No website on the internet is completely invulnerable to cyberattacks. Even the biggest names probably have an open window somewhere in their systems. Security threats can be can caused by unnoticed errors or because of a planned attack by cybercriminals. This has got people questioning how they can improve their domain security. We think the best way to prepare is to know what you are up against. For that purpose, we have gathered a list of the biggest website security threats and with advice on how you can steer clear of them.
1. Injection Attacks
Although some other threats are more common, inject attacks are the highest in terms of risk factors. According to research by OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), flaws in this area pose the biggest threat to your website.
Most commonly, cybercriminals use the SQL injection method for breaching a website. They directly target the web server as it contains the database. Usually, attackers do this with some coding that highlights all the hidden data of the website. It also allows them to modify the data at their will.
Injection attacks occur due to a lack of security in the codebase. Hence, you will need secure coding and a safe domain to tackle injection attacks.
2. Cross-Site Scripting
Also known as XSS, it poses another common threat to a website. The reason why they occur so commonly is that they are not very sophisticated. They do not require any pre-planning or coordination.
Usually, XSS attacks are executed by new cybercriminals using ready-made scripts. They target the users of a website by inserting a malicious piece of code. The worst part is that this code is executed by none other than website visitors themselves. This type of attack affects the login and account information of a user by modifying the website content. Criminals also activate Trojan horses that heavily impact the overall website. In short, it can completely destroy domain security.
The most effective way to protect your website against XSS attacks is by using a Web Application Firewall (WAF).
3. Distributed Denial-of-Service
Most commonly referred to as just DDoS, this is also a very common type of DNS attack. But, that does not mean it is any less impactful. A DDoS-attack can cost a business millions in damage, and it is able to permanently take down a website.
This type of attack aims at the web server by sending it tons of simultaneous requests. It causes the website to restrict other visitors, causing even the admins to be blocked out. DDoS attacks are often executed in tandem with other domain security threats. They keep the system busy, while other cyberattacks can affect the website.
Investing in DDoS prevention is the best solution to minimize the chance of these attacks happening.
4. Fuzz Testing
Generally, Fuzz Testing or Fuzzing is a method to detect coding and security errors on a website or operating system. But this can work against you as well, as cybercriminals use this same method to discover weak points in your website.
The “fuzz” refers to random data which is input into your website by attackers. This crashes the application or site and highlights the security loopholes. Both attacks and fuzz testers use the same tool, Fuzzer software.
When people update their websites, they usually leave some weak spots unnoticed. Increasing domain privacy by regular testing is therefore the right way to prevent these attacks.
5. Zero-Day Attack
Fuzzing attacks do not just end there. The so-called zero-day threats are often considered the extension of the former. However, it does not have the prerequisite of a website having ‘weak spots’.
There are two ways a zero-day attack can be executed. Either the criminals steal your website’s security information, or they attack users who have not updated their systems. Both scenarios pose a large threat to your website’s security.
If your website does get affected, the damage can be much more significant than just a breached protection system. That is why it is recommended to use updated versions of applications if they are published.
6. Man-in-the-Middle Attack
This attack happens to website that have not encrypted their data. In this case, data travels instantly from a user to the web server. If the data is not encrypted, attackers can get all the information they want from the website.
Man-in-the-Middle attacks are a more planned type of threat than many others. That is because criminals gather essential data transferred between two parties. These attacks are directly linked with the website URL. Therefore, you should pay more attention to your domain protection if you want to prevent these attacks from happening.
The easiest way of preventing these attacks is by using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). However, while this does provide a defensive shield for your site and has many benefits, cybercriminals may still be able breach it.
7. By brute force
As the name suggests, a brute force attack is executed directly. This type of attack steals the login information of a website. However, it is not that easy to execute, unless your password is very obvious. Attackers simply try to input different password and username combinations. As mentioned earlier, it is only effective when the password is very simple.
Hackers use this technique for breaching someone’s social media account. The worst part is that it still works for many attackers. That is mainly due to two reasons. Either people have the most obvious, easy-to-guess passwords, or they are not using two-factor authentication (2FA).
There are no reasons as to why you should not use 2FA. It makes your website much safer and prevents harmful brute force attacks that can steal all your information.
How can you prevent website security threats?
Now, the real question is how to keep your domain protected against these cyber threats. The solutions given to the threats mentioned above are only helpful up to a certain extent. They might prevent some security breaches, but your website cannot rely on them for full protection.
If you really want to keep your website safe and sleep soundly at night, then a third-party tool like the ones available at Openprovider is the way to go!
Our offer premium domain security products, such as SSL certificates, Premium DNS, SpamExperts, etc, will keep your website and your customers safe from malicious attacks.
Not sure how to start or what specific tool you should purchase to keep your website security airtight? Get in touch and we’ll advise you on the most efficient solution for your domain portfolio.
