Free HTTP Security Headers Generator
An HTTP security headers generator produces server configuration snippets that add protective response headers—such as Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS), X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy—to instruct browsers how to handle your website content and reduce exposure to clickjacking, MIME-sniffing, protocol downgrade, and feature-abuse attacks.
Toggle the security headers you need in ScanSuite's generator, adjust values like HSTS max-age and Referrer-Policy mode, select your platform (Nginx, Apache, Netlify, or Vercel), and copy the generated configuration block directly into your server or hosting config file.
Introduction to HTTP Security Headers
HTTP security headers are response directives sent by web servers that tell browsers how to enforce transport security, frame embedding rules, MIME-type handling, referrer leakage, and access to powerful browser APIs. Unlike application-layer authentication, these headers apply uniformly to every page response and provide baseline defense-in-depth against common web attacks including clickjacking, cross-site scripting helpers, and SSL-stripping downgrade attempts.
ScanSuite's free security headers generator translates security best practices into ready-to-deploy configuration for Nginx, Apache, Netlify, and Vercel. You configure HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy through a visual interface and receive copy-paste snippets formatted for your chosen platform without memorizing directive syntax or RFC details.
Implementing a consistent security header baseline is one of the fastest ways to improve scores on security scanners and meet compliance checklists from OWASP, Mozilla Observatory, and enterprise security audits. Pair generated headers with a Content Security Policy from our CSP generator and validate deployment using the security headers checker.
What Is a Security Headers Generator?
A security headers generator is a configuration tool that outputs HTTP response header directives based on user-selected policies. Each header addresses a specific browser behavior: HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) forces HTTPS connections for a defined period; X-Frame-Options blocks unauthorized iframe embedding that enables clickjacking; X-Content-Type-Options prevents MIME-sniffing that can turn uploaded files into executable content.
Referrer-Policy controls how much URL and path information browsers attach to outbound navigation requests, reducing accidental leakage of session tokens or internal paths. Permissions-Policy (formerly Feature-Policy) restricts access to sensitive device APIs such as geolocation, camera, microphone, and payment interfaces on a per-origin basis.
ScanSuite maps your toggle and dropdown selections into platform-specific syntax—Nginx `add_header` blocks, Apache `Header set` directives, Netlify `_headers` files, and Vercel `vercel.json` header arrays—so developers can ship hardened defaults without consulting multiple vendor documentation pages.
Why Use an Online Security Headers Generator?
Manually authoring security headers across Nginx, Apache, and static hosting platforms requires remembering subtly different syntax, quoting rules, and whether directives belong in server blocks, virtual hosts, or edge configuration files. A single misplaced semicolon or missing `always` flag on Nginx can silently prevent headers from appearing on error responses.
ScanSuite eliminates guesswork by generating validated snippets with recommended secure defaults: one-year HSTS max-age with includeSubDomains, DENY for X-Frame-Options, nosniff for X-Content-Type-Options, and strict-origin-when-cross-origin for Referrer-Policy. You can tighten or relax individual values when legitimate embeds or third-party integrations require SAMEORIGIN framing or broader referrer sharing.
Using a generator accelerates security hardening during new site launches, post-incident remediation, and pre-production audits. After deployment, cross-check results with the security headers checker, SSL checker for transport layer health, and CORS checker when cross-origin APIs depend on permissive policies.
Who Uses Security Headers Generators?
Frontend and full-stack developers use security header generators when bootstrapping React, Next.js, or static sites on Vercel and Netlify, ensuring `_headers` and `vercel.json` files include HSTS and anti-clickjacking directives before the first production deploy.
DevOps and platform engineers embed generated Nginx and Apache blocks into infrastructure-as-code templates, Helm charts, and Ansible playbooks to enforce consistent baselines across staging and production clusters without maintaining duplicate header knowledge in runbooks.
Security engineers and compliance auditors reference generator output when documenting required HTTP controls for SOC 2, PCI DSS, and internal secure development lifecycle checklists, then verify live sites remotely with header scanning tools.
How the Security Headers Generator Works
You enable or disable each supported header and configure option fields such as HSTS max-age seconds, includeSubDomains and preload flags, X-Frame-Options mode (DENY or SAMEORIGIN), Referrer-Policy selection, and a Permissions-Policy feature restriction string. The tool maintains an internal configuration object keyed by header identifier.
When you switch the server type tab among Nginx, Apache, Netlify, and Vercel, the generator renders the same logical policy into platform-native syntax. Nginx output uses `add_header` inside server blocks; Apache uses `mod_headers` directives; Netlify emits a `_headers` path rule block; Vercel produces a JSON headers array suitable for `vercel.json`.
The live preview updates instantly as you change toggles, allowing side-by-side comparison before copying the snippet to clipboard. After pasting into your environment, reload your site and confirm headers appear on HTML responses using browser DevTools Network tab or ScanSuite's security headers checker.
Nginx HSTS and Anti-Clickjacking Example
A production API gateway might emit: `add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains" always;` alongside `add_header X-Frame-Options "DENY" always;` and `add_header X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff" always;` inside the TLS server block.
ScanSuite's generator produces these lines with correct quoting and the `always` parameter so headers appear even on upstream error responses proxied through Nginx.
After reload, verify with `curl -I https://example.com` or the security headers checker to confirm all three directives appear on the root path.
