How can I detect which WAF a website is using?

Enter the URL into the WAF detector. It probes the site's headers, cookies, and error pages for WAF fingerprints — such as cf-ray for Cloudflare or distinctive block pages — and reports the firewall it finds with a confidence level.

How does the WAF detector work?

WAFs identify themselves through response headers and cookies: cf-ray for Cloudflare, x-sucuri-id for Sucuri, incap_ses cookies for Imperva. The detector fetches the page headers and matches them against known fingerprints.

Does finding no WAF mean the site is unprotected?

Not necessarily. Some WAFs can be configured to hide their fingerprints, and protection can also live at the server level. The tool reports what is visible in headers.

Why would I check which WAF a site uses?

Security researchers and auditors check WAF presence as part of assessing a site defenses. It is also useful competitive intelligence about infrastructure choices.

WEBSITE SECURITY TOOLS · FREE ONLINE TOOL

WAF Detector

Detect the web application firewall protecting any siteBehind almost every major website sits a web application firewall, filtering attacks before they reach the server. Enter any URL and this detector names the firewall from the fingerprints in its response headers.

✓ Free to use✓ No sign-up✓ Ready in your browser

// WAF DETECTOR · GET STARTED

Use WAF Detector

Detect the web application firewall protecting any site

// WAF DETECTOR · HOW IT WORKS

How to use the WAF Detector

Enter URL

Enter the website URL (e.g. example.com).

Analyze headers

Click "Detect WAF" to analyze headers and cookies.

See the WAF

See the identified firewall with evidence.

// WAF DETECTOR · ABOUT THIS TOOL

About the WAF Detector

A web application firewall is often the first line of defense for a website, filtering attacks before they reach the origin server. Because WAFs operate as reverse proxies, they leave traces in response headers and cookies. This free detector fetches page headers and matches them against fingerprints for Cloudflare, Sucuri, Imperva, Akamai, AWS WAF, F5 and others.

It is a quick security posture check for your own sites and a standard research step for auditors, showing the exact header or cookie behind each finding.

Where it helps most

Reading the shield in front of a site.

Own-site posture checks

Confirm the firewall you pay for is actually in the path, filtering before traffic reaches you.

Audit reconnaissance

Map a target's defenses as a standard, openly practiced step in security audits.

Competitive intelligence

Infrastructure choices show in headers whether companies advertise them or not.

Layered assessments

Pair the result with header and TLS checks to see both the shield and the armor behind it.

Reading the verdict

How the identification works.

Fingerprints in headers

cf-ray means Cloudflare, x-sucuri-id means Sucuri, incap_ses cookies mean Imperva, and the report shows the evidence.

Honest when hidden

If a site strips its identifying headers, the tool says so instead of inventing an answer.

Pair the checks

Combine with the security headers and TLS checks to see the shield and the armor behind it.

WAF Detector: built for trust

Entirely passive and legal: it only reads the public headers any browser receives. No signup needed.

// WAF DETECTOR · COMMON QUESTIONS

WAF Detector FAQs

What is a WAF?

A web application firewall sits in front of a website and blocks malicious requests like SQL injection and cross-site scripting before they reach the server. Cloudflare, Sucuri, Imperva, and Akamai are the best-known providers.

How does this detector identify a WAF?

Does finding no WAF mean a site is unprotected?

Is detecting a WAF legal?

Can a WAF hide from this detector?

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