7 Simple Steps to Protect Your Website from Most Common Cyber Threats

Your web browser has been attacked. Apart from just tricking you in downloading and installing some malicious software programs, attackers primarily target the flaws present within the browser that you use up to the plugins of it so as to compromise your personal computer. Here are 7 simple steps that you can take so as to protect your website from the most common threats and attacks online:

1. Keeping your web browser up to date. Make use of a new and updated web browser and keep it automatically updated. Never use an out of date web browser such as Apple’s Safari for Windows and any previous editions of Microsoft’s IE. The best browsers that you can use are Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
2. Enabling the click-to-play plugins. It will improve the loading of the web pages and it helps you save battery power and CPU cycles. It also comes with some necessary security advantages. With this, attackers will not be able to use the flaws present in the browser you are using including the plugins in the background.
3. Uninstall the unneeded plugins. There can be many plugins that you do not use. You may uninstall them to keep your website safer.
4. Keep your plugins up to date as well. Any plugin that you always use should be kept updated as well just like your web browser. All you need to do is to let their automatic updates feature enabled to keep them updated every now and then.
5. Make use of a 64-bit internet browser. A 64-bit program typically comes with a greater protection from attacks. You must make use of a 64-bit internet browser, thinking that you use a 64-bit edition of Windows. The ASLR or Address Space Layout Randomization becomes more effective if it is used together with a 64-bit program. Google Chrome is available in 32-bit as well as 64-bit version. On the other hand, there is a great chance that you still make use of the 32-bit version that was previously installed on your device. You have to check and find out whether you are using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Google Chrome. If you learned that you are still using the previous version then you should replace it with the 64-bit version. Stable 64-bit version for Firefox is not yet available but you can make use of the developer builds. Mozilla is planning to make a 64-bit version of Firefox that will be made available through the steady network in Firefox 41.
6. Run a program that is against exploitation. An anti-exploit program is something that you can use in order to harden your internet browser against a few of the most typical kinds of attacks. Instead of relying on the antivirus-style blacklist of a specific behavior or software, such kind of program will just prevent some forms of unusual behavior to take place.
7. Beware when using a browser extension. A browser extension is awesome and it is a powerful tool that you can use to customize the web as well as your browser. Also, it is potentially harmful. There are some extensions out there that can insert an advertisement to web pages that you use and perform any other nasty things that you do not want. You may choose to use just some browser extensions only and pick those that will help making your browser run better.

Securing the software of your browse is just a part of this. It is also necessary to avoid those phishing sites or nasty software. Many websites out there attempt to fool you and download viruses or malware instead of the software program that you need.

5 Shortcuts for Choosing the Perfect Vulnerability Scanner in Record Time

Any shop that comes with internet access should scan the network of it and also, the systems on a regular basis for vulnerability. On the other hand, old-fangled tools made it a time-consuming and painful effort. Before we proceed to the six shortcuts for selecting the most ideal vulnerability scanner, it is important to know what vulnerability scanner is.

Vulnerability Scanner – What Is It?

A vulnerability scanner, as the name implies, is something that can be used to scan your system like computer, router or server or network. It also identifies and then reports back on the open ports, active IP addresses & log-ons. A scanner software program compares the details that it detects against the identified vulnerabilities in the database of it or to a 3rd party database like CVE, OSVDB and OVAL. A scanner usually prioritizes those identified vulnerabilities as major, critical or minor. One great thing about the vulnerability scanner is that this can detect the malicious services like Trojans which are listening in on the ports of the system.

Not all the scanners are equal, although. There are many low-end & free vulnerability scanner just scans the system or network and then renders remedial reporting. There are more feature-rich tools which add patch management & penetration testing. On the other hand, there are a lot of scanners both high-end and low-end, suffer from false-negatives and false- positives. A false-positive usually results to an administrator that chases down information regarding a problem which does not exist. A false-negative is worse while it means that the scanner has failed to report or identify something which poses a severe security risk.

You should look for software-based vulnerability scanners which offer targeted reports coming from different devices. You should shop around using the internet and these forms of scanning products usually include target profiling, configuration auditing, penetration testing as well as comprehensive vulnerability analysis.

