Online criminality has seen an exponential rise in recent years, with global annual losses estimated to be in the billions. No website is completely immune to attack, but understanding the most common types of hacking attacks can help you take steps to improve your website’s security. Read on to learn the most common types of website hacking attacks.
The most common types of website attack
Hackers are constantly developing new and more sophisticated methods of attacking websites. By understanding the most common types of attacks, you can better protect your website from vulnerabilities. For peace of mind you should look at advice on how to perform a basic security website audit – although if you want true security, you should hire the services of an expert.
You should also check with your web hosting provider by remembering the questions to ask web hosts.
SQL Injection Attacks
SQL injection attacks occur when malicious code is injected into a website’s database. This can allow hackers to access sensitive data, modify website content, or even take control of the website.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Validate user input to prevent malicious code from being executed.
- Use prepared statements or parameterized queries.
- Keep your database software and drivers up to date.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks
XSS attacks occur when malicious code is injected into a website’s pages. This can allow hackers to steal user data, redirect users to malicious websites, or even take control of the website.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Validate user input to prevent malicious code from being injected.
- Encode user-generated content.
- Use a content security policy (CSP) to restrict the execution of scripts on your website.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks attempt to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. This is often done through emails or fake websites that look legitimate.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Educate your users about phishing attacks and how to identify them.
- Use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts.
- Be cautious of clicking on links or attachments in unsolicited emails.
Brute Force Attacks
Brute force attacks involve trying different combinations of usernames and passwords until the correct credentials are found. This can be a time-consuming process, but it is still a common attack method.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts.
- Limit the number of failed login attempts.
- Implement two-factor authentication.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks
DoS attacks aim to make a website unavailable to users by overwhelming it with traffic. This can be done through various methods, such as flooding a website with requests or sending malicious packets.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Use a content delivery network (CDN) to distribute traffic across multiple servers.
- Monitor your website traffic for unusual spikes.
- Implement rate limiting to limit the number of requests that can be processed in a given time period.
Malware Infections
Malware infections can occur when malicious software is installed on a website. This can allow hackers to steal data, redirect users to malicious websites, or even take control of the website.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Keep your website software and plugins up to date.
- Use a security plugin to protect your website from malware.
- Regularly scan your website for malware.
Session Hijacking
Session hijacking occurs when a hacker gains control of a user’s session cookie. This can allow the hacker to access the user’s account and perform actions on their behalf.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Use HTTPS to encrypt your website traffic.
- Use a secure session management library.
- Regularly rotate session cookies.
Directory Traversal Attacks
Directory traversal attacks occur when a hacker is able to access files or directories on a website that they are not authorized to see. This can allow hackers to steal data or compromise the website.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Restrict access to sensitive files and directories.
- Use a web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious requests.
Clickjacking Attacks
Clickjacking attacks occur when a hacker tricks a user into clicking on a hidden link or button. This can allow the hacker to perform actions on the user’s behalf, such as transferring funds or revealing sensitive information.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Use a content security policy (CSP) to restrict the embedding of your website content on other websites.
- Educate your users about the risks of clicking on links or buttons that they are not familiar with.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attacks
CSRF attacks occur when a hacker tricks a user into performing an action on a website that they are not aware of. This can allow the hacker to perform actions on the user’s behalf, such as transferring funds or changing their password.
- How to reduce the risk:
- Use a CSRF token to verify that requests are coming from a legitimate source.
- Educate your users about the risks of clicking on links or buttons that they are not familiar with.
Closing thoughts
Website security is an ever-evolving landscape, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date on the latest threats. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of a website attack, understanding the most common types of attacks can help you take proactive steps to protect your website. You should also remember that, no matter how good your internal security might be, allowing your staff to use their own devices on your network could also pose potential problems. Read more about Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) implications here including advice on how to mitigate them.
A professional security company can provide the best defense against these threats. Also, skilled website developers like Deepbluemedia (web designers in Tenerife but that operate globally) will build your site with security in mind, thereby reducing the chances of an attack.
Remember, prevention is always better than cure. If you’re in any doubt, you should definitely consult help from an expert. With hackers now using AI to coordinate attacks, security is becoming ever more complex and involving.
