In the past decade, millions have used the Web to communicate and conduct business with their customers. This includes web-based applications that collect and store information. This includes customer information that is submitted via content management systems such as online shopping carts, inquiry forms or login fields.
They are usually accessible via the Internet and can be hacked to exploit vulnerabilities within the application or its supporting infrastructure. For example, SQL injection attacks (which exploit weaknesses in the database) could result in compromised databases that hold sensitive information. Attackers can also leverage the security of the security of a Web application to identify and gain access to other, more vulnerable systems on your network.
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) is another common Web attack type. This exploits weaknesses in web servers to inject malicious code in web pages. The script is then executed in the victim’s web browser. This enables attackers to gain access to confidential information, or redirect users to sites that offer phishing. Web forums, message boards, and blogs http://neoerudition.net/avg-antivirus-review are particularly susceptible to XSS attacks.
Distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) involve hackers banding together to bombard a website with more requests than it is able to handle. This can cause a web page to slow or even shut down completely that compromises its ability to handle requests, rendering it unusable for all users. DDoS attacks can be devastating to small-scale businesses, such as local bakeries or restaurants that depend on their websites for operations.