Why Security Matters
Your web app is a target, even if it's small. Here's why you should care.
You might think "I'm just building a small app, who would attack me?" The answer: bots. Automated scanners crawl the entire internet looking for vulnerable sites. They don't care if you have 10 users or 10 million.
Real impacts
When your app gets compromised:
- User data gets stolen — emails, passwords, payment info
- Your site gets defaced — replaced with spam or malware
- You become a launchpad — attackers use your server to attack others
- Trust is destroyed — users won't come back
The good news
Most web security is about avoiding a short list of common mistakes. You don't need to be a security expert. You just need to:
- Set up HTTPS and security headers — takes 10 minutes
- Avoid common vulnerabilities — know the patterns
- Keep your dependencies updated — regular maintenance
These three things prevent the vast majority of attacks on small web apps.
What usability.cat checks
Our security scan looks for:
- Missing or misconfigured HTTPS
- Missing security headers (CSP, X-Frame-Options, etc.)
- JavaScript patterns that suggest XSS vulnerabilities
- Known vulnerable dependencies
- Exposed sensitive information
Each issue comes with a plain-English explanation and a fix prompt.