers allowing malware to enter the host computer
- Alerts for the detection of a threat
- A centralized system that can protect an entire enterprise from one console
- A free trial or a demo service for an assessment opportunity before buying
- Value for money from a website malware detector that is offered at a good price
1. ManageEngine Browser Security Plus (FREE TRIAL)
ManageEngine Browser Security Plus Offers a method to ensure the continued security of the Web browsers that are operating on your corporate endpoints. This is a central management system that will scan browsers on all your workstations across the network.
Key Features
- Centralized browser control
- Scans browsers for plug-ins
- Authorizes secure plug-ins
- Blocks unapproved plug-ins
- Adjusts browser security settings
Although all of the major Web browser brands are safe to use, you might have instituted a corporate policy to limit use to just one brand. You can enforce this standard on all of your endpoints with Browser Security Plus by blocking the installation and use of all non-authorized browsers. Browser Security Plus will also replicate your stated browser security policy on all of the workstations on your network, returning all settings to make those browsers compliant.
A very important feature of the Browser Security Plus package is its ability to scan browsers for plug-ins. You should have produced a standard setup for Web browsers on your network and this will include plug-in authorization. Even permitted browsers can change and become unsafe. Browser Security Plus keeps scanning approved Web browsers for security concerns and will alert you if a plug-in turns bad.
Pros:
- A centralized console to manage all network endpoints
- Limits to the permitted browsers that can be used on an endpoint
- Web browser configuration scanning and adjustment
- Plug-in security scanning
- Blocks on the use of unauthorized Web browser plug-ins
Cons:
- No SaaS version
ManageEngine Browser Security Plus installs on Windows Server and it will reach out to workstations with other operating systems across the network. There is a Free edition to manage 25 workstations and the paid edition, called Professional, is available for a 30-day free trial.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
ManageEngine Browser Security Plus is our top pick for a website malware scanner because it hardens all of your workstations against browser-based attacks. Ensure that only authorized Web browsers are in use on your network’s endpoints and that they are hardened against attack. This software package can control all of your enterprise’s workstations from one central console, meaning that you don’t need to visit each endpoint to ensure that its Web browser is properly configured.
Download: Start 30-day FREE Trial
Official Site: https://www.manageengine.com/browser-security/
OS: Windows Server
2. Site24x7 Digital Risk Analyzer (FREE TRIAL)
Site24x7 Digital Risk Analyzer checks on the weaknesses in Web applications, websites, email systems, and network gateways. The system acts as a vulnerability scanner for online assets. Each scan gives a security score to each asset and recommends changes that will improve that score.
Key Features:
- SSL certificate tracking
- Domain blocklist scanning
- Email records security
- Encryption cipher strength assessment
- Malware scanning
This package primarily looks after the subscribing company’s assets rather than the websites that company users visit. So, the malware scanning element of this package focuses on the infection of company assets and also the security weaknesses in website code that can allow these infections to happen. The malware detection system also scans incoming emails and checks arriving mails for phishing attempts. Google maintains a blocklist of URLs. The Digital Risk Analyzer scans this to make sure protected URLs aren’t on the list and it also refers to the blocklist when checking the sites that users visit and the links that are embedded in incoming emails.
The Website Monitoring package that includes the Digitial Risk Analyzer also provides Synthetic Monitoring, which implements automated tests on Web assets to ensure that they are available and running properly. The package also provides Real User Monitoring, which gathers activity reports and traps the errors that arise during the operations of websites.
Pros:
- Ensures websites don’t get infected with malware
- Checks that company URLs aren’t blocked
- Monitors the validity of the company’s SSL certificates
- Scans incoming emails to spot malicious links and phishing attempts
- Provides reports for threat analysis
Cons:
- Not an on-premises package
The Site24x7 platform is based in the cloud and is provided as SaaS plans. Most of the plans on the platform contain the same modules. However, the Website Monitoring plans include a few extras that the other plans don’t have and the Digital Risk Analyzer is one of those. There is also a version of the package for use by managed service providers. You can start using the entire Site24x7 platform with a 30-day free trial.
