What is SQL Injection Attack?
An SQL injection attack allows cyberattackers to exploit user-input fields and insert malicious code into your database. These cyberattacks are part of an increasing number that focus on illicit access to data. Here’s what you should know.
An SQL injection attack can be carried out on any user input field
A user can manually enter data, but SQL can be used instead. This can be prevented in three ways. These are the three main ways to prevent it. The number of user-input fields that are required to be manually reduced. Validate all data. Protect your database from all cyberattacks, including SQL injection attacks.
In addition to all of the above, it’s strongly recommended to subscribe to a robust website vulnerability scanner.
Reduced number of user-input fields
Simply put, don’t allow your users to enter data manually if you have an alternative. It is unlikely that you will eliminate manual data input, but it may surprise you how much you can reduce it while not making it more difficult for your users.
This is possible by thinking about user experience and IT security. You should consider user acceptance testing. You can ask your employees to test your interface and provide feedback if you are unable to get real users together. You should at least test some of these tests on a mobile device.
Drop-down menus work well when the user needs to quickly scan a list and choose one obvious option, such as their title.
The same function is served by radio buttons and checkboxes. They enable people to compare different options and select the best one. When the user needs to choose only one option, radio buttons work best. Checkboxes work best when there are multiple options.
Although date-selectors can be difficult to use, they are not necessarily impossible to use. You should split the selection into three parts: year, month, day. It is possible to split it into four parts: century, year, and month.
Also, ensure that each component works independently from the others so that users don’t have to deal with the inconveniences of having to reset everything if they make a mistake.
Validating data thoroughly
This basically means that any data you enter must be checked to ensure that it is correct. Cyberattackers are known for being very clever in their attempts to bypass validation checks.
Although file uploads aren’t used very often for SQL injection attacks, they can be used routinely for other attacks, so it is important to monitor them carefully. It’s also highly advisable to limit the size of the files users can upload to avoid leaving a wide-open door for DDoS attacks.
Hardening your database
Hardening your database is an important topic that deserves its own article. Here are some key points. Each person, website, or application who has access to your database needs their own login. These logins, especially admin logins, should be kept to an absolute minimum. They are unlikely to be used by humans and websites or applications will ever need them. Logins should only be granted the minimum access required to accomplish their purpose.
All sensitive data must be encrypted at all times, in every environment and location. The encryption keys must be kept in a separate place from the data. There needs to be a robust data backup strategy that is designed with ransomware protection in mind.
All the security precautions are required for the database server. Good physical security is key to good digital security. This means you need to think about the physical security of your database server and the physical defenses it has.
Register for a website vulnerability scanner
SQL injection attacks are just one type of cyber threat and your company needs protection against them all. Signing up for vulnerability scanning services is strongly advised.
Many vendors offer these services and each one will have its own interpretation. That said, the core of any website vulnerability scanning service will be an anti-malware scanner and a web applications firewall. They do a lot together to protect your website from cyberattacks of all types.
Please click here now to have your website scanned, for free, by cWatch from Comodo.