How to get rid of X-powered-by header

A Guide to Enhance Security and Privacy.

The X-Powered-By header is a part of HTTP response headers that identifies the technology stack (such as the programming language and version) used to power a website or web application. While it may seem harmless, there are compelling reasons to remove it from your server responses. In this guide, we'll delve into why it's important to remove the X-Powered-By header and how to do it effectively.

Why Remove the X-Powered-By Header?

1. Security Enhancement: By disclosing the technology stack of your website or application, you make it easier for potential attackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities specific to that technology. Removing the X-Powered-By header adds a layer of obfuscation, making it harder for attackers to target your system.

2. Reduced Attack Surface: Attackers often leverage information about the underlying technology stack to craft targeted attacks. By removing the X-Powered-By header, you reduce the amount of information available to potential attackers, thereby shrinking your attack surface and enhancing your security posture.

3. Protection Against Zero-Day Vulnerabilities: Zero-day vulnerabilities are vulnerabilities that are exploited by attackers before the software vendor releases a patch. By concealing the technology stack, you mitigate the risk of falling victim to zero-day attacks targeting known vulnerabilities in specific software versions.

4. Privacy Protection: In addition to enhancing security, removing the X-Powered-By header also helps protect user privacy. Disclosing the technology stack of your website or application may inadvertently reveal sensitive information about your infrastructure, which could be exploited by malicious actors.

How to Remove the X-Powered-By Header

The method for removing the X-Powered-By header varies depending on the web server software you're using. Below are instructions for some of the most commonly used web servers:

1. Apache: If you're using Apache as your web server, you can remove the X-Powered-By header by modifying your server configuration. Locate your Apache configuration file (typically named httpd.conf or apache2.conf) and add the following line:

   Header unset X-Powered-By
   

   Save the changes and restart the Apache service for the changes to take effect.

2. Nginx: For Nginx users, removing the X-Powered-By header involves modifying your server configuration file. Open your Nginx configuration file (usually located at /etc/nginx/nginx.conf or /etc/nginx/sites-available/default) and add the following line within the server block:

   server_tokens off;
   

   Save the file and reload the Nginx configuration using the following command:

   sudo systemctl reload nginx
   

3. Microsoft IIS: If you're using Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) as your web server, you can remove the X-Powered-By header through the IIS Manager GUI or by editing the web.config file. To remove the header via web.config, add the following configuration within the system.webServer section:

   <httpProtocol>
       <customHeaders>
           <remove name="X-Powered-By" />
       </customHeaders>
   </httpProtocol>
   

   Save the web.config file and restart the IIS service.

4. Express.js (Node.js): If you're using Node.js with Express.js framework, you can remove the X-Powered-By header by adding the following line of code to your Express application:

   app.disable('x-powered-by');
   

   Place this line before any middleware or route definitions in your Express application.

Conclusion

Removing the X-Powered-By header is a simple yet effective measure to enhance the security and privacy of your web applications. By concealing the technology stack, you reduce the likelihood of targeted attacks, protect against zero-day vulnerabilities, and safeguard user privacy. Whether you're running Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS, or Node.js with Express.js, the process for removing the X-Powered-By header is straightforward and can be implemented with minimal effort. Take proactive steps to secure your web server by removing unnecessary headers and minimizing your attack surface.