Cybersecurity has constantly been a battleground where the adversary’s toolkit is becoming increasingly sophisticated. These breaches are becoming more intelligent, quicker, and more expensive, all thanks to the emergence of generative AI and the absence of a proactive security mindset.
Previously, it sufficed to repel sporadic malware with a basic antivirus sweep. Presently, we are engaged in a high-stakes contest where the opponent keeps evolving. To outmaneuver these virtual foes, Avya Chaudhary, in an article for TechRepublic Premium, examines the prevalent cybersecurity threats and effective countermeasures.
Highlighted excerpt from the document:
2. SQL INJECTION
SQL injection involves exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to run malevolent SQL commands. This cunning breach can reroute query outcomes to an external server or intercept the outcomes of the malevolent SQL statement through the same conduit as the original request.
The aim is to tamper with input data to access sensitive information without authorization, alter data, and even execute remote administrative directives.
How to thwart SQL injection?
Quarantine user input before any malicious script infiltrates your database. Employ parameterized queries and stored procedures as the primary strategies to segregate the composition of the SQL query from the user-supplied data. Instead of directly incorporating user input into the SQL command, consider leveraging placeholders. This way, the database treats the input as data rather than code, effectively impeding potential breaches.
Develop stored procedures for routine database tasks and invoke them from the application. This method encapsulates the database logic, shielding it from direct exposure to potential threats. By invoking these stored procedures through the application, you construct a secure conduit, shrinking the attack surface and safeguarding sensitive data.
Consolidate patch management mechanisms to ensure all systems remain up-to-date and vulnerabilities are promptly rectified.
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