CYBERSECURITY: WHAT SHOULD A BUSINESS CONSIDER TO PROTECT ITS WEBSITE

The development of the internet and technological advancement, along with new opportunities, have also created new threats. Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury today and is a vitally important concern for businesses of any size.

When the internet started its mass expansion, viruses and hackers appeared immediately. Initially, such programs were mainly created as a joke or by enthusiastic programmers to demonstrate their capabilities. However, over time, when big money and commercial interests gathered on the internet, hacking became an organized and highly profitable criminal industry.

The statistics are truly thought-provoking. According to data from various international cybersecurity organizations, more than 30,000 websites become victims of hacker attacks globally every day. The latest research shows that a cyberattack occurs on average once every 39 seconds in the internet space. Beginner entrepreneurs often think – "My business is small, why would hackers be interested in me?" This is one of the most common and dangerous myths, because the majority of attacks are not directed against a specific company; hackers use automated scripts and bots that search for vulnerable websites all over the internet. For them, the main thing is to find an "open door", which they will subsequently use for their own purposes.

WHAT DO WE PROTECT YOU FROM? – THE MOST COMMON CYBER ATTACKS

When creating a website, our development team cares not only about the design and functionality but also about the highest standards of security. When it comes to protection, several main threats emerge, the prevention of which is our team's primary task:

1. SQL Injection (SQLi) – TAKING OVER THE DATABASE

This is one of the most dangerous and common attacks. SQL Injection happens when a hacker sends malicious code directly into the database from the forms existing on the site (for example, a search field or an authorization form). If the site is not adequately protected, the attacker can delete, modify, or completely download your database – users' personal information, passwords, and financial data. Our developers protect the site from this by using special secure requests (Prepared Statements), which excludes the malicious code from reaching the database!

2. DDoS Attack – ARTIFICIAL OVERLOADING OF THE SITE

The goal of a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is to paralyze the site's operation. During this time, a hacker sends a multitude of requests simultaneously to your website from thousands or millions of infected computers (a botnet). The server can no longer withstand such a massive flow and shuts down. For a business, this means lost customers, stopped sales, and a damaged reputation. To protect against DDoS, it is necessary to integrate special filters and services (for example, Cloudflare), which block malicious traffic before it reaches the site.

3. XSS Attack – HUNTING FOR USER DATA

During an XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) attack, a hacker leaves a malicious script on the website (for example, in a comment field). When another, real user enters this page, the script executes in their browser and steals their session, cookies, or other personal data. In this way, an attacker can even seamlessly log into the user's, or in the worst case, the site administrator's account. To prevent this, strict filtration of all information entered and displayed on the site is essential.

4. CSRF – FORGING A REQUEST

CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) is an insidious attack during which a hacker forces a user (who is already authorized on your site) to perform a specific action against their own will. For example, a hacker might send you a suspicious link via email; if you click on it, in parallel and hidden from you, the password on your account might be changed or a transaction might be executed. To protect against this, developers use so-called "CSRF tokens" – unique, temporary codes that confirm the action was truly requested by the user and not by a third party.

WHAT SHOULD A BUSINESS DO TO PROTECT ITS WEBSITE?

Although the technical side is the developers' responsibility, business owners also have their role in ensuring the site's security:

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PARTNER: Security starts from the very first day of writing the code. It is essential that the website is built by a team of professionals who understand modern cyber threats well, because using cheap templates and plugins of unknown origin puts the site at a massive risk.
SECURE HOSTING AND SSL CERTIFICATE: Do not save money on a quality server. It is essential that the site has an SSL certificate (the address must start with HTTPS–) so that the information exchanged between you and the user is encrypted.
COMPLEX PASSWORDS AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT: Often, hacking a site happens not through a complex programmatic way, but by guessing a simple password. Use complex passwords and two-factor authentication. Also, control who has access to the administrator panel – for example, access to the administrator for former employees should always be revoked immediately.
REGULAR BACKUPS: Even under the best protection conditions, force majeure is always possible. It is essential for a business to have automatic, daily backups of the website and database so that the site can be restored in the shortest possible time in case of any problem.
CONSTANT UPDATING AND SUPPORT: A website is not a one-time product. Technologies change, and hackers evolve with them. Constant updating of the site's engine, modules, and server software is essential.

Cybersecurity is a process and not a one-time action. Gaining customer trust takes years, but a single successful cyberattack is enough to lose it. That is exactly why caring about site security must be a fundamental part of business development!

If you have decided to create a website for your company, or are looking for a reliable support team for an existing website, browse our portfolio, evaluate our work, and write to us or contact us at the number 📞 032 2 47 07 70