Category: Security

Developers, ultimately, are writers who speak a machine language. And just like regular copy editors, they make mistakes from time to time. 

When a regular writer gets something wrong, their clients or company slaps them on the wrist and tells them not to do it again. But when a developer makes a mistake, it’s far more serious. Basic errors in code can undermine multi-million-dollar products. 

Therefore, it’s a good idea to know when you might be introducing security vulnerabilities to your software so you can avoid inflicting damage on a project or company. Here are some of the most common mistakes. 

Failing To Test Adequately

Developers can sometimes fail to test their code thoroughly enough to identify and eliminate security vulnerabilities. Consequently, they leave programs and apps open to exploitation by hackers. 

The biggest concern is so-called “zero-day” vulnerabilities, according to learn.g2.com. Malicious actors reveal these within hours of software going live, often causing the launch to fail. 

Testing can reveal these shortcomings ahead of time, making them harder to find and exploit. 

Poor Third-Party Elements

Developers also leave security vulnerabilities in code by using poorly-vetted third-party elements. These tools are necessary to speed up the process, but can also be a Trojan horse, creating unknown issues inside the program. Hackers can then use these to take control of apps and steal user data. 

Lack Of Adequate Encryption

Developers should always build encryption into their websites and programs to protect users. This technology scrambles information, preventing hackers from obtaining it during transit. Ciphers are often too complex to resolve in a human lifetime, even with supercomputers, which is why they are so safe. 

However, if developers don’t include these tools, user protection is non-existent. Hackers can obtain sensitive information rapidly, leaving it vulnerable to interception and theft. 

Lack of Access Control

Sites like postmogul.com discuss cybersecurity issues relating to authentication and access control in detail. Many apps fail to properly curate users, or ensure they provide the right credentials to access the system. In extreme cases, anyone can access administration tools and create havoc. 

Failing To Validate User Inputs

Lastly, some developers may fail to validate user inputs properly, allowing attackers to inject problematic scripts. These could include SQL injection, malicious code, and cross-site scripting. 

Systems should be in place to prevent these inputs from registering. Users should be unable to manipulate the system. 

Conclusion

Because of these threats, developers must be careful. Reducing security risks requires following established coding practices in critical areas, such as access control, error handling, encryption, and input validation. 

Developers must keep their knowledge of the security risks they face up to date. Professionals who don’t know the risks are more likely to put projects and users in danger. 

The key here is to prioritize cybersecurity throughout the development process. Professionals should bake it in from the start instead of tacking it on at the end.

Developers should also understand the consequences of getting cybersecurity wrong. Firms that fail to implement proper controls can find themselves paying huge fines and suffering tremendous brand damage.

Burglaries are incredibly common. And while they might not be as distressing as robberies, they can still make you feel unsafe in your own home. After all, there’s nothing worse than learning that someone has been on your property, rummaging through your drawers. 

Fortunately, though, you can protect yourself against most intrusions. That’s because burglars are quite picky when it comes to victims. They look for soft targets that maximize the chance of payoff. 

Here are some of the things that they look for when choosing a victim (and, by extension, what you’ll want to avoid). 

Failing To Lock Exterior Doors

Many communities never lock their exterior doors. That’s because people believe that they live in a safe community. There’s just no point. 

Unfortunately, clever burglars know this. They sometimes travel hundreds of miles out of the city to steal from a community with low security standards. They’ll arrive in a quiet town, pose as delivery professionals (or something similar), and then check all the exterior doors of properties in the area for an easy break-in. They’ll then grab anything valuable that they can find, put it in their satchel, and leave.

Leaving The Windows Open

On hot days, it is tempting to leave the windows open while you pop out to the grocery store. But, if there are burglars operating in the area, it’s a bad idea. Many climb in through windows at the back and then simply let themselves out of the front door once they finish pilfering all your possessions. 

Lack Of Proper Lighting At Entry Points

Burglars will also look for properties with poor lighting around entry points, particularly at night. The darker your front door is, the less likely it is that anyone will see them break in. The same goes for your windows and backdoor. They’re all potential targets. 

No Sign of Security

If you use security, most burglars won’t risk it. If they see a CCTV camera for home security, they’ll usually pass right on by and target a neighbor instead. 

Unfortunately, many homeowners still aren’t placing CCTV conspicuously around the front of their homes. Consequently, the risk of burglary goes up dramatically. 

No Dogs

Dogs are a real turn-off for burglars. When they start barking, it alerts everyone in the area to what’s going on. What’s more, dogs will often bark longer and harder than usual if they detect someone on your property who shouldn’t be there. And that’s likely to gain even more attention from neighbors and other people in your area. 

