Having looked at the cyber-attacks and biggest data breaches of the past decade, it is quite evident that careless and marginal mistakes in web application security can potentially result in awry conditions. Even big players (like Facebook, British Airways, and Quora) seconds this fact. These lapses not just impact monetarily but also result in customers, goodwill, trust and reputation loss.
To avoid such dangerous situations and make sure online businesses stay ahead in the cyber world, here is a compiled a list of 10 most common and dangerous website security mistakes that you must avoid.
Here you go:
#10 Laidback Approach Towards Website Security
One of the dangerous website security mistake. Break silos and seamlessly share critical information across departments. Develop a sound cybersecurity strategy, invest wisely for a specific purpose and create a proactivity and preparedness culture within an organization also.
Pro Tip: Ensure to Have a Proactive Attitude Towards Website Security
#9 Missing Function Level Access Control
What is missing function level access control? It is a vulnerability in which sensitive request handlers have non-existent or insufficient authentication check.
Example- Access of a URL containing hidden functionality + confidential information by an unauthorized entity.
Why does it happen? Reason- there isn’t any authentication check. This vulnerability impact is purely dependent on the attacker whether the intruder is accessing the not so important information or taking over the complete website.
Pro Tip: Make sure to Have Function Level Access Control
#8 Not Encrypting the Sensitive Data
Another most dangerous mistake is not encrypting sensitive data such as banking details, passwords, credit card, personal information during transit, storage, etc. By having it in plain text format, you are indirectly helping the attackers and directly increases the risk of exposure.
Pro Tip: Always Encrypt Your Sensitive Data
#7 Having Obsolete Software + Components with Known Vulnerabilities
A perfect entry gate for attackers (who unceasingly snoop around for security lapses as well as loopholes). By not upgrading the software regularly and by not updating the critical patches, you are sending open invitations to orchestrate breaches. Wipe off old and unwanted applications, files, and databases from the website and ascertain that there isn’t any portal for attackers to dig in.
Apart from these, other components that are known to have vulnerabilities are open-source components, outdated plug-ins, uninspected codes, unpatched third-party software, etc. Keep an eye on these sources to make website secure, reliable and insusceptible to attacks.
Pro Tip: Upgrade Software and Critical Patches Regularly
#6 Irregular Testing
Though it is said to scan website every day and after every minor or major change. It isn’t sufficient. It is mandatory to test every bit of code, updates, software, and components on the website as they go live. Furthermore, quarterly security audits and penetration testing by industry certified security experts is a must. It gives you a sense of assurance that your website is not only secure but is also well-protected for users.
Pro Tip: Always Test Your Code, Updates, Software, and Components
#5 Trusting Home-based Techniques and Algorithms for Security
Self-developed/ Home-grown algorithms, as well as methods, are safer and better, is purely a flawed assumption. This eventually enhances vulnerabilities probability and gaps that attackers can easily detect, break, and adversely impact your online business. It is always advisable to trust well-tested algorithms and methods.
Pro Tip: Say No to Self-Developed Security Algorithms and Techniques
#4 Invalid Inputs
Do you know how harmful, invalid inputs are? Just by not validating what inputs and content get uploaded to your website, you are making it vulnerable to injection attacks such as command injection, SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), etc. Thereby, it is essential to validate inputs before uploading at both browser-and-server ends. This will make sure that no malicious scripts/data run on your website as well as its databases.
Pro Tip: Validate Your Inputs and Content
#3 NO Website Security Scans
It is impossible to stress how important it is to have a regular website security scanning. It is the only essential technique to identify existing gaps as well as vulnerabilities. Organizations, be it large, medium or small always sideline this fact and make a serious error by not scanning website regularly and after amending changes to systems, business policies. Pro Tip: Say Yes to Regular Website Security Scanning
Pro Tip: Say Yes to Regular Website Security Scanning
#2 Unconsolidated Security Measures
It is quite common that web developers, as well as organizations, does not follow a holistic approach while thinking about website security. Thereby, ends up making inappropriate decisions by adopting unconsolidated security measures. For example, they select a web security scanner instead of a Web Application Firewall (WAF). Indeed, the scanner is useful to identify gaps but to fix your vulnerabilities and weaknesses; you need WAF.
Pro Tip: Count on a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
#1 Permissions and Authentication
Weak root passwords like 1234, admin, are easy to crack via password-cracking programs. Once the password gets cracked, your website is easy to compromise. When a website lets users continue via weak passwords and default passwords without password expiry, the enterprise is welcoming attacks and breaches with a big heart.
__Pro Tip: Enforce a Multi-Factor Authentication and Strong Password Policy
Conclusion
Secure your online business and bid goodbye to cyber-attacks by employing an intelligent, managed, and comprehensive website security solution. Haltdos Web Application Firewall takes a 360-degree view of web application security. It delivers end-to-end website security along with zero assured false positives.
