In the past decade, a lot of people have utilized the Web to communicate and conduct business with their customers. This includes the use of web-based apps that collect and store data such as customer information that is submitted via content management systems shopping carts, inquiry or submit forms, and login fields.
Because these applications are connected to the Internet and are often accessible from any location in the world, they are susceptible to attacks on security that exploit weaknesses in the application’s infrastructure. For instance, SQL injection attacks (which exploit weaknesses in the database) can result in compromised databases that contain sensitive data. Attackers may also use the security of an Web application to identify and gain access to other, more vulnerable systems on your network.
Other typical Web attacks include Cross Site Scripting attacks (XSS) that exploit vulnerabilities in the web server to inject malicious code into web pages, and it executes as an infected program in the victim’s browser. This allows attackers access to confidential information or redirect users to websites that offer phishing. Web forums, message boards, and blogs are prone to XSS attacks.
Distributed attacks on service (DDoS) involve hackers banding together to overwhelm a website with more requests than it can handle. This can cause the page to lag or even shut down completely in a way that hinders the ability of the site to process requests and render it inaccessible for everyone. This is the reason DDoS attacks are particularly devastating for small businesses that depend on their websites to run in local establishments, like bakeries or restaurants.