What Is Web Security?
Web security is a subset of cybersecurity that defends websites and web-based applications from attacks. This includes protecting web-based information from misdirection or theft, as well as defending against malware and other threats.
Using strong passwords, changing them often, and requiring multiple-factor authentication for admin access are some of the most common ways to maintain web security. Additionally, keeping the number of people who have administrative access to a website limited as much as possible is another way to keep the site safe from attackers who might gain access to it through vulnerabilities.
Many web security tools are able to scan and analyze a website in order to look for vulnerabilities that might leave the site susceptible to attack. These tools include vulnerability scanners, web scanners, and penetration testing software. They can also identify potential problems by examining a website’s code.
The purpose of web security is to protect networks and computer systems from damage or theft of software, hardware, and data. This can be done through several different mechanisms, including firewalls and antivirus software, but the most prominent method is a web application firewall (WAF). This type of WAF can detect and block suspicious activity, and it can also prevent users from being directed to sites where they might be infected with malware or other threats.
Other forms of web security include sanitization, which is the process of ensuring that user input does not contain commands that might run scripts or otherwise impact server behavior. This can be done by analyzing it for unsafe characters, and many web frameworks sanitize data passed to them by default.
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks occur when malicious code is injected into the HTML of a page, usually in form fields. This can affect everything from cookie data to the display of uploaded files. It can also expose sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.
Other common threats in web security include SQL injection attacks, which involve injecting code into standard online form fields to steal data from a database. This can be particularly damaging to businesses, as it can cause a loss in revenue, put companies at a competitive disadvantage, or even lead to a significant loss in market value.
Some attacks are meant to disrupt business operations, and others are intended to extort money or information from organizations. For example, if hackers breach a company’s system and gain access to customer records or financial data, they could sell that information on the black market. Others, such as denial of service attacks, are designed to wreak havoc on an organization by flooding it with fake requests that slow or disrupt access for legitimate users. Finally, some attacks are carried out by hacktivists, who aim to make a statement or disrupt the operations of large corporations or government agencies. These threats can result in lost customers, reputational damage, and even lawsuits. As a result, it’s important for companies to take all necessary steps to ensure their web security.