Introduction to web security

Web security is an essential part of web development as it aims to protect data and systems from attacks and unauthorized access. One of the basic measures for securing websites is the use of HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), which uses SSL/TLS encryption to encrypt data traffic between the server and the user, thus preventing sensitive information from being intercepted.

Another important aspect of web security is protection against common threats such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). With SQL injection, attackers use security gaps in the database query to gain unauthorized access to databases. The use of secure programming techniques such as prepared SQL statements helps to prevent this. With XSS, malicious scripts are infiltrated into trustworthy websites in order to steal user data. Effective protection consists of validating and filtering user input.

Strong authentication measures such as implementing two-factor authentication and using strong passwords also help to prevent unauthorized access. It is also advisable to use session management techniques to ensure that sessions expire properly and are logged off when they are no longer active.

Regular security updates and server configuration checks are crucial to eliminate known vulnerabilities and avoid unwanted gaps in the system. The implementation of web application firewalls (WAF) offers additional protection against targeted attacks by filtering suspicious requests.

By following these basic principles of web security, developers and operators can significantly reduce the risk of security incidents and ensure the protection of users and their data.