Advanced Steps to Increase Web Security
Website security is a challenging issue and is extremely important to protect your customers. Every website must be at least doing these basic steps to protect their customers from common web security threats. However, there are some advanced steps you can take to ensure a higher level of website security. These steps are well-established standards in web security and will help a lot in the long run. However, these steps are more technical and might require an IT professional to help. Below are the more advanced steps.
1) Take Precautions With File Uploads or Restrict Them Entirely
File uploads functionality of a website can be abused by hackers to compromise web security. Hackers will take advantage of it and upload malicious files containing scripts that overwrite important files of the website or even upload a file big enough to crash a website. They can upload files with scripts that exploit vulnerabilities of a website, and take over the website to perform illegal activities.
It is best recommended to avoid file uploads entirely to increase web security. However, if this function is necessary and required, at least restrict the types of files that can be uploaded. Take some steps to handle file uploads, such as filter the types of files that are allowed to be uploaded, analyse the file type, set a maximum file size, scan the files for malware, rename the files upon upload or store uploaded files in a separate location from the webroot. All these steps are very technical, and it is recommended to have an IT professional to help implement them.
2) Use Parameterised Queries
SQL injections are one of the most common web security issues. Many websites have fallen victim to SQL injections and resulted in a data breach. Many hackers use web forms to launch SQL injection attacks. They insert code into the web forms, which allows them access to the website’s database to steal data. It is important to prevent SQL injections to safeguard a website’s customer database. Parameterised queries restrict the web forms inputs and reduce the chance of attack. This step requires the expertise of an IT professional and is very effective in preventing SQL injection attacks.
3) Use Content Security Policy (CSP)
Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a web security exploitation used by hackers to insert malicious JavaScript code to execute on a website visitor’s device. It is similar to SQL injection, and website owners can take steps to restrict functions or fields that accept input from website visitors. The strategy to increase web security against XSS is to use CSP. It is a tool that can specify which domains a browser considers as valid sources of executable scripts. It lets the browser know not to pay attention to scripts from sources other than the valid sources. Implementing CSP to increase web security requires an IT professional.
4) Choose a Safe Web Hosting Plan
To increase web security, it is important to select a safe web hosting plan. The web hosting company must have security on its servers to protect websites. It is also recommended to prevent free hosting plans or shared hosting plans. The cost of hosting might be attractive for these plans, but most of the time they come with certain compromises on security. If other websites hosted on the server of these hosting plans are compromised, hackers can easily gain access to the server, and all websites hosted on the same server cannot escape from the hackers’ grasp. They can easily take over any websites to perform illegal activities. Therefore, it is important to select a good and safe web hosting plan to increase web security, although they might be costlier.
5) Protect Website File Directory and Permission
Adjust website CMS settings to limit user permissions and file permissions. Hackers now use bots to scan for websites using default CMS settings, which allow them to search for attack targets easily. This way, they can attack numerous websites easily with the single same malware or virus.
Adjusting website CMS settings will make it hard for them, preventing the website from being an easy target for them to find. It also improves the security of a website’s directory, which limits users’ write and read permissions on essential website files. The most important thing is to prevent hackers to easily read and write these files to take over the website.
Conclusion
From here onwards, web security will become more and more significant. With the forthcoming of Internet of Things (IoT) where thousands if not millions of devices will be interconnected, web security is poised to be an integral part of it all. Many people are more aware than ever of the importance of their data. With so many devices collecting data, advanced web security might even become the necessary fundamentals behind them. In case advanced security is just too difficult to understand, you can read here to learn about the basics of improving website security first.
If you are unsure about implementing web security for your website, WebNIC is here to assist you. We offer the industry’s leading web security solutions with value-added services. If you need any help, you are most welcome to contact us at [email protected]. Or you can live chat with us by clicking the green button at the bottom right of our website.
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