The cybersecurity It is a very important issue, because many today handle or are part of a website for e-commerce. Just as we must protect a physical business, keeping a whole security system to prevent losses and attacks, the same should happen with our website.
The more important our website is, the more attacked will be and understanding this is critical. There are many types of attacks, some stronger than others, but all just as dangerous.
To understand this topic a little more, we have created a small course on computer security, with all those key points to maintain a web site always protected.
What are the main types of attacks to web applications that we can suffer?
Today web applications, they are fundamental tools for building or developing organizations. This is increasing more and more at different levels of industries. As they have been a fundamental pillar for many sectors, they have also become the number one target for exploiting flaws and vulnerabilities. Web
Application Vulnerability generated a report stating that web apps can become the most critical threats to a company, due to its different weaknesses. The first idea of many to solve this problem is to generate cybersecurity strategiesBut the reality is that if we do not know the risks we are going to face, it is like going to war without weapons.
Next, we will show you an analytical result of Acunetix indicating the different risks that we frequently face:
Critical severity vulnerabilities
Organizations are normally protected by powerful cybersecurity tools, however, they have a small gap, since traditional resources they are not completely efficient.
This has been the main reason for failures in many sectors, being the cause of a large amount of incident data related to vulnerabilities and high risks. A security risk involves a series of attacks on processes and protocols of confidentiality. Intruders who seek to enter through existing gaps can interrupt any of our processes or virtual interactions. These types of attacks are known as APT, breaking into the security and protection chains of a system.
Websites with critical vulnerabilities
We can say that there are no web applications without vulnerabilities; to believe that something perfect can exist is a mistake. Normally people or organizations give a lot of confidence to web apps and that’s why they are victims of the disaster. With this we could say that “The mistake of people is to believe that technology is the solution to their problems”. Most vulnerabilities come in different forms, as shown below.
Web server vulnerabilities
Web servers, are the main affected by small digital gaps. They are constantly attacking weaknesses in the system network, starting with from the disclosure of information to the overflow of what we know as a buffer or buffer. The systems you see most affected are IIS and Apache, where the only method to strengthen it is by patching all vulnerabilities and critical points.
Vulnerabilities in WordPress
WordPress is one of the most influential platformsThis is why it is the main target for hackers. According to the analysis and research of Acunetix All platforms created through this server have a percentage, even if it is a minimum of vulnerability.
The most latent weakness of WordPress is the disclosure of information; this software gives us data like enumeration from names users and the authenticate bruteforcing XML-RPC. Important feature of WordPress is your speed of work, and its self-liberation of vulnerabilities. Simply by updating the software the security level will improve by 80%.
Efficiency plays too a great role in this cybersecurity strategy, and thanks to it the state of health can be remarkably recovered. Among its great advantages, WordPress allows us to expand its basic functions with the installation of add-ons or plugins; small detail that positively impacts the service. The scheme that hackers comply with is attack from the most sensitive information disclosure, and get to the SQL infection, all through remote code execution.
JavaScript Libraries
Most of the websites that use old and outdated libraries JavaScript they have a 33% vulnerability in the system. As in the WordPress system, the fresher the version, the more security and protection the software will have.
Cross-site scripting (XSS)
This type of vulnerability can be classified into three categories:
- Tored (Persistent)
- XSSReflected (Persistent)
- And XSSDOM-Based XSS
The small difference of the birth of this vulnerability with the other systems, is that it is created through information sharing or customer interaction, especially by using the versions JS defective or obsolete.
Websites are vulnerable
The main objective of every attacker is to intimidate the victim. In a more technical form, it is forced to perform a Script that gives access to malicious software. It is always injected through trusted networks or websites (evil disguises itself as an angel of light). When the virus runs, the cybercriminal can extract all the information that is in the system, it even grants itself the permissions to modify the code structure.
Medium severity vulnerabilities
The Hackers use this type of threat to gain access to all files of our network. They mainly attack privileged users, since it is the only way to enter this level, they do it through an interaction until they enter the internal system.
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
Almost all systems are vulnerable to cross-site spoofing, speaking in a mathematical way we could say that, five out of ten of the applications they are susceptible to this type of threat. Like all attacks, they pretend to be trusted sites, deceiving many of its victims and having as a consequence all the private information of the person. Whenever the user executes a request HTTP, the browser automatically forwards the associated cookies to the attacker.
Denial of service (DoS)
Two it is a threat that does not affect many servers, however we cannot neglect in his presence. Thirteen percent of systems are completely vulnerable to this little malicious software. The main function of this threat is to complicate the system in such a way that it provides slow navigation, known as Slowloris. If we don’t prevent this attack we will be in serious trouble, although it does not generate as many actions as other attackers.
TLS / SSL vulnerabilities
The websites that make use of confidential data are usually the main objective for hackers, therefore their main function is to generate errors in the TLS. The greatest vulnerability is in TLS ancient, because its structure is weak to an attack that is constantly getting stronger.
Learn how to protect yourself from web app attacks to be completely safe
Have a web page, is to be part of a digital world. It is the first contact or the smartest point of contact in an organization. There you can show offers, ideas, information and receive confidential data of our consumers.
That important feedback It is the one that turns our web site into the center of attention for hackers. Cyber attacks can become more aggressive than any physical threat, not only because it compromises our information, but also that of all the members of the web and its consumers. For this unique and important reason, we must fortify the security of our site.
It is true that there is no perfect network or system, but it is better to work in a place with a small gap than several of them:
Let’s make use of solutions from trusted providers
It is not easy to find a trusted provider. The most effective way to find it is by taking tests, evaluations, reviewing the awards received and compare services with old clients.
Let’s build a powerful security checkpoint
When we say control we mean security strategy. We know that our page and the information it has is the target of hackers, so we must be vigilant with every presence of malicious software.
If our website is infected, we must act quickly, not only to prevent the damage from spreading, but to prevent other more powerful types of viruses from entering. For this, we must do security scans on a regular basis. With this, existing viruses are eliminated and the passage of others is avoided. Antivirus Recommended for this occasion are: McAfee Security Scan Plus, ESET Online Scanner and Panda ActiveScan. We can also make use of WordPress Security Scan, which is an excellent antimalware for this system.
Let’s encrypt our site with a security certificate (SSL)
Although for many this advice is unnecessary, because it is natural that when creating a web SSL is activated, it is always necessary to remember and do so, because with this protection our exchange of files and sending information stay safer.
Let’s have strong keys
As much as this campaign has been mentioned for a long time, it is necessary to remember: that we have our very strong keys. There are still users who write personal names, pets or dates of birth to protect their accounts, and it’s a total mistake. We should avoid having basic passwords like 123456, because its weakness is a gap that a cyber attack takes advantage of.
Let’s use the latest update of the content and program manager
Although we have already mentioned it before, the key to greater protection is to use updated managers and systems. The world is innovating, and the same happens with hackers, a protection that was effective a year ago, it will not be for this one. When we say that we have everything updated it is in a very general way. In other words, we include browsers, plugins, servers and others …
Let’s keep an antispam
Methods more effective against spam are the captchas. In WordPress we can find plugins that are responsible for ensuring against the spam, but the best solution to these is creating embedded image codes.
Let’s comply with the legalities
Having our site compliant with legal requirements, and advising the public that we are complying with it, is a fundamental step to protect our attack website. As a company, business or organization owner, we must always bear in mind that legal events we always exclude pirate attacks.
Be careful with the mail
Finally, we recommend that do not open and read all the emails receivedRemember that this is a means of transport for information and viruses. Always we will be receiving messages and spam, and that is why we should only open the ones we really expect.