There are cloud-based vulnerability scanners that provide consistent and on-demand monitoring. With on-demand scanner, there is no installation, maintenance or manual integration needed. All you need is to subscribe to the service and then constitute your scans. Vulnerability scanning has become a need for medium-size and enterprise environments, thinking of a huge number of network segments, servers, firewalls, routers, and other business devices that are used. The attack surface is just extremely spacious not to scan on a regular basis.

Choosing the Best Vulnerability Scanner

1. Permit enough time. It is hard to test for precision within a compressed time frame. It will take time for you to feel comfortable with various configuration strategies and then compare the results. It takes more time to check and then re-check the reports for precision.
2. Use real application and not a public test application.
3. Find a reliable vendor.
4. Choose a vulnerability scanner that offers ease of use.
5. Consider vulnerability variations.

There are many programs out there that you can use to avoid the risks of vulnerability. Just be sure to choose the best. Do your research and know your options.

5 Little-Known Facts That Can Affect Web Application Security

Business applications that hold sensitive information related to business processes and customers are prone to malicious hackers and viruses. Incorporating cost-effective security measures is a must in order to protect this important information and prevent data stealing attacks. If businesses fail to take the necessary web security test measures, they will lose the trust of customers and experience significant losses.

Hackers can use various methods to breach security such as denial of service, SQL injection, cross site scripting and buffer overflow. Vulnerabilities are often used during attacks because it’s easier for hackers to take advantage of these weak aspects. Here are 5 little-known facts that can affect web application security.

1.       99 percent of computers have Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader or Oracle Flash, making them susceptible to exploit kits due to the high level of vulnerabilities present in these types of software. It only takes one click on an infected ad banner to provide a hacker with complete access to the computer. Keeping the software updated or installing a solution that automatically updates the software can be done to protect your computer and sensitive information.

2.       Hackers love social media. People spend a lot of time on social networking sites and tend to click links posted by their friends. Hackers take advantage of this fact.  Some of the most common attacks directed at social media sites are phishing where the hacker tries to get sensitive information such as passwords, credit card info and usernames by posing as a trustworthy entity in a Tweet or Facebook post and social spam that can appear in various forms like malicious links, bulk messages, false reviews and fake friends.

3.       Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of a person into revealing sensitive information or doing actions. It is the favorite way of cyber attackers to manipulate victims and gather information, gain access to systems and commit fraud. Don’t give away sensitive data to strangers or click any malicious links. 

4.       Governments are creating malware and using it in espionage programs or as digital weapons. The malware created by the government makes you more vulnerable to security attacks as it speeds up the development of criminal malware. Cyber attackers do a lot of reverse engineering on malware created by the government and use its technical approach and tactics to develop their own malware. Governments are also trying to restrain people’s right to encrypt sensitive data for the sake of protection against terrorists and cyber criminals. Cyber policies, however, do more harm than good. Learning more about cyber security and keeping tabs on the latest news in the industry is one way of protecting yourself. You can also install an AV solution and a corresponding solution that can boost your protection against security threats and attacks.

5.       Hacktivism is the mutinous use of computer networks and computers to endorse a political agenda. Its ends are often associated with human rights or free speech. The term may have a positive note, but it actually depends on the one using it. Hacktivism can be a vague anti-systemic movement or a politically driven technology hack. It can indicate anti-spam activists or political protest and is the main factor that drives cyber-attacks.

A web security test can confirm if the security processes in the organization comply with the rules and are efficient enough to fight attacks. It ensures that the vulnerabilities are exposed so that these weak aspects are addressed efficiently and accordingly. Web security testing can expose vulnerability to URL redirection, installation path disclosure, cookie manipulation, PHP code injection, file inclusion, SQL injection, Net exception, command execution and script language error. This process helps organizations ensure that their critical processes and sensitive information are safe from malicious hackers and viruses.

The Minimalist Guide to Mobile Application Security: Why Less Can Be More

Mobile applications have become a great help to those who want to take advantage of the latest technology. However, using the latest technology also involves risks. The most common areas where there is threat in security for mobile applications include application provisioning, security monitoring and analysis, user authentication and device management.

