Web security threats are internet-borne cybersecurity risks that can expose users to online harm and result in unwanted actions or events. The issues can be highly damaging to both businesses and individuals.
Computer viruses, data theft, and phishing attacks are common web security threats. Website security issues, while not limited to online activity, involve cyber criminals using the internet to cause harm to victims. They typically cause problems such as computer and network access denial, unauthorized access to and use of corporate networks, data theft and exposure, and unauthorized changes to computers and networks.
With the rise of faster mobile networks and smart devices, web security threats and approaches have become more sophisticated. Increased web adoption via widespread communication and productivity tools, as well as the Internet of Things (IoT), has outpaced most businesses’ and end-users security awareness and readiness.
These web security issues will only worsen as people become more reliant on the internet, opening up new opportunities for attackers.
The Economic Impact of Web Security Breach
Web security threats can have a significant impact on businesses of all sizes. Global cybercrime expected to cause $6 trillion in damage by 2021, making it the world’s third-largest economy if measured as a country.
The following are the most significant effects that web threats can have on businesses:
Financial Outlay
Knowing that web security threats abound compel businesses to strengthen their defenses, secure their data and users, and implement tools and processes to mitigate any damage caused by an attack. This includes the cost of cybersecurity expertise and technology solutions, public relations assistance, and insurance premiums.
In the event of a successful attack, organizations may incur additional financial costs to:
Repair any damage caused by an attack
Pay ransom fees to recover frozen or stolen data. Notify affected parties if a breach occurs.
Regulatory bodies may also incur fines if organizations fail to comply with data privacy and security legislation. When this occurs, they must also pay for legal representation. Web security issues can also cause organizations to lose revenue as customers shift their business elsewhere.
Business Operations Have Been Interrupted
Because threat actors infect networks and systems with malware, delete critical business data, and install malicious code on servers, web security threats can cause significant disruption to regular business operations. Business disruption is a popular tactic used by hacktivists who attempt to breach the networks of major corporations and government agencies to make a point.
A successful attack can also have severe consequences for one’s reputation. This type of damage may be more challenging to quantify. Still, web threats in network security that result in data loss can lead to customers losing trust in an organization and switching to a competitor, resulting in a loss in market value.
Loss of Intellectual Property (IP)
IP, such as corporate strategies, product designs, and technologies, is one of a company’s most critical and valuable assets. This information is helpful to attackers, who frequently use web security threats to steal or sell corporate intellectual property.
Threats to Web Security in Network Security: Common Attack Methods
Cybercriminals use a variety of methods to circumvent web security. Some of the most common types of web security threats are as follows:
Phishing
They impersonate a trusted sender to trick the user into disclosing sensitive information such as account numbers, credit card information, and login credentials. A successful phishing attack can also lead to cyber criminals gaining unauthorized access to corporate networks and stealing business data.
Phishing is most commonly committed via email, the most critical attack vector.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware in which an attacker holds the victim’s data or computer hostage. Unless the victim pays a ransom fee, the attacker threatens to block access to, corrupt, or publish the data.
Ransomware attacks are typically launched via phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links that direct the user’s computer to download malware. The malware infects the device, looking for files to encrypt and preventing users from accessing them. It is also spread through drive-by downloading, which occurs when users visit an infected website and unknowingly download malware onto their devices.
Injection of SQL
Structured Query Language (SQL) is a programming language for searching and querying databases. It is a web security threat in which attackers exploit application code vulnerabilities.
SQL injection attacks have successfully exploited flaws in shared codebases such as WordPress plugins. A deficiency in the code can lead to the hacking of hundreds of thousands of websites that use the code. Attackers use this web security vulnerability to steal corporate data, such as customer files and financial information.
Site-to-Site Scripting
Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a type of web security vulnerability that allows attackers to run malicious scripts on trusted websites. An XSS attack uses web applications or pages to submit malicious code and compromise user interactions. The attacker can then steal a user’s identity and use it to commit evil acts, gain authorized access to corporate information, or steal their data.
In XSS attacks, the script used prevents browsers from detecting malicious activity. As a result, the attacker has complete access to the user’s cookies, sensitive data, and session tokens stored in their browser.
DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack
A DDoS attack is a web security threat in which attackers flood servers with large amounts of internet traffic to disrupt service and take websites offline. The sheer volume of fake traffic overwhelms the target network or server, rendering it inaccessible.
Disgruntled employees or hacktivists who want to cause harm to an organization by taking their server offline are common perpetrators of DDoS attacks. Others are carried out for the pleasure of exploiting cyber vulnerabilities, and many DDoS attacks are financially motivated, such as specific organizations stealing information from their competitors. They can also be used in ransomware attacks.
Worms and Viruses
Malicious programs that spread through computers and networks are known as viruses and worms. Both take advantage of software flaws that allow attackers to steal data from systems. Viruses can also install backdoors into systems, allowing an attacker to gain unauthorized access, corrupt files, and cause widespread damage to a company.
Worms, in particular, consume vast amounts of computer memory and network bandwidth, causing servers, systems, and networks to overload and fail. Worms can operate independently and spread between systems, whereas viruses require a host computer to perform malicious activity.
Spyware
Spyware is malware that collects data from users and their devices and sends it to third-party individuals without their permission. Spyware typically collects sensitive information and distributes it to advertisers, data collection firms, and cyber criminals who can profit from it.
It is difficult to detect and can cause significant damage to devices and networks. It can also expose a company to data breaches, degrade device and network performance, and stifle user activity.
