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Is your website secure?

Updated: Aug 14, 2023

If you own a website in Qatar, you've probably wondered if your site is secure. The truth is that there are no easy answers to this question.


hal open laptop with dim lighting

While some websites are inherently more secure than others—for example, those that don't require an active login and/or password—there are many ways that websites can be compromised by attackers.


Your website is built with many components and there are security vulnerabilities in a large number of them. A website can be secure or insecure at any given time depending on a complex set of factors, including the software that powers it and who's using it.


The web is a complex system: there are lots of different elements that make up our online lives, all interacting with each other to create your experience as you see it today.


Each part has its own vulnerabilities—a server might allow unauthenticated users to access files if configured incorrectly; an email client could have an exploitable vulnerability in its software; even something as simple as not having HTTPS configured properly can open up your site to attackers snooping on traffic from visitors' browsers.


But these aren't just nagging problems—they're real security issues that could affect the way you use your computer or smartphone every day!


There are many different types of attacks that can compromise a website's security. Some common ones include cross-site scripting, SQL injection and cross-site request forgery.


1. Cross-site scripting (XSS) is an attack in which malicious code is injected into a web page that can be viewed by other users. When this happens, the user’s browser will execute the JavaScript code in the same way it would if it were part of your site’s regular operations. The hacker could use XSS to steal sensitive data from your website or even take over control of someone's computer remotely (e.g., forcing them to pay ransom).


2. SQL injection occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted data to manipulate backend databases without authorization. This results in information being compromised or lost altogether; either way, it's not good news for anyone involved!


3. Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) occurs when hackers trick users into doing things they wouldn't normally do on websites they trust—like sharing passwords or clicking links within emails sent by attackers themselves—by exploiting vulnerabilities in session management mechanisms like cookies


Securing website communications using TLS (formerly SSL) is an important part of website security and should be strongly considered. You may also consider the use of HSTS headers to enforce the use of TLS by your users. You should strongly consider this, especially if your website deals with financial or other sensitive user data.


While you may have installed additional security features such as cloud-based web application firewalls, it's possible that they're not configured properly or have been bypassed. While these solutions offer a good layer of protection, they are not foolproof and can be defeated by a skilled hacker.


In addition to this, firewalls can only protect against known vulnerabilities—they cannot defend against unknown attacks. Since your site is constantly being updated with new features and functionality, there's no way for the firewall to know which parts of your site are vulnerable until someone finds them and exploits them in the wild.


Firewalls shouldn't be relied upon as the sole line of defense against attackers; they should instead be treated as one part of an overall security strategy that includes regular penetration testing and secure coding practices.


Security scanning tools can help you find vulnerabilities in your site, but they are only as good as your ability to identify and mitigate risk to your website.


Not all security scanning tools are created equal. Some can help you find vulnerabilities in your site and others will not. The best way to avoid a breach is to start by identifying the risks that could affect your website, then create a plan on how you would address each risk if it were to occur.


After that, begin implementing controls and procedures to mitigate those identified risks while working with your IT team or consultants who specialize in this area of expertise.


By starting with an understanding of the risks associated with utilizing web-based applications such as WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal etc., we can determine which tools might be necessary for our websites' specific needs based upon compliance regulations such as HIPAA/HITECH

Act requirements for healthcare facilities or PCI DSS mandates for merchants accepting payments online through secure payment gateway enabled sites like Authorize Net or PayPal (among others).


Good security requires maintenance.

Security requires maintenance. It's not a one-time thing; it needs to be monitored and updated as new threats arise. If a vulnerability is discovered in your website, you need to fix it fast.


The sooner you do so, the less likely an attacker will take advantage of this weakness - but if your site hasn't been updated since 2013 and you've been hacked before (and we all have), then hackers may know about these vulnerabilities already!


The best way for anyone with an online presence to maintain their security is by hiring professionals who can monitor their sites 24/7 and keep them updated with the latest patches and fixes as soon as they're available.


Conclusion

As we've discussed, there are many elements that make up a website's security. You must consider the use of TLS and HSTS headers, scan your site for vulnerabilities and fix them, as well as consider other security measures such as cloud-based web application firewalls. These are just some of the things you can do to ensure your website in Qatar isn't compromised by attackers.


Subash Manimozhi

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