Ensuring mobile application security is a must and the “less is more” approach could be more beneficial in achieving this goal. You would think that adding more rules, security tools and safeguards is the best approach. When you take streamlined application design into consideration, you will see why less is more is the better tactic. Try designing mobile applications in a way that the amount of data permitted in device downloads or exposed in apps is minimized. This will help you reduce the risk of revealing sensitive information.

You can also choose what information you will show in a mobile application. For example, you can create a few must have functions or screens instead of presenting large amounts of important data or developing a completely new consumer relationship management system. The best approach is to simplify the mobile app and improve its security and usability.

You can use color codes or icons to limit the information you reveal while expediting navigation. For example, your customers are classified into three levels. Instead of completely defining the full meaning of those levels, a simple color code can give the user a hint about what level a certain customer is in.

Showing a visual icon can deliver information faster in a mobile application. Streamlining the design can also help you display less sensitive information. For example, if an upcoming birthday is noted in the app, the app design could show a simple boxed present image instead of a text reminder. 

It is also important to implement certain security measures. The mobile platform you are using should be equipped with built-in security features that can handle data encryption and allow you to set up authentication and passwords. Some mobile platforms allow applications to be setup so that business information automatically disappears. This feature is particularly beneficial if a device is stolen or lost. If you want to separate your personal information from your business data on your mobile device, there are device management tools that can help you do so. If your device gets stolen or lost, your business data will be deleted right away.

Improving the functionality and security of the mobile app is a must. You have the freedom to choose what you want to reveal in the app. Do not think that including a set of utilities will guarantee the security of your app.  Try using graphical cues and set limits on what can be accessed or downloaded. By doing so, you will be able to develop a mobile app that is more user-friendly and streamlined and reduce security risks for your organization. Design a mobile app with security in mind and don’t forget to test it.

The Future of Penetration Testing: Declaring War on Modern Hacking Techniques

Cyber-attacks have increased. Implementing different security measures is a must for businesses and institutions to ensure that their systems will never become susceptible to any type of penetration. Interruptions in the performance of applications or services can lead to negative press, financial losses, lost customer trust, penalties and fines. A study published by the Ponemon Institute revealed that the average cost of information breach for the affected organization is $3.5 million.

It has become SOP for organizations to conduct penetration testing and vulnerability scans on a regular basis. Such practice is even endorsed by most IT specialists since an attack could lead to disastrous outcomes. Penetration testing assesses an IT infrastructure’s security by safely exploiting vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities may exist in incorrect configurations, hazardous end-user behavior, operating systems and application flaws.

Penetration testing can also help validate the efficiency of defensive mechanism. This process is best conducted by a third party. Ethical hackers are more familiar with possible vulnerabilities than IT professionals who are in charge of running the organization’s network. Their skill and occupation may be the same, but their desired outcome is different.

Importance of Penetration Testing

Also known ethical hacking, penetration testing is conducted by organizations to prevent any attempt to mess with their systems and breach their security. Those performing penetration testing will carry out what attack perpetrators perform, but their main goal is to pinpoint vulnerabilities. The hacking is performed as an important part of the penetration and the one doing it provides periodic reports of how a certain hacking activity is affecting the server security and the website, which is then sent to the organization for proper remediation management.

There are various reasons why organizations should conduct a penetration test.

• Determine if new bugs exist in recently updated software
• Confirm if current control is efficient and properly implemented to secure senior management and IT security handlers
• Determine the weak aspects in the hardware, software and among users in order to create better controls
• Test if the applications being used are vulnerable to attacks
• Develop a strong defense against potential attacks

Security threats haunt web masters every now and then. These problems may arise due to inaccurate configuration, disabling automatic updates and a network security hole in the system. A security breach often happens if proper measures are not taken. Penetration testing should only be conducted by an expert who is known for his integrity and credibility.

How Often Should a Penetration Test Be Performed?

Penetration testing must be conducted on a regular basis to guarantee more consistent network and IT security management. This process reveals how developing vulnerabilities or recently exposed threats may be taken advantage of by attackers. Aside from regularly scheduled assessments and analysis, penetration tests should also be conducted when applying security patches, moving to new office locations, changing end user policies, adding new network applications or infrastructure and applying modifications or upgrades to the existing applications or infrastructure used by the organization.