There are many ways hackers can target Web applications (websites that let you connect directly to software through browsers), to steal confidential information or introduce malicious code or hijack your computer. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in components like web apps, content management systems and web servers.
Web app attacks comprise a large percentage of all security threats. Over the last 10 years attackers have refined their skills in identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities that affect the perimeter defenses of applications. Attackers are able to evade the most commonly used defenses by using techniques such as phishing, social engineering, and botnets.
Phishing attacks fool victims into clicking an email link containing malware. This malware is downloaded onto their computer, which enables attackers to gain access to devices or systems to use for other purposes. Botnets are a group of infected or compromised connected devices that attackers use for DDoS attacks as well as spreading malware, perpetuating fraud in advertising and more.
Directory (or path) traversal attacks exploit movement patterns to gain unauthorized access to the files on websites, their configuration files and databases. To protect yourself from this type of attack requires the proper sanitization of inputs.
SQL injection attacks seek at the database that holds crucial information about websites and services by injecting malicious code that allow it to obfuscate and reveal details that it would never normally disclose. Attackers can then run commands that dump databases, as website link well as other.
Cross-site scripting (or XSS) attacks insert malicious code into a trusted website to hijack browsers of users. This allows attackers to steal session cookies and private information, impersonate a user, manipulate content and more.