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5 Types of Web Security Threats And Their Prevention

How can you secure your website against security threat if you don’t even know about it? As a businessman or a website owner, protecting your website from security threats is the foremost step to save your online repute. There are hundreds of ways to crack your computer system. You certainly don’t want to become a victim of the malicious activity of hackers. So, you must understand various website security threats that, if neglected, are ready to pounce on your website to steal data and other sensitive files and information. In this blog, you will get to know

What is a website security threat?
What are the types of website security threats?
Best tactics against web security threats.

Let’s dive straight into the details

What Is A Website Security Threat?

A website security threat or a web threat is the practice of cyber attacks to cause an unwanted action or event through the internet. These threats are caused by web service operators, web service, or end-user vulnerabilities. Whatever the cause or intent of a web threat may be, it results in significant damage to both organizations and individuals.

The term is mostly used for network-based threats such as

Host-Threats :

Refers to targeting endpoints such as mobiles, desktops, tablets, and traditional computers

Web Server Threats :

It targets the software and hardware that serve web services and infrastructure

Private-Network Threats :

The target is sub-networks such as corporate intranets, home Wi-Fi, or national intranets.

A web threat inflicts organizations on a wider scale. It results in unauthorized access to computer networks, account credentials, and sensitive government information. In recent years, technology has been used to spread malware, fraud, and other notorious activities aimed to steal online data of users. Though technology based, web-based activities affect human beings in the long run.

How Does A Web Threat Work ?

Web threats exploit web structures to compromise the security of websites, user data, or web applications. These threats have many forms such as phishing attacks, SQL injections, or malware. Cyber-attacks capitalize the weaknesses in server configurations, or user behavior for their fraudulent activities. For example, a phishing attack deceives the users to disclose sensitive information through illegal websites or deceptive mail while injection attacks involve the insertion of malicious codes into legitimate applications.

Once a web threat has been targeted successfully, it results in disruptions in online services and data breaches. A comprehensive strategy, cyber security measures, user education, and vigilant monitoring are mandatory to identify and address such attacks.

Type Of Web Security Threats

Different types of cybersecurity attacks

Social Enginnering

It is a manipulative technique that urges users to perform actions against their interests. The attackers exploit human psychology to gain unauthorized access to their sensitive information. Instead of relying on technical vulnerabilities, social engineering preys on human trust and behavior. Tactics may include

Impersonation :

Tricks the user to click on a malicious attachment or link.

Pretexting :

A fabricated story to gain unauthorized access to the systems or information.

Phishing :

Where attackers trick individuals into divulging confidential information, such as passwords or financial details.

Social engineering attacks often target the weakest link in cybersecurity – people – by exploiting trust, fear, or urgency to manipulate victims into taking actions that compromise security.

 

Cloud-Based Attacks

Organizations have shifted to cloud infrastructure to adapt to the work-hybrid models. These cloud-based attacks are posing security problems for websites hosted on cloud platforms. One of the main risks is a data breach that can be the result of mismanaged permissions, insecure configurations, and vulnerabilities in APIs and cloud infrastructure. A managed cloud security service is the best strategy to avoid such attacks. The most common cloud-based security attacks are:

API Security Vulnerability :

An insecure API endpoint allows hackers to inject malicious code, exploit vulnerabilities, or manipulate requests to perform unaccredited actions.

S3 Bucket Misconfiguration :

An S3 bucket is misconfigured to allow public access to user credentials resulting in data breaches and losses.

Cross Tennant Attack :

Misconfigurations in shared resources allow hackers to easily exploit multiple websites being hosted on the same infrastructure leading to service disruptions and data breaches.

Spam Links

Spam links are unwanted and often malicious hyperlinks that are distributed across various online platforms, particularly in emails, forums, comments, and social media. These links are typically designed to deceive users, leading them to potentially harmful websites, phishing scams, or sites hosting malware. Spam links can harm the reputation of legitimate websites, compromise user security, and contribute to the spread of malicious content.

To protect against spam links, users should exercise caution when clicking on unfamiliar URLs, and website owners should implement robust spam filters, regularly monitor user-generated content, and educate their audience about the risks associated with engaging with unsolicited links.

Supply Chain Attacks

Supply chain attacks are sophisticated cyber threats that target vulnerabilities within the interconnected network of suppliers, vendors, and service providers associated with an organization. In a supply chain attack, cybercriminals exploit the trust established between different entities to compromise the security of a target organization. This form of attack often involves infiltrating the supply chain at a trusted point, such as a third-party software provider or a manufacturer, to introduce malicious elements into the supply chain. Once inside, attackers can manipulate or compromise products or services, leading to potential data breaches, system infiltrations, or the dissemination of malware. Such attacks include :

CODE EMBEDDED IN FIRMWARE :

By tempering the firmware, an attacker gets access to the system or network and, thus controls the digital hardware components.

STOLEN CERTIFICATE:

A stolen certificate compromises the legitimacy of the company and its products. Attackers can distribute spiteful codes in the guise of the trusted identity of the company.

COMPROMISED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS:

Security weakness is introduced into the development life cycle, security and integrity of final products are compromised.

Malicious Code Attacks

Malicious attacks include a wide range of deliberate actions to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of computer systems, data, or networks. These attacks manifest in various forms, including the deployment of malware, ransomware, phishing scams, denial-of-service attacks, and more. The motives behind these malicious acts can vary, spanning from data theft to political or ideological agendas. Cybercriminals employ sophisticated tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior, software, or network configurations. The most common code attacks are:

BOTNET EXPLOITATION:

Botnets are used to accelerate spam campaigns, malware attacks, and other harmful activities.

SPYWARE INRUSIONS:

Spyware tracks programs to monitor user actions on a computer network. It aims at stealing sensitive information such as personal data and passwords through key loggers, record keystrokes, and common spyware.

INJECTION ATTACKS :

Injection attacks entail the insertion of malicious scripts into authentic applications and websites, jeopardizing their overall integrity. Prominent instances encompass SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), wherein assailants leverage vulnerabilities to execute harmful commands or pilfer sensitive information.

Best Tactics To Prevent Website Security Threats

A diagram showing different ways which ensure security of a website

To mitigate web security threats, businesses can adopt stringent cybersecurity policies and procedures, employ cutting-edge cybersecurity technology solutions, and emphasize adherence to best practices, including:

  • Conducting regular scans for malware and monitoring for malicious activities.
  • Ensuring the currency of all devices, software, and business tools.
  • Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and avoiding reliance solely on usernames and passwords.
  • Creating backups of crucial data and storing them securely.
  • Deploying firewalls to monitor, detect, filter, and restrict web traffic.
  • Ensuring the correct security configuration for session management and user access rights.
  • Conducting routine security awareness training with employees to enhance their understanding of cyber risks and responsibilities.

To know more about how you can secure your website from these kind of attacks, read the latest blog here.

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