No Car In The Driveway

No car in the driveway is a sure sign that the owner is out. And when that’s the case, burglars feel safer breaking and entering. Again, most will knock on the door first, posing as salespeople. If nobody answers, they will then sneak around the back and climb through a window or break down a door. 

The trick here is to prepare yourself. Put up no trespassing and “beware of dog” signs to discourage anyone from victimizing you.

Throughout history, digital platforms have provided organizations with more opportunities to get noticed, grow, and attain greater long-term viability.

Companies may now reach a greater number of customers, increase their market share, penetrate worldwide markets, and establish a strong degree of presence just by being online. Despite the fact that the internet environment provides several potentials for organizations to grow and become more profitable, it also exposes them to a variety of cybersecurity dangers.

According to research, a number of companies throughout the world have been the target of a cyber-attack of some description. Ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, access breaches, and advanced malware are just a few examples of what you might expect.
Despite the crippling effect that cybersecurity attacks have on enterprises, not all business owners are aware of the best practices for protecting their organizations from security dangers and enhancing their online security. Here are five ways that a business owner can utilize to increase security within their organization.

1. Seek the advice of professionals

Security measures are similar to insurance in that you do not realize you are in need of them until something terrible happens.

When a cyber attack occurs, third-party cybersecurity specialists are dispatched to the scene to quickly analyze the situation and implement the necessary security recovery procedures. As a result, if you are overly concerned about the security of your network or cloud, hiring professionals to manage it will save you the stress of dealing with unknown threats and the potential damage to your brand reputation. It also takes the pressure off you if you are not tech-savvy. If you are asking simple security questions such as “what is malware?”, it is wise to consult with an expert.

Other benefits of outsourcing cybersecurity and other areas of information technology include saving you time and money, as well as having access to consistent and up-to-date information about your company’s IT operations and security posture.

2. Use a secure hosting service to protect your data.

The fact that the majority of internet firms have a website increases their chances of success. While it is appropriate for a website to be visually and aesthetically pleasing, what should be more important is that it is safe and protected from hackers.

As a result, before settling on a firm to host your website, check online reviews and conduct your own investigation. In a hosting service, you should search for the following characteristics:

• Servers that are secure
• Personnel who are knowledgeable
• Systems that are dependable
• A track record that has been proven

Select a secure hosting service that includes a TLS certificate to encrypt all traffic to and from your website.  When you use this method, the communication between your website and the customer’s browser is encrypted, making it impossible for hackers to see what is happening. If you go for a more self-service package, make sure you have a technician you can rely on and that you use a service like Cloudflare to increase your security.

3. Use secure passwords

Access to your system is granted by passwords, therefore you must pay close attention to them and verify that they are strong enough to protect your company. A strong password is frequently made up of upper and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and other symbols, and it is rarely used. The longer the password, the better (and more difficult to crack). In recent times, security experts have started recommending the use of pass phrases instead of traditional passwords.

Furthermore, your password should be one-of-a-kind and not easily guessable. You can make use of a collection of unconnected letters and words, but be sure you can recall them quickly when the situation calls for it. The more difficult the password is to guess, the more secure it will be. Even more importantly, you should never send your password or any other information that could allow others to get access to your business by email unless it has been encrypted beforehand.

Third parties cannot decrypt information since it is converted into a secret code by encryption. Because of the format in which they transform the assets, it decreases the likelihood of theft.

4. Make sure your security software is updated regularly

The effectiveness of your security system is proportional to the quality of your software. The use of out-of-date software raises the likelihood of your company being the victim of a cyber-attack and becoming a target for hackers. The fact that you are continuously updating your software to the latest available version helps to safeguard your company from security issues.

Update your software security program, as well as the programs that are installed on your computer and digital devices, on a regular basis. Allowing your software packages to automatically upgrade themselves can make this procedure much simpler. This allows them to automatically install updated versions of themselves. In this approach, cyber thieves will have a more difficult time infiltrating your protection system.

5. Make regular backups of your business data.

Losing corporate data and not being able to recover it might cause your company to suffer a big financial loss. Data backups on a regular basis help to secure critical business assets such as your data. A backup system is a system that stores data and allows you to recover it if necessary. It is possible to easily restore backups of your vital data and files even if you are the victim of a cyber-attack, thereby saving your company from suffering a catastrophic loss.

When it comes to backing up your assets, you should use a variety of backup methods. Use both internal and external backup methods to ensure complete protection. In the event that you need to keep part of your data offsite, external backups might assist you in accomplishing this. Your data will remain protected even if one or more of your network servers are hacked as a result.

Another option for backup is cloud storage.  A cloud storage solution allows you to save your files and documents over the internet, where they are safe from unauthorized access. Cloud computing enables you to save as much information as you want. When uploading your materials to the cloud, though, make certain that they are encrypted. By using encryption, you can make your information safer than if it were left in its raw form.