Contact us anytime to know more — Abhishek P., Founder & CFO CISIN
Many companies do not know how to improve their web application's security.
Content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and website builders make it simple for anyone to create a site.
Many website owners don't realize that web applications that are accessible via the internet have a much larger attack surface and require adequate security.
You must ensure that the data of your customers or visitors is secure whenever they visit your website.
You could face a cyber-attack if you do not protect the data of your customers. This can result in a huge loss for your business, and you may even be sued.
It is important to remember that no method can guarantee your website will remain safe from hackers forever.
This article will look at some best practices on how to improve website security of your web applications and avoid being a target for cyber-attackers.
How to Improve the Cyber Security
Select a Reliable Host
If you don't use a secure hosting service, even if your site has the best security available, it will not do you much good.
Research and select a company that has a solid reputation and doesn't have many downtime problems. Check if they can meet any other requirements specific to your business.
When choosing a server, you should consider the following:
- Does the web hosting service offer a Secure File Transfer Protocol?
- FTP by Unknown User is disabled
- Does it have a Rootkit scanner?
- Does it allow file backups to be made on a remote server?
- What are their security updates?
- If they offer technical support when needed.
Prioritize your Web Applications
Most organizations don't know how many web apps they have or where they are located.
List all web applications, including those of your organization and third-party apps. Prioritize them according to the potential damage that can be caused if anything goes wrong.
Secure your Login Pages using SSL (HTTPS) Encryption
You need to use a URL that is encrypted with SSL or, even better, TLS.
HTTPS encrypts the data that is sent between your browser and web server, preventing a third party from reading it in transit.
So, even if an attacker tries to intercept the data (manipulator-in-the-middle attacks), it will be useless.
Most popular browsers will flag your website as insecure if it does not have a valid SSL Certificate. In such cases, browsers warn users not to send personal information or payment details.
Validate and Sanitize User Input
Never trust user input. This is a common security error found on many sites.
If user input data are not properly sanitized and validated, then your website is at high risk of being targeted by injection attacks such as XSS and SQL injection.
Sanitizing user input can include removing unwanted characters, replacing them, encoding or escaping them.
Validation is a process that ensures the data entered by the user falls within the character ranges. To achieve this, you can create either a whitelist or a blacklist.
Whitelisting allows only approved characters to be used.
If your website accepts phone numbers in a certain field, you can whitelist the numbers 0-9. The user will not be able to enter any other characters.
In blacklisting, the defined characters are not accepted.
Use whitelisting instead of blacklisting if possible. If you use a blacklist, you must consider all possible invalid options.
If you miss anything, your web application could be exposed to hackers. It's better to just whitelist the valid options.
You should have a Strong Password Policy
Good password policies are part of any discussion about web application safety.
To improve online security, most companies have adopted standard password policies. Even with standard password policies, administrators and website owners still need to protect a lot of websites, databases, programs, and databases.
Many people use the same password for all logins to save time. It's also a serious security error.
Today, hackers use automated brute force software to test whether websites are vulnerable. Use unique, complex passwords that contain uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to protect yourself from brute-force attacks.
Avoid using personal information in your passwords. When you keep a password in your mind, it's almost always easy.
It is therefore recommended that you use a password management program to store your passwords.
Always opt in for two-factor authentication (2FA) if it is offered. This will provide an additional layer of protection for your account, in addition to the password.
Limitation of Access Rights and Credentials
When you consider giving access to an application, database, etc., follow the principle of "least privilege" (PoLP).
Give users only the data and tools that they need to perform their jobs. You may initially feel comfortable giving certain employees, or close friends, high-level privileges because you think they will use them with caution.
When employees log into an application or database, they rarely think about security. This can pose a serious security risk to your app.
Before you grant admin rights to someone, make sure they have experience with your application. Make sure they know how to prevent a security breach.
Most employees in companies are not permanent. You must immediately remove all access granted to an employee who leaves your company and change passwords if needed.
It is a good idea to keep a list of all employees, their privileges and any changes they made.
Keep your Website Clean
Hackers can enter your website through any database, plugin, application or plug-in. Close all open ports on your server and delete any files or databases that are not needed.
Keep your file structure well organized so that you can easily delete old files and keep track of any changes.
Make sure Everything is Current
Keep all your software, extensions and plugins up-to-date.
Attackers are always on the lookout for new security vulnerabilities, and they know how to exploit these. You might find that your company is a target of attackers if you do not update regularly.
Keep track of all plugins and extensions that you use, and make sure to update them whenever a new version is released.
Explore reputable web application blogs to learn about the latest technologies, vulnerabilities and other information.
Regularly Backup your Data
Data from your web applications are constantly at risk.
A good backup system is one of the best ways to protect your website.
Store your backups off the same server that hosts your website. If the server is attacked, your backups will be vulnerable.
Keep your backups on a hard drive or computer at home. Find a place that is climate-controlled to store your data to protect it against hardware failures, viruses, and attacks.
A cloud-based platform is another option that allows you to store your data easily and access it from anywhere.
