What is Web Security Testing?

As technology advances, new ways for thieves to take advantage of it appear. The internet, in particular, is a prime example of this, as nearly anyone can launch an attack from anywhere on the globe. Because of this, web security testing is now becoming increasingly important for businesses.

Protecting your website and its visitors from many potential risks is the practice of web security. These dangers can take on a variety of shapes, including malware, phishing scams, viruses, and SQL injection attacks. And in today’s environment, you will be at a serious disadvantage if you don’t know how to deal with cybercrime.

In order to ensure that your website is secure for users to access, web security testing involves looking for any known weaknesses that attackers may use to hack your online application.

Now let’s look at why security testing is crucial, how it’s done, and the key tools you need to implement it in your company:

The Importance of Web Security Testing

Testing your website’s security is important since it enables you to find and fix bugs before attackers may use them against you.

Even if you don’t believe that your website has any vulnerabilities, it’s still vital to test it frequently. This is due to the ongoing emergence of new risks; hence, what was formerly deemed safe may not be so today.

Additionally, testing can assist you in ensuring that users will be able to access your website whenever they need to. This is especially crucial for websites with essential missions, such as those run by banks and other financial institutions.

You may also visit: What Is Cyber Security and Is It Really Beneficial?

What is the best way to test for web security?

The two basic approaches to web security testing are as follows:

Manual testing: White hat hackers, sometimes referred to as ethical hackers, carry out manual testing by attempting to hack into systems in order to discover vulnerabilities so that they can be patched.

Automated testing: Utilizing software that automates the vulnerability assessment process, web security scanners are often used for this.

As with any other type of software, each type of testing has its own advantages and disadvantages. Although manual testing can sometimes be more thorough, it is time- and money-consuming. Automated testing is frequently quicker and less expensive, but it may overlook some risks.

The Top Web Security Threats of Today

1. Cross-Site Scripting Attacks (XXS)

Examples of various hacking techniques include cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, web-based assaults, and flaws in apps that allow remote access. An XSS attack is when malicious JavaScript code is injected into a website.

Visitors to your website who are unaware then run this code. If the attack is successful, the attacker may be able to take sensitive data, including cookies or session data.

2. Denial Of Service Attacks (DoS)

In a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, the attacker tries to prevent users from accessing your website.

This is typically accomplished by repeatedly sending requests to your server until it is overwhelmed and unable to handle new ones.

3. SQL Injection Attacks

During a SQL injection attack, the attacker tries to run malicious SQL code on your database. If successful, this could give the attacker access to private information like customer or financial records.

By using parameterized queries and input validation, you can stop SQL injection attacks.

4. Ransomware/Ransomware as a Service

An attack that encrypts files and then demands payment in the form of virtual currency to unlock them is known as Ransomware. It frequently spreads by way of email, downloads, or hacked websites.

Hackers who don’t know how to code can utilise ransomware as a service (RaaS), a low-code ransomware adaption, to carry out ransomware exploits like phishing emails.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has provided the following recommendations to help you lessen the damaging impacts of a ransomware attack:

• Keep backups of your data offline.
• Update firmware and software on a regular basis.
• Vulnerability scans should be done often.
• Create a prepared incident response strategy that includes notification protocols.

5. Cross-Site Request Forgery

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks take place when a website is used by a hacker to trick a user into sending a dangerous request.

As a result, the attacker may be able to change the user’s password or make illicit transactions on your website on the user’s behalf.

6. Business Email Compromise (BEC)

When hackers get access to a company’s sensitive data through the organization’s email system, the situation is known as a Business Email Compromise (BEC), also known as a “man-in-the-email” attack. These are typical signs of this kind of assault:

• Executive fraud is when hackers pretend to be a company’s executives.
• Fake invoices that ask for money transfers into the hackers own accounts

7. Man-In-The-Middle Attack

Eavesdropping attacks are one type of Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attack in which the attacker obstructs communication between two parties. 

This gives the attacker the ability to listen in on conversations or even change data as it is being sent.

Conclusion

Just because a website exists doesn’t mean users will find it beneficial. Making sure that your website is always available is crucial. This involves having a strong defence against the most prevalent online risks, which can only be developed if you are aware of them and how they could affect the security of your website.