3. Invicti
Invicti is a website malware scanner that you can scan web applications, web services, and APIs. Netsparker can scan any closed or any open source code, no matter what language the infrastructure uses. The solution also uses advanced crawling technologies to identify vulnerabilities on every page of your site without missing anything.
Key Features
- Dashboards
- Reports
- Advanced crawling
- DAST + IAST scanning
- Automated workflows
It’s worth noting that Netsparker offers a mix of DAST and IAST scanning, enabling it to detect a high volume of vulnerabilities that other security tools might miss. Once it discovers a vulnerability, it can automatically create and assign it to a developer to address. In addition, automated workflows mean there’s no need for users to verify vulnerabilities manually.
The platform also provides users with dashboard and report views, so they can easily monitor scan results. This increases transparency over the state of web applications but also helps to demonstrate compliance with preconfigured reports for PCI DSS, OWASP Top 10, and HIPAA. Netsparker is ideal for enterprises and users looking for a comprehensive web malware scanner.
Pros:
- Dynamic and static website scanning
- Preferable for checking your own websites
- Can be tuned to specific data protection standards
- Compliance reporting
Cons:
- Not intended for general protection from malware on non-owned sites
Available on-premises and on-demand with unlimited users and scans. However, you need to contact the sales team to request a quote to view the pricing information for this product. You can request a demo via this link here.
4. Acunetix
Acunetix is a web application security scanner designed to enable users to identify vulnerabilities in web applications. Acunetix uses DAST and IAST scanning to detect over 7,000 web vulnerabilities, including OWASP Top 10, SQL infections, XSS, misconfigurations, exposed databases, and more.
Key Features
- Detect over 7,000 web vulnerabilities
- DAST and IAST scanning
- Create or schedule scans
- Security integrations
Users can create scans on-demand or schedule them periodically. Throughout scans, the Acunetix application will let you know how long the scan takes to complete and provide you with a table overview of Critical, High Medium, and Low Severity vulnerabilities found.
One of the main advantages of Acunetix is that it’s very developer-friendly. For example, once it discovers a vulnerability, the user can click on it to see the lines of code that caused the exposure to fix it. The platform also offers a range of integrations that support developers, linking with Jira, Microsoft Teams, Bugzilla, GitLab, Mantis Bug Tracker, Jenkins, Now, Okta, and more.
Pros:
- Good for development testing
- Integrates with CI/CD pipeline tools
- Dynamic and static Web application testing
Cons:
- Designed for testing in-house Web applications rather than third-party websites
Acunetix is a reliable choice for enterprises that want to scan websites for common vulnerabilities. Pricing for reach varies depending on the number of websites you want to scan. The price for monitoring one website starts at $4,500 (£3,306). You can request a demo via this link here.
5. Rapid7 InsightAppSec
Rapid7 InsightAppSec is a website vulnerability scanner that offers DAST scanning for web applications. With Rapid7 InsightAppSec, you can scan web applications and identify vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, XSS, and CSRF. Once you discover an exposure, you can view contextual information such as the vulnerability’s Severity, Root Cause, when it was First Seen, and when it was Last Seen.
Key Features
- DAST scanning
- Blackout periods
- Dashboards
- Reporting
- Integrations
You can also use the platform to create reports on your level of compliance. For example, preconfigured PDF and HTML reports for PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX, and OWASP provide you with pass/fail scores. This allows you to ensure that you comply with essential regulations in your industry.
The software also offers a range of integrations with ticketing systems and other third-party solutions, including Jira, Jenkins, Azure DevOps Pipelines, Bamboo, and Selenium. There is also support for Swagger REST API definitions so that you can scan REST APIS for vulnerabilities.
Pros:
- DAST scanning for development pipelines
- Compliance reporting
- Integration with development project management tools
Cons:
- Intended for Web app development rather than for protection against malware
Rapid7 InsightAppSec is a user-friendly and potent DAST scanning solution that’s suitable for modern organizations. Pricing starts at $2,000 (£1,469) per app and includes unlimited and concurrent scanning, detection of over 95 attack types, dashboards, interactive reporting, and more. You can start the 30-day free trial via this link here.
