SQL Injection is one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities for websites and online applications. It occurs when a user adds untrusted data to a database query, for example, when filling out a web form. 

If data injection is enabled, attackers can create user input to steal valuable data, bypass authentication, or corrupt records in your database.

 There are different types of SQL injection attacks, but in general, they all have a similar cause. Untrusted data that the user enters is concatenated with the query string. 

Therefore, user input can change the original intent of the query and lead to numerous security issues. 

In this article, we cover and recommend some best practices for technicians to use in preventing SQL Injection attacks. Keep reading and understand more about these practices! 

Do Not Rely on Client-side Input Validation

Client-side input validation is an excellent practice to prevent SQL Injection attacks. With client-side input validation, you can now prevent invalid information from being sent to your system logic. However, this only works for users who have no bad intentions and want to use the system as designed. 

Providing the user with direct feedback that a certain value is not valid is very useful and simple. Therefore, you should use client-side validation to help your user experience. 

When looking at SQL injection, this is not a method you should trust. You can remove client-side validation by changing some Javascript code loaded in your browser. 

Also, it is very easy to make a basic HTTP call to the backend in a client-server architecture with a parameter that causes an SQL injection. Maybe using tools the old-school curl commands.

You should validate the server-side, preferably as close to the source as possible. In this case, you create the SQL query. Anything a client sends you should be considered potentially harmful. So, in this case, relying on client-side validation for SQL injection is a terrible idea.

Use Database Engines With Restricted Privileges

When creating a database user for your application, you should think about this user’s privileges.

Does the application need to be able to read, write and update all databases? How about truncating or dropping tables? If you limit your application’s privileges on the database, you can minimize the impact of SQL injection. 

It is advisable not to have a single database user for your application, but to create multiple database users and connect them to specific application roles with different privileges. Security issues are likely a ripple effect, so you should be aware of all relationships to avoid heavy damage.

Use Ready-made Instructions and Query Parameterization

Many languages have built-in features available that help prevent SQL injection. When writing SQL queries, you can use something like a ready-made statement to compile the query. 

With a ready-made statement, we can perform query parameterization, which is a technique to dynamically create SQL statements. You create the base query with some placeholders and securely attach user-supplied parameters to those placeholders.

When using a real ready-made statement and parameterized queries, the database itself actually takes care of the escape. First, it builds the query execution plan based on the query string with placeholders. 

In the second step, the (untrusted) parameters are sent to the database. The query plan is already created, so the parameters no longer influence this. This avoids the injection completely.

Ransomware attacks are one of the biggest fears of companies today. Imagine having to use your business resources to pay cybercriminals. This is a reality that happens.

However, in case your company suffers a ransomware attack, what is the best option: To pay or not to pay the ransom? That is exactly what we will talk about in this article.

Keep reading and understand how to handle this type of situation.

What is a Ransomware Attack?

A ransomware attack consists of blocking data from computers and servers through encryption.

The hacker blocks this data and demands the payment of the ransom through a type of digital currency, such as Bitcoin.

The promise made is that the data will only be released when the ransom is paid.

How Does a Ransomware Attack Work?

One of the biggest risks to a company’s information security is cyberattacks, as hackers are aware of possible system security flaws due to data transfer between the various devices connected to the server.

The moment a hacker identifies a security loophole in the system, they prepare their attack.

As far as ransomware is concerned, computer files are encrypted and ransom is requested for the data to be released again.

It is possible to fix these flaws before hacker attacks happen through system updates, but this does not always happen in a timely manner and hackers are usually quite quick in their actions.

One of the ways to avoid ransomware is to keep operating systems always up-to-date, as malware easily invades when it perceives a system failure.

Another way ransomware attack can happen is through phishing which, in practice, occurs through an email sent with a strange attachment or code to your inbox.

This email arrives disguised as a known sender, such as an employee of the company itself, causing a person to open the attachment without so much suspicion.

By clicking on such an attachment, the virus gains access to all computers and devices connected to the system and the ransomware begins to encrypt the files until they are all taken “hostages”, and remain so until the desired payment is made to the cybercriminals.

It is important to mention that, although the hacker promises to release access to the data after payment, this may not happen, as these people are not trustworthy to simply believe their words without guarantees.

Also take the opportunity to read: The pillars of information security: part 2

Learn How to Handle a Ransomware Attack

In case a ransomware attack happens in your company, you must immediately notify the IT team who will be responsible for finding the last backup performed on the system.

When it occurs at home, the ideal is to disconnect the computer from the network and look for a professional who is an expert in information security to help you solve the problem.

One of the ways to protect yourself from these hacker attacks is to have an antivirus in your system, always kept up to date, in addition to performing regular backups of your data, preparing for possible losses in the future.

To Pay or Not to Pay for a Ransomware Attack?

Experts on the subject defend the idea that not paying for ransomware attacks is the best option because, as already mentioned, cybercriminals offer no guarantee that they will release the data later.

In some cases of this malware, it is entirely possible to solve the problem with the use of a good antivirus, for example.

When it comes to recovering data such as personal photos, legal documents, medical reports, and such, you must decide between the risk of paying and getting them back or not.

In the end, the most appropriate way to avoid these hacker attacks is to keep your system constantly protected by antivirus and security tools that cover cyberattacks like this one.

Furthermore, it is important to keep backups always up to date and your data stored in the cloud as another secure way to protect yourself.

It is worth noting that making payment for this type of hacker attack may even be considered illegal, as threats to sell or disclose confidential information on the dark web is a form of extortion, which is a crime under the law, as reported on Welivesecurity.

This is one of the cases where relying on a company that specializes in digital solutions becomes essential for good performance and data security in your company.

Was this content useful for you? Also read: Is Your Company Really Prepared for a Cyberattack?