As we settle back in after Labor Day—whether you spent it grilling, poolside, or just soaking up the last bit of summer—it’s tempting to slip into business as usual. But what if “business as usual” included a security threat hiding in a place you rarely check?
Most companies focus on locking down networks and inboxes. But their website funnels? That’s where attackers like to slip through. Platforms like CheckoutChamp use funnels (a chain of web pages that guide customers through a process). Others, like Webflow, use static pages, but the risks are the same.
When attackers inject malicious code into those pages, it can quietly track customers, redirect traffic, or worse, without anyone noticing until the damage is done.
In this first post, we’ll break down the hidden threat in website funnels: what it looks like, why it keeps slipping through, and how to stop it before it costs you customer trust.
What makes a funnel a target?
Funnels are built to convert. They’re where businesses collect leads, process payments, and guide customers to take action. That also makes them an attractive target for attackers. If they can slip malicious code into the middle of that process, they have direct access to customer data and behavior.
The challenge is that most funnels live inside third-party platforms. Tools like Checkoutchamp, Webflow, or other site builders make it easy to spin up pages, but they also limit how much visibility or control a business has over the underlying code. The real issue here is, If an attacker manages to get in, spotting the problem isn’t always straightforward.
On top of that, old or forgotten accounts are a common weak point. Former employees, vendors, or contractors may still have credentials, and if those accounts aren’t properly offboarded, attackers can exploit them.
Without continuous monitoring, malicious code can sit quietly inside a funnel for weeks before anyone notices.
How malicious code slips in
The tricky thing about malicious code is that it rarely announces itself. Instead, it hides in the background of funnel pages, often disguised as an ordinary script or tracking pixel (a tiny, invisible image that quietly sends data about what users do on a page back to a server). To anyone glancing at the code, it might look completely normal, even legitimate. That’s exactly what makes it so effective.
Attackers have a few common ways in. Sometimes it’s through old accounts that were never fully disabled. A former vendor, contractor, or employee may still have access to publish changes. This doesn’t mean that the vendor or ex-employee is maliciously targeting your business; it just means that if those credentials are compromised, attackers can walk right in.
Other times, it’s weak permissions, meaning too many people with edit rights, or unclear ownership of who controls what. In some cases, the vulnerability lives in the platform itself.
Once the code is in place, the damage varies. It might quietly redirect customers to another site, insert a tracking pixel that harvests data, or inject scripts that manipulate how pages load. None of this is obvious to the customer or to the business until strange behavior starts surfacing.
And here’s the really frustrating part: cleaning the page once doesn’t always fix the problem. If the root cause hasn’t been addressed, the code just reappears. That’s why many affected businesses feel stuck in an endless loop of cleaning and re-cleaning compromised pages.
Without proper monitoring and access controls, it becomes a game of whack-a-mole and attackers are usually one step ahead.
The risks of ignoring it
It’s easy to dismiss malicious code as just another technical hiccup, but the impact on a business can be serious.
When attackers inject scripts into your funnels, they’re not just messing with code, they’re messing with trust. Customers who get redirected to sketchy sites or notice unusual behavior won’t stick around, and they’ll think twice before coming back.
There’s also the compliance angle. Regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA don’t just apply to big corporations; they apply to any business handling customer data. If malicious code is collecting or exposing information, you could be facing fines or audit headaches you didn’t see coming.
And then there’s reputation. A compromised funnel undermines all the time and money you’ve invested in marketing and customer relationships. Worse, a breach in one system can sometimes spill into others, turning a single injection into a much larger security problem.
The bottom line: ignoring the issue won’t make it go away. In fact, it only gives attackers more time to do damage.
How to stop the threat before it becomes a problem
There’s no magic wand fix for stopping malicious code. The only way to protect yourself is to tighten up the weak spots that let it in in the first place. Here’s where to start:
First, audit your user accounts. Old logins from ex-employees, vendors, or contractors are one of the most common ways attackers sneak in. If someone doesn’t need access anymore, remove them completely.
Next, lock down permissions. Not everyone needs the ability to edit code or publish pages. Fewer people with high-level access means fewer opportunities for mistakes—or compromises.
From there, strengthen your email security. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records help prevent account takeovers and spoofing, which are used a lot of the time as stepping stones into web platforms.
You’ll also want to monitor your site continuously. Manual reviews are important, but pairing them with automated scans makes it easier to catch red flags before they cause problems. AI tools can help speed up the process, though they still need a human eye to confirm what’s truly suspicious.
Finally, secure the devices that manage your site. Adding endpoint protection tools like Datto, Huntress, or Addigy ensures that if a laptop or workstation is compromised, attackers can’t use it as a back door into your funnels.
There’s an easier way
Malicious code in funnels is frustrating, time-consuming, and easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. You could spend hours chasing down suspicious scripts, auditing old accounts, and re-cleaning pages that never seem to stay clean. Or, you could have a partner who does all of that for you.
That’s where Network Thinking Solutions comes in. We don’t just help protect you from hidden threats, we roll up our sleeves and solve the issue when it happens. From auditing user access and tightening email security, to scanning thousands of pages for injected code and putting real monitoring in place, we make sure your funnels stay secure and your business keeps moving forward.
The truth is, you don’t need to become a security expert to keep your website safe. You just need a partner who knows what to look for and how to fix it fast.
Want to see exactly how we do it? In our next post, we’ll share how our team narrowed down thousands of pages, spotted the problems, and worked side by side with the client to restore trust in their website.
If you’re ready to take the stress out of protecting your funnels? Let’s talk.