6. Qualys Web Application Scanning
Qualys Web Application Scanning is a web application scanning tool that allows you to scan web applications for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. With Qualys Web Application Scanning, you can detect web application vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting and SQL injection.
Key Features
- Scan for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations
- Dashboard
- Reports
- Alerts
- Integration with Qualys Web App Firewall
Whenever Qualys Web Application Scanning discovers a vulnerability within a website or web application, it sends the user an alert to follow up. For instance, the software can detect zero-day threats and notify the user that their website is infected with malware through behavior analysis.
Users can view scan results through the dashboard and produce reports to view an overview of discovered vulnerabilities. Dashboards and reports enable you to prioritize the remediation of the most severe vulnerabilities first so that you can better protect your site faster.
Pros:
- Vulnerability scanning for websites
- Produces reconfiguration recommendations
- Protects websites against infection or attack
Cons:
- A service aimed at website owners rather than Web surfers
Qualys Web Application Scanning is a good choice for organizations looking to scan their web applications with an integrated WAF. To view pricing information for this product, you need to contact the sales team directly to request a quote. You can sign up for the 30-day free trial via this link here.
7. PortSwigger Burp Suite
PortSwigger Burp Suite is a web vulnerability scanner that enables users to scan web applications for vulnerabilities. With PortSwigger Burp Suite, you can schedule scans on URLs and view a dashboard overview of discovered vulnerabilities. Additionally, you can view pie charts on Current Issues and graphs detailing Issue Count Over Time, information on Recent scans, Running scans, and Most vulnerable sites through the dashboard.
Key Features
- Scheduled web vulnerability scanning
- DAST, OAST, IAST, SCA, and SAST scanning
- Dashboard
- Native Jira integration
- Reports
You can also email reports to other members of your team to keep them up-to-date on new vulnerabilities. When creating reports, you can organize issues by class, which helps you resolve them more systematically.
The platform also offers several integrations to help developers. For instance, the software provides a native integration for Jira, enabling users to collaborate on tickets to resolve vulnerabilities faster.
Pros:
- Vulnerability scanning package
- A well-known suite of penetration testing tools
- Scans networks and Web applications and forms attacks
Cons:
- A system hardening service rather than a malware detector
PortSwigger Burp Suite is an excellent choice for organizations that require a solution for systematically scanning a site for vulnerabilities. Available on-Premise and in the cloud. Pricing starts at $6,995 (£5,140) per year for the Starter package, including up to 5 scanning agents and five concurrent scans. You can start the free trial via this link here.
8. Tenable Nessus
Tenable Nessus is a vulnerability management platform that organizations can scan for vulnerabilities in web applications with over 57,000 CVEs. Tenable Nessus enables the user to scan physical, virtual, and cloud environments for vulnerabilities and maintains one of the most critical vulnerability libraries on the market, detecting potential entry points for attackers and malware.
Key Features
- Vulnerability management
- Constantly updated vulnerability library
- Email scans
- Dashboard
- Reports
Once you complete a scan with Nessus Tenable, you can email the scan results to other members of your team alongside remediation recommendations. You can also monitor the status of vulnerabilities through the dashboard, viewing custom vulnerability ratings and seeing vulnerabilities color-coded as Low, Medium, High, and Critical in severity. There are also customisable XML, PDF, HTML, and CSV reports.
The software as a whole is straightforward to use, with pre-built scan templates that let you know how you can scan your environment. Templates include Advanced Scan, Bash Shellshock Detection, Basic Network Scan, Malware Scan, Shadow Brokers Scan, Policy Compliance Auditing, and more.
Pros:
- Vulnerability scanning for business networks and Web systems
- Vulnerability ranking and prioritization
- Free version available
Cons:
- More of a vulnerability scanner than a malware detector
Tenable Nessus is an ideal solution for organizations requiring vulnerability scanning with a low false-positive rate and broad vulnerability coverage. Pricing starts at $2,980 (£2,189) per year for Nessus Pro with 24/7/365 community and chats support. There is also a free package called Nessus Essentials you can use to scan up to 16 IPs. You can start the 30-day free trial via this link here.
