There are many ways hackers can attack web applications (websites that let you communicate with software via browsers) to steal confidential information or introduce malicious code and even take over your PC or device. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in components like web applications, content-management systems and web servers.
Web app attacks account for an enormous portion of security threats. In the past 10 years, attackers have honed their skills in finding and exploiting vulnerabilities that affect the perimeter defenses of an application. Attackers can bypass most common defenses using techniques like botnets, phishing, and social engineering.
A phishing attack consists of tricking victims into clicking on an email link that has malware. The malware is then downloaded to the victim’s computer, and gives attackers access to systems or devices. Botnets are groups of compromised and infected devices, which attackers use to launch DDoS attacks, spread malware, continue ad fraud, and more.
Directory traversal attacks utilize movement patterns to gain unauthorised access to files, configuration databases, and other files on web pages. In order to protect against this kind of attack requires the proper sanitization of inputs.
SQL injection attacks aim to attack the database that stores important information about a service or website by injecting malicious code that permit it to obfuscate and reveal information that it would not normally reveal. Attackers are then able to execute commands that dump databases, as well as other.
Cross-site scripting attacks (or XSS), insert malicious code on a trusted website to take over the browsers of users. This allows attackers to steal session cookies and confidential information to impersonate users, alter content, and much more.