Hacking is one of the most common cyber attacks that applications suffer. Many cybercriminals have the skills to find vulnerabilities in an application’s codebase and the ability to exploit them for selfish reasons. Software developers must be aware of this and consider it while building their applications.
The knowledge that hackers can find ways to infiltrate applications should motivate developers to implement every security measure at their disposal to protect said applications. It’s also important that they thoroughly test the software under development for vulnerabilities before and after they are launched to the public. Two effective tests to find software vulnerabilities are Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST).
Both forms of testing have their benefits and scenarios where they are best applied. To get a detailed SAST vs DAST breakdown, click the highlighted link. Below, we detail a few ways software developers can prevent hack attempts and other cyber threats from being successful.
Performing regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests
Performing vulnerability scans helps developers discover loopholes in their applications to patch them before hackers use them to gain unauthorized access to software and commit nefarious actions.
Additionally, performing penetration tests will enable them to find ways cybercriminals could have used to break into their software. This process involves cybersecurity professionals acting like hackers and attempting to infiltrate an application. If any hacking attempt during this process is successful, the developers will take steps to plug that vulnerability so real hackers cannot exploit it.
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Enabling multi-factor authentication
Enabling multi-factor authentication on an application adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to enter a one-time code sent to them via text or email after entering their login credentials. This measure ensures that hackers cannot access a user’s account if their login credentials get compromised.
Requiring strong passwords
Many users choose passwords that are easy to remember when creating an account on an application. While this might seem convenient during the signup process, it can compromise the account’s security in the long run because easy-to-remember passwords are often easy for hackers to guess.
Developers should make their applications require users to create strong passwords. This means passwords that are a combination of alphanumeric characters, symbols, and upper and lower case letters.
Notify users of unusual activities
Developers should program their applications to notify users whenever there is an unusual activity on their account. Examples of these activities are login attempts from unrecognized devices or locations and password changes. When users receive these notifications, they can immediately take the necessary steps to prevent their accounts from being hacked.
Hackers have many ways to break into software to carry out their nefarious acts. It is the responsibility of software developers to use the necessary security measures to safeguard their applications and protect their users' data. It is recommended that developers test their applications for vulnerabilities to quickly patch them before they get exploited. SAST and DAST are two forms of testing that every developer should consider using.
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