9. Sucuri Website Security Platform
Sucuri Website Security Platform is an online website malware checker that you can continuously scan websites for known malware and viruses. With the Sucuri Website Security Platform, you can enter the URL of a website and start watching it for malware, errors, and outdated software.
Key Features
- Scan website for malware and viruses
- Signature-based malware detection
- Alerts
- Reports
- 24/7/365 malware containment support
The software also comes with an alerts system that notifies you via email, SMS, Slack, or RSS about issues and vulnerabilities. For instance, you can receive alerts if changes are made to your website’s SSL certificate or DNS settings. This helps you to identify malicious behavior early so that you can respond to get it under control. Users can also create monthly email reports to gather periodic updates on the security of their website.
If you discover a breach, you have access to 24/7/365 support from professional security analysts who will help you remove the malicious code and contain the incident.
Pros:
- Website scanner for malware
- Scan a site once a month
- Block access to infected pages
Cons:
- Aimed website owners, not website visitors
Sucuri Website Security Platform is suitable for organizations in the market for a cost-effective signature-based malware detection tool. The Basic Platform starts at $199.99 (£146) per year with support for one site and advanced security scans every 12 hours. You can sign up for the platform via this link here.
10. Indusface WAS
Indusface WAS is a web application scanner that enables users to run automated scans from vulnerabilities and malware. Indusface WAS leverages the latest threat intelligence to identify the most significant vulnerabilities, including OWASP top 10 and Sans 25, and conduct blacklisting checks.
Key Features
- Vulnerability and malware scanning
- Blacklisting checks
- Alerts
- Penetration testing
One of the most valuable features included with Indusface WAS is the 24/7 support of the Infusface team, which can help guide how to remediate security incidents. This allows you to protect your website and your data most effectively if an external attacker targets you.
You can also use this service to penetration test your applications with analysts who will simulate actual-world attacks and identify vulnerabilities in your infrastructure that you might have missed. This is useful if you want to make sure that your web applications are compliant with existing regulations in your industry.
Pros:
- Automated vulnerability scanning for websites
- Penetration testing tools
- Free edition available
Cons:
- This system is designed for website owners to check for vulnerabilities rather than malware
The Basic version is completely free and supports OWASP Top 10 Threat Detection, Sans 25 Vulnerability Detection, and biweekly automated scans. The Premium version starts at $199 (£146) per month with managed 24/7 support and unlimited proof of concepts. You can start the 14-day free trial via this link here.
11. SiteLock
SiteLock is a website scanning solution that you can monitor your website for malware, viruses, and other cyber threats. With SiteLock, you can scan your website and receive alerts whenever the solution discovers a vulnerability or malicious content. For example, you can scan for vulnerabilities like SQL injections and cross-site scripting.
Key Features
- Scan website for malware, viruses, and vulnerabilities
- Dashboard
- Automatically remove discovered malware
- Alerts
- 24/7 customer support
If the system does discover malware on your website, it can automatically remove it. This ensures your website is safe for customers to visit without the risk of infecting their devices. You can view updates on scans via the SiteLock Dashboard.
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) also enables you to block attacks using the OWASP Top 10. For example, the SiteLock WAF identifies malicious activity by using behavioral analysis and measuring IP reputation to identify legitimate visitors and malicious visitors so that it can block hackers without impeding your customers’ experience.
Pros:
- Malware scans
- Patch status reports
- Vulnerability scanning
Cons:
- Intended for use by website owners rather than website users
SiteLock is a solution that’s suitable for SMEs looking for a low-cost anti-malware solution to protect their website from malicious entities. The Basic package starts at $14.99 (£11) per month for 24/7 support, 30-hour ticket response time, and more. You can sign up via this link here.
Conclusion
While malware is running rampant online, there are plenty of malware scanning solutions you can use to scan your website to ensure it’s safe for your users. Tools like Netsparker and Acunetix provide you with everything you need to confirm that your sites are free of malicious code by providing you with complete visibility over vulnerabilities discovered throughout your environment.
