TL;DR
First, take a breath. You built something and shipped it. That's huge. Now run a quick security scan, fix anything critical (like exposed API keys), and then address less urgent items over time. You're probably not as vulnerable as you fear, and the issues are usually fixable.
You did it. You described what you wanted, the AI wrote the code, and now your app is live. Maybe you have users. Maybe you're starting to get traction. And now, in the middle of the night, a thought creeps in:
"Is my app actually secure?"
This thought is normal. Almost every founder who's vibe-coded an app has it. The fact that you're asking the question puts you ahead of the many who never think about security until something breaks.
Let's get something out of the way: You're probably not about to get hacked. Most small apps aren't actively targeted by sophisticated attackers. The real risks are exposed credentials and opportunistic bots, and those are fixable. Security isn't about perfection. It's about reducing risk to an acceptable level.
Take Stock of What You Have
Before you can secure anything, you need to know what you're working with. Answer these questions:
- What AI tool did you use? Cursor, Bolt, Lovable, v0, Replit?
- Where is it deployed? Vercel, Netlify, Railway, Render?
- Do you have a database? Supabase, Firebase, something else?
- What external services are you using? Stripe, OpenAI, Resend, Twilio?
- Do you have users with accounts? Login, signup, user data?
Write these down. This is your "security surface" and it determines what you need to check.
What Should I Check First?
Not all security issues are equal. Here's how to prioritize:
Priority Security Checklist
- Critical - Exposed API Keys: Check if your Stripe, OpenAI, or other API keys are visible in your browser's developer tools. This is the most common and most exploitable issue.
- Critical - Database Security (RLS): If you're using Supabase, check if Row Level Security is enabled. Without it, anyone might be able to read all your data.
- High - Authentication Bypass: Can someone access protected pages without logging in? Test your auth flows from an incognito window.
- High - HTTPS Enabled: Your site should load with https:// and show a padlock. Most platforms handle this automatically.
- Medium - Security Headers: Extra protections against clickjacking, XSS, and other attacks. Important but not immediately critical.
How Do I Find These Issues?
You have three options:
- Manual checking: Open your browser's developer tools, look at network requests, search your code for API keys. Works but tedious.
- Automated scanning: Use a tool that checks for common issues automatically. This is faster and catches things you might miss.
- Both: Run an automated scan first, then manually verify the critical findings.
We recommend starting with an automated scan. It takes a few minutes and gives you a clear picture of what needs attention.
What If I Find Something Bad?
First, don't panic. Here's the playbook:
- For exposed API keys: Rotate them immediately. Go to the service dashboard (Stripe, OpenAI, etc.), generate new keys, update your environment variables, and revoke the old ones.
- For database issues: Enable RLS if you're on Supabase. This can usually be done without downtime.
- For authentication problems: Add proper checks to your protected routes. This might require code changes.
- For missing HTTPS: Check your deployment platform settings. This is usually a toggle or checkbox.
Each of these problems has a solution. You don't need to hire a security consultant. You need to follow the steps.
Should I Take My App Offline?
Almost never. Taking your app offline:
- Tells users something is wrong
- Costs you momentum and trust
- Usually isn't necessary
The only time to consider going offline is if you've discovered an active breach (someone is actively stealing data) or if your API keys were exposed and you can't rotate them quickly.
For most issues, you can fix them while the app is running. Deploy fixes, rotate keys, enable RLS. The app stays up and nobody needs to know you were scrambling.
What Happens After the Fixes?
Security isn't a one-time task. After you fix the immediate issues:
- Set up ongoing monitoring. Scan again after major deployments.
- Learn a bit more. Read one security guide per week. You don't need to become an expert.
- Build better habits. Check environment variables before deploying. Review database permissions when adding features.
The goal isn't perfection. It's continuous improvement. Every fix makes you safer than you were yesterday.
Should I panic about security after launching my AI-built app?
No. While security is important, most issues in vibe-coded apps are fixable and don't require panic. The fact that you're thinking about security puts you ahead of many founders. Focus on running a scan, identifying critical issues, and addressing them one at a time.
What's the first thing I should do after launching my vibe-coded app?
Run a security scan. This takes a few minutes and identifies obvious issues like exposed API keys, missing HTTPS, and common vulnerabilities. Fix critical issues first (exposed credentials, database security), then address less urgent items over time.
Am I going to get hacked if I don't fix everything immediately?
Probably not. Most small apps aren't actively targeted by hackers. The bigger risks are automated bots that scan for exposed credentials and opportunistic attacks. By fixing the critical issues (exposed API keys, open databases), you significantly reduce your risk profile.
Can I fix security issues without taking my app offline?
Yes, almost always. You can rotate API keys, enable database security rules, and add authentication checks while your app is running. Taking your app offline is rarely necessary and usually causes more problems than it solves.
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