It is best to use a system that allows you to schedule automatic backups. Many content management systems offer plugins and extensions that automatically backup your website.
Make sure that your solution also has a reliable system for recovery.
You can then restore your files to any previous point before ransomware or virus causes havoc.
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You should always Tweak the CMS Default Settings
It is not recommended to use the default settings for your CMS. These configurations include default usernames/passwords, user permissions, login attempts etc.
Automated bots are used by attackers to scan for websites. Your website may be a target if it is using default usernames and passwords or if the default settings are misconfigured.
WordPress, and other popular CMS platforms, for example, come with the default username "admin" and password "password".
The default login page of a WordPress website will be like example.com/wp-admin or example.com/wp-login.php. WordPress does not limit the number of login attempts by default.
This could lead to a brute-force attack. A second security team mistake is not specifying the file permissions. Each file is assigned three permissions, which are indicated by numbers.
- You can view or read the contents of a file.
- Change the contents of the file by writing (2).
- Execute (1): Runs the program or script.
There are three types of users.
- Owner - This is usually the original creator, but it can be changed. Ownership can only be held by one user at a given time.
- Group - Every file is assigned a group. Users who belong to that group have access to its permissions.
- Public - Everyone else.
You may encounter security problems if you continue to use the default file permissions.
Test your Website Security for Vulnerabilities
If you want to improve the security of web applications, it is important that you perform regular security scans and checks.
You should perform a scan of your website at least once a month and after any major upgrades or changes. For this, you can use a penetration testing tool.
Hack your App with the Help of Professionals
If your business is centered around a web application that you sell or use internally, then it is worth hiring professional hackers to attempt to breach your app.
Web application security is difficult to manage on your own. White-hat hackers will help you find and fix any vulnerabilities in your website before an actual attacker can exploit it.
You could also organize a bug-bounty program, where you reward someone who discovers a vulnerability in the web application.
How To Improve Your Website's Safety
Below we have mentioned the points on how to improve your website safety.
Update Software and Plugins
Each day, dozens of websites are compromised by outdated software. Sites are scanned by bots and hackers to find vulnerabilities.
Updating your website is essential to its health and security. Your site will not be secure if your software and applications are out of date.
All software and plugin update requests should be taken seriously.
Software Updates are often security improvements and vulnerabilities repaired. Update your website or install a plugin to notify you of updates.
Automatic updates are available on some platforms, and this is another way to keep your website secure.
The longer you delay, the less secure it will be. Update your website components and make them a priority. Add HTTPS and an SSL certificate
You need a secure website URL to keep it safe. You need HTTPS to transmit private information if your visitors are willing to do so.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a protocol that provides security on the Internet. HTTPS protects content from interruptions and interceptions while it is being transmitted.
Your website will also need an SSL Certificate to ensure a secure connection. You need to encrypt the connection if your website requires visitors to register or sign up or make any type of transaction.
What is SSL?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), another site protocol, is also necessary. It transfers personal information about your visitors between your website and database.
SSL encrypts data to stop others from reading it in transit.
GlobalSign is an example of an SSL certificate that works with most websites. GlobalSign, an SSL certificate that works with many websites, is an example.
It is difficult to keep track of all the passwords that are needed for databases, websites and other programs. Many people use the same password everywhere to remember their login details.
This is a serious security error.
Create a new password for each login request. Create complex, difficult-to-guess passwords. Store them in a separate directory.
You could, for example, use a 14-digit combination of letters and numerics as a password. The passwords can be stored in an offline folder, on a smartphone or on another computer.
You will be asked to log in and choose a password. Avoid using personal information in your password. Make it impossible to guess.
Do not include your pet's birthday.
Change your password after three months or earlier, and then repeat. Smart passwords should always be long and contain at least 12 characters.
Your password should be a combination between numbers and symbols. Alternate between uppercase and lowercase letters.
Never share your password with anyone else or use it twice.
Use a Secure Web Host
Imagine your domain name as an address. Think of your web host as a plot of "real-estate" online where you have your website.
You should research potential web hosts in the same way you would a plot of ground to build a home.
Many web hosts offer server security features to better protect the data you upload. When choosing a web host, there are some things to look for.
- Does the web hosting company offer a Secure File Transfer Protocol? SFTP.
- FTP use by unknown users is disabled.
- Does it have a Rootkit scanner?
- Is it a file backup service?
- What are their security updates?
Record User Access and Administration Privileges
You may initially feel comfortable granting several employees with high-level access to your site. Each employee is given administrative rights, thinking that they will take good care of their website.
This is the ideal scenario, but it's not always possible.
Unfortunately, employees don't think about the security of websites when they log into a CMS. They are focused on the task.
A mistake or omission can lead to a serious security problem.
Before granting your employees access to the website, it is important that you thoroughly vet them. Ask them if the employee has experience with your CMS and if he or she knows what to look out for in order to prevent a security breach.
Inform every CMS user of the importance of updating software and using passwords. Inform them of all the ways that they can maintain the safety of the website.