Netlify _headers Deployment Example
Static marketing sites on Netlify place a `_headers` file at the publish root with a `/*` path rule followed by header lines such as `Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains` and `Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin`.
The generator formats Netlify syntax without Apache-style `Header set` prefixes, reducing copy-paste errors during Jamstack launches.
Combine with Subresource Integrity hashes from the SRI generator on CDN script tags for defense-in-depth against supply-chain tampering.
Common HTTP Security Header Comparison
| Header | Primary Purpose | Recommended Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strict-Transport-Security | Force HTTPS connections | max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains | |
| X-Frame-Options | Prevent clickjacking via iframes | DENY or SAMEORIGIN | |
| X-Content-Type-Options | Block MIME-sniffing attacks | nosniff | |
| Referrer-Policy | Limit referrer URL leakage | strict-origin-when-cross-origin | |
| Permissions-Policy | Restrict browser feature APIs | Disable unused features e.g. geolocation=() |
Why Are My Security Headers Missing in Browser DevTools?
Nginx omits add_header directives on error responses unless the `always` keyword is present. Confirm generated Nginx output includes `always` for each security header line.
Reverse proxies and CDNs may strip or override upstream headers. Check Cloudflare, AWS CloudFront, or load balancer settings that replace origin response headers.
Why Did HSTS Break My Staging Subdomain?
HSTS with includeSubDomains applies to every subdomain. If `staging.example.com` serves HTTP or invalid certificates, browsers refuse connections after the first HSTS response.
Use shorter max-age values on non-production hosts or omit includeSubDomains until all subdomains enforce HTTPS with valid TLS chains verified by the SSL checker.
Related tools
- CSP Generator — Build Content Security Policy
- CORS Checker — Test CORS configuration
- SSL Checker — Validate TLS certificates
- Security Headers Checker — Verify deployed headers remotely with scoring and recommendations.
- CSP Generator — Build Content Security Policy headers to complement response hardening.
- SRI Generator — Generate Subresource Integrity hashes for CDN script tags.
- SSL Checker — Validate TLS certificates before enabling strict HSTS policies.
- CORS Checker — Test cross-origin policies alongside security header deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which security headers should every site have?
At minimum: HSTS, a Content-Security-Policy, `X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff`, frame protection (CSP `frame-ancestors` or X-Frame-Options), and Referrer-Policy. Build a CSP with the CSP generator.
What is HSTS?
Strict-Transport-Security tells browsers to use only HTTPS for your domain for a set time (`max-age`). That prevents downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking over HTTP.
Is X-XSS-Protection still needed?
No. Modern browsers have removed the XSS auditor, so a strong CSP is the right protection now. Leave X-XSS-Protection out or set it to `0`.
What max-age should I use for HSTS?
Use at least 31536000 seconds (one year) for production sites; shorter values are acceptable during testing.
What are HTTP security headers?
Response directives that instruct browsers to enforce HTTPS, block iframe embedding, prevent MIME-sniffing, limit referrer data, and restrict powerful APIs.
What is HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security)?
A header that tells browsers to connect only via HTTPS for a specified max-age period, preventing SSL-stripping downgrade attacks.
What does X-Frame-Options DENY do?
It prevents any site from embedding your pages in iframes, blocking most clickjacking attacks.
When should I use SAMEORIGIN instead of DENY?
Use SAMEORIGIN when your own application legitimately embeds pages in iframes on the same origin.
What is X-Content-Type-Options nosniff?
It stops browsers from guessing content types, reducing XSS risk when serving user-uploaded files.
What is Referrer-Policy used for?
It controls how much referrer URL information browsers send on navigation and subresource requests.
What is Permissions-Policy?
A header that allows or denies browser features like camera, geolocation, and microphone on your pages.
Does this tool generate Content-Security-Policy headers?
This generator focuses on core transport and framing headers; use the CSP generator for full Content-Security-Policy rules.
Which platforms does the generator support?
Nginx, Apache, Netlify (_headers), and Vercel (vercel.json) output formats are supported.
How do I add headers on Netlify?
Create a _headers file in your publish directory and paste the generated path rules and header lines.
How do I configure headers on Vercel?
Add the generated headers array to vercel.json under the headers key and redeploy your project.
Should I enable HSTS preload?
Only after all subdomains serve HTTPS with valid certificates; preload is irreversible without browser list updates.
Are security headers enough to stop XSS?
Headers reduce risk but CSP, input validation, and output encoding are required for comprehensive XSS defense.
Do security headers work on HTTP sites?
HSTS requires HTTPS; other headers like X-Frame-Options work on HTTP but HTTPS is strongly recommended.
How do I verify headers after deployment?
Use ScanSuite's security headers checker or browser DevTools Network tab to inspect response headers.
Can headers break third-party embeds?
Strict X-Frame-Options or CSP frame-ancestors can block widgets; test integrations in staging first.
Is this security headers generator free?
Yes, ScanSuite provides unlimited free header generation without registration or usage caps.
What is the difference between Permissions-Policy and Feature-Policy?
Permissions-Policy is the modern replacement for the deprecated Feature-Policy header with updated syntax.
Should I send security headers on API JSON responses?
Yes, apply consistent headers on HTML and API responses unless a CDN policy requires exceptions.
Summary
ScanSuite's free security headers generator creates HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy configuration for Nginx, Apache, Netlify, and Vercel. Toggle recommended defaults, copy platform-specific snippets, and harden your site in minutes.