Website development is not very difficult nowadays. CMS like WordPress allows you to create a website even if you do not have any technical skills. While hiring a website developer doesn’t just consider the development of a website from a developer but also makes sure that the website should be secure as well.
Always ensures that the website is accomplished through a web development company. They have experience website developers who have been working in the field of Web development for many years. Website Hacking and Malicious Code Injections are the major concerns for website owners. Therefore, you should make sure that it would not happen to you.
What is website security?
The measures taken to secure a website from cyber attacks are known as Website Security. It is an open-ended process and a crucial part of managing any website. Website Security could be tough to figure out, especially with a large amount of traffic coming onto the website. However, having a secure website is vital. If a website is hacked or block listed, it might lose its traffic by up to 98%. Having a website that is not secure is as bad as not having a website or even worse.
Importance of Website security
All websites might get attacked anywhere and at anytime. When hackers plan to hack any website, they do not have any specific website in their minds. Hackers use programs to automatically detect those websites which contain vulnerabilities and then do cyber-attack on those websites.
Website Security is necessary because it restricts hackers and cyber-thieves from accessing sensitive information. According to some estimations, about 30,000 to 50,000 websites get hacked everyday. The numbers are increasing at a very rapid pace. 56% of internet traffic comes from automated sources like hacking tools, bots, spammers, scrappers, and Impersonators. Being secure in this digital era is important to protect your website and the data it holds now.
Website Security threats
Web Security threats are continuously increasing and advancing but some threats are constantly emerging at the top of the web security threat lists. Let’s have a look at some of the common web security threats:
- Cross-site scripting
- SQL injection
- Viruses and worms
- Phishing
- Ransomware
- Spyware
- Code injection
- CEO fraud and impersonation
Cross-site scripting
Cross-site scripting is also known as (XSS). It is a website security threat in which the attacker aims to inject malicious executable scripts into the code of a website or an application. An XSS attack is made by attackers by sending malicious links to the users and convincing them to click on them.
SQL injection
It is a technique in which code is injected by an attacker. However, it could also destroy your database. It is the most common website hacking technique. Placement of malicious code in SQL statements via web page input is done in it.
Viruses and worms
Malicious executable code which is attached to other executable files, which could modify or delete data or could be harmless is known as Virus. A Worm is a form of Malware that could replicate itself and can spread to different computers along a network.
Phishing
It is a cybersecurity attack in which attackers send messages and pretend to be a trusted person or entity. A user could be manipulated by these messages and
malicious file, or divulging information that is sensitive like accessing the credentials.
Ransomware
It is malware in which encryption is implemented to hold the information of the victim at ransom. However, in Ransomware, the data of a user or organization is encrypted to make applications, databases, or files not accessible to them.
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Spyware
It is software that installs itself on your computer. However, it secretly monitors your online behavior without your permission or knowledge. In addition to that, it secretly collects information about a person or an organization and transfers that data to other parties.
Code injection
In Code, injection attackers inject malicious code into an application and then the code is interpreted and executed. However, the performance and functioning of the application are affected by this.
CEO fraud and impersonation
It is a website security threat in which a scam email pretending to be from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Managing Director (MD), or another senior figure of a company or organization is sent to the finance team. In addition to that, a request of sending payment to a third party is received by the finance team or another senior figure of the company or organization.
Ways through which a developer will make your website secure:
There are several ways through which a developer can make your website secure some of them are listed below:
Through Encryption of Sensitive data
What according to you will be the responsibility of the website designer if he stores sensitive data in your database?
Well, he/she must never store data that is unencrypted.
Do you want your business to lose sensitive data of customers because it stores data in the form of plain text in a database?
It is the responsibility of your website developer to encrypt all your sensitive data which includes passwords, credit card information of customers, and so on. Encryption of sensitive data is important because in case if your server gets hacked, no one could access your sensitive data.
SSL Certificate
SSL certificate which is indicated with an HTTPS should be installed on your website because it is the ideal way to keep your and your client’s information secure on your website. It is important if you have sensitive data like passwords or credit card information on your website. However, it will also rank your website higher on Google because your website is secure.
Validation of client and server-side
If your website developer accepts user input on your website he/she could adopt secure development practices. There are two conditions for it:
- Server-side
- Client-side
Server-side validations:
It protects your website against inputs that are malicious like users who try to inject their code into your database.
Client-side validations:
It will protect your website from cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks which occur when malicious JavaScript code is added to a web page of your website. If your developer wants to add client-side protection he/she can use mechanisms like Content Security Policy (CSP).
Backups
Backups are very important for website security because if your website gets hacked or any upgrade goes wrong you don’t want to be left with no information. Your website developer should make regular backups of your database and files and ensures that backups are being made through your hosting company or manually.
Testing
Testing is also very important in terms of website security It minimizes the bugs and errors on the website and makes your website more user-friendly. However, it also gains the trust of users and brings visitors back to the website again. It also ensures compatibility with different platforms and improves search engine rankings.
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Use of Plugins
Plugins are the add-on components of the software that increases the functionality of a website. Your website developer could find the best plugins to improve the security of your website.
No matter what CMS you are using for your website development, always search for the best plugins to prevent cyber-attacks on your website. Always make sure that your developers are keeping the plugins updated or not because if they are not updated, they might become targets of hackers.
Conclusion
Nowadays every website owner wants to make their website secure because of increasing website threats. A website can not trust any data from the web browser. Website design costs in 2023 will increase because of the demand for website in increasing on daily basis. However, when you are designing your website always make sure to make your website secure. If you do not pay attention to the security of your website then hackers could easily access your information.