Make a note of the people who have access to your CMS and their administrative settings. Update it frequently.
Employees are hired and fired. It is important to keep a record of all the changes made to your website.
Read More: Progressive Web Apps The future of Mobile Web development
Change your CMS Default Settings
Most attacks on websites are automated. Many attack bots are reliant on users leaving their CMS settings at default.
After choosing your CMS, change your default settings immediately. The changes will help to prevent many attacks.
The CMS can be configured to adjust control comments, visibility of users, and permissions.
File permissions are an example of how you can alter the default settings. You can specify who has access to what file.
Each file contains three permissions and a numerical value that represents each permission:
- "Read"(4): Display the contents of the file.
- “Write” (2): Modifies the contents of the file.
- 'Execute'(1): Runs the program or script.
Add the numbers to clarify. To allow both read (4) and write (2), you would set the user permissions to 6.
There are three types of users that can be added to the list for file permissions:
- Owner - This is usually the original creator, but it can be changed. Ownership can only be held by one user at a given time.
- Group - Every file is assigned to one group. Users who belong to that group have access to its permissions.
- Public - Everyone else.
Customize user and permission settings, and back up your website. Do not leave the default settings. You may run into security issues.
Back up your Backups
A good backup solution is one of the best ways to protect your website. It is advisable to have multiple backup solutions.
You need each to recover your website if a major incident happens.
You can recover files that have been damaged or deleted using a variety of different methods.
Store your website data off-site. Backups should not be stored on the same server as your website. They are just as vulnerable.
Keep your website backups on a hard drive or computer at home. Store your data offsite to avoid hardware failures and protect it against viruses, hackers, and hacking.
You can also back up your site in the cloud. This makes it easy to store data and gives you access from anywhere.
You must also consider automating your backups. You can schedule backups with a solution. You should also ensure that your solution includes a reliable system for recovery.
Know Your Web Server Configuration Files
Learn about your web server configuration file. They are located in the root directory. Web server configuration files allow you to manage server rules.
These include directives for improving your website's security.
Each server uses a different file type. Find out which one you are using.
- Apache web servers use a.htaccess files
- Nginx servers use nginx.conf
- Microsoft IIS servers utilize the web. config
Not all webmasters know which web server is used. Use a website scanner, such as Sitecheck, to test your website if you're one of these webmasters.
It checks for malware, viruses and blacklisting.
It gives you time to fix it before any harm comes to your website. This gives you the opportunity to correct it before it is damaged.
- Be sure to apply for a Web Application Firewall (WAF). It is installed between your server and the data connection. Its purpose is to read all data passing through your website to protect it.
- Most WAFs today are cloud-based, plug-and-play services. Cloud service acts as a gateway for all incoming traffic, blocking all hacking attempts. It filters out unwanted traffic like spammers, malicious software bots and other unwanted types.
- If you believe your website to be secure, it is important that you check the security of your network.
- Your website may be unsafe if your employees are using office computers.
- Consider the following steps to prevent your customers from gaining access to your server:
Make Computer Logins Expire if Inactive for a Short Time
You should notify users of password changes every three months.
Scan all devices connected to the network for malware every time they are connected.
You cannot simply set up and forget a website as a webmaster or business owner. Even though website creation has become easier, security maintenance remains a necessity.
Be proactive in protecting the data of your business and customers. The data that visitors enter on your website, whether it's personal information or online payments, must be in the right hands.
Want More Information About Our Services? Talk to Our Consultants!
Closing Thoughts
Today, most businesses rely on web-based applications to run their business.
All website owners assume that their websites are safe and secure, but they forget how vulnerable their applications can be.
It is easy to create a website, but the hard part is keeping it safe.
The number of options available to companies for improving the security of web applications is quite impressive, but they rarely take the correct measures.
Are you interested in using an automated tool for web application penetration testing? Book a demonstration with us to learn how CISIN will help you secure your web application.
The ease of creating websites has increased in recent years. Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Joomla allow business owners to become webmasters.
Many website owners don't know how to secure their sites.
Customers need to be confident that their information is secure when they use an online payment processor. Visitors don't want their personal data to end up in the wrong hands.
Users expect a secure online experience, whether you are a small or large business.
A report from Google Registry and The Harris Poll revealed that, despite the fact that more Americans are creating websites today, they have significant gaps in their knowledge about online security.
Although 55% of respondents assigned themselves an A or B grade in terms of online safety, 70% of them incorrectly identified the URL of a safe website.
There are several ways to ensure that you, your employees and your customers will be safe when using your website.
It is not necessary to guess the security of your website.
Improve your website's security by taking the necessary steps. Keep data safe from prying eyes.
Preventative measures will help reduce the vulnerability of your site.
Security on the web is both an easy and complex process. You can improve the safety of your website by taking at least 10 essential steps before it's too late.
Owners must protect customer data even in the digital world. Do not leave any stone unturned. Take all the necessary precautions.
It is better to be safe rather than sorry if you own a website.
