Top Online Security Threats and Solutions
The internet has become an important part of today’s world. Almost everything takes place online. The security of your information and your company operations online is very crucial. Therefore, understanding the state of your online security is imperative to successfully protect your business from possible security threats. It is wise to note that cybercriminals continue to advance by the day, and you need to stay on top of the game by learning more about online security threats and their solutions from https://ottomatik.io/blog/tutorials/mysql-binary-logs-backup/ as discussed in this article.
Code Injection
Hackers have employed advanced techniques that allow them to insert malicious codes to vulnerable applications. A vulnerability is commonly found in data input fields for different users including entering of username and SQL statement. In the event where a SQL statement is entered, the threat will be known as SQL Injection attack. The other common code injection attacks include:
- Operating system command attacks.
- Script injection.
- Shell injection.
- Dynamic evaluation attacks.
- These attacks destroy data, lead to compromised credentials and in severe cases, you may lose control of your server.
Solution
You need to filter your text input and avoid vulnerable codes.
Similarly, it is important to store data separately from queries and commands. Always use safe API with parameterized requests.
You need to employ an input validation approach when entering data and in the event of an attack, use SQL Limit function to significantly reduce its impact.
A Web Application Firewall is also important as it updates a threat database within the shortest time possible. It acts as a real-time filter application system that checks all your input for the best protection against the threat.
Data Breach
The cost of data breach ranges from compromised credentials to loss of data. Often, this occurs as a result of software misconfiguration, malware and lost hardware.
Solution
You need to employ good online security practices such as encrypting transactions and site traffic. Encrypt your data with SSL, always scan your servers and set permissions to access a site carefully.
At your place of work, it is important to train employees on how to avoid phishing attacks and maintain the best password ethics.
If you discover a security breach, it is important to block the attack vector and investigate its source. This is to prevent future attacks and to ensure all vulnerabilities are closed off.
Malware Infection
Malware poses a significant level of online security. The main vector of a malware attack that many people have not realized is email spam. This affects small, medium-sized and large companies.
Solution
Malware comes from different email sources, and you need to carry out a robust email filtering and scanning system.
It is also important to scrub a device that is infected by identifying all hidden codes and getting rid of infected files. This prevents replication of the virus. Therefore, consider the use of an effective automated tool to scrub the system.
Employee education is equally important because they will learn how to keep the business safe from malware.
Dodos-Distributed Denial of Service Attack
Distributed Denial of Service attack is also a top online security threat that targets a group of computers. The target system is flooded with traffic and in 2017-2018, there were more than 8 million DDO’s attacks targeting IT service providers. Businesses using the same system as that of an affected service provider is also at risk of the attack. Sharing a network infrastructure from an affected provider also puts your system at risk of the threat.
Solutions
Employ a real-time disaster recovery plan and put it into practice. Always communicate with your clients and employees of possible interruption. WAF is one of the best security tools that will help you to close the saturated port or protocol. You may have to close the port regularly because attackers usually advance their strategies to hack different systems.
To restore your system, use a reliable content distribution network such as Cloud Flare to minimize the impact of the threat. It also filters malicious traffic.
A DDO’s protection system is also important as it monitors and systematically mitigates attacks.
Malicious Insiders
Malicious Insiders is a common and serious security threat to small and well-established organizations. One in five or six attacks is usually committed by insiders.
Solution
Set a logical access control system or policy to prevent access of data by a malicious insider.
Always monitor your network with a transaction and audit log. You may also use a Liquid Webs Custom Malicious Activity Detector to protect your company from the threat.