Cyberattacks are becoming more and more complicated. The days of motherboard melting code and hard drive shredding Java are long gone. Now, hackers use attacks like trojans and SQL injection to more subtly manipulate your data.
By now, you’re probably wondering, “what’s an SQL injection, and how do I stop it from happening?”
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
What Is a SQL Injection Cyber Attack?
SQL injections are hard to spot and extremely dangerous. These kinds of attacks piggyback off your logins, admin permissions, and browsing habits to add custom, malicious code into secure areas.
Think about this like getting into a party you weren’t invited to by proudly proclaiming, “I’m With Them!”
If the bouncer/security is new (or not very gifted), you should get into whatever party you want with relative ease.
If you can picture that scenario, then you know precisely how an SQL Injection works.
Additionally, SQL’s commonly target specific elements and take certain actions.
Areas SQL Injections Target
SQL Injection attacks target data about you, data about your computer, areas on your computer that require an administrative level of clearance to edit, and the operating system. All of these avenues let SQL Injections create protocols and snippets of code you can’t easily get rid of without re-installing your OS.
Areas SQL Injections Modify
SQL Injection attacks will try to modify your computer’s database, data recovery, and your operating system. SQL Injections modify and compromise the heart of your system.
How to Minimize the Chance You’ll Experience an SQL Injection
Just like installing firewalls, SQL injections require some special optimization on your side to make your data as safe as possible. However, these three simple steps should prepare you for any SQL that might start probing your defenses. Those SQL injection prevention steps are:
Minimize Using Dynamic SQL Queries
It’s important to remember that SQL, in and of itself, is not a type of virus. SQL is a structured query language used to share and manage data, particularly data that is found in relational database management systems. SQL Injection flaws are introduced when software developers create dynamic database queries that include user supplied input. To avoid SQL injection flaws, developers need to either: a) stop writing dynamic queries; and/or b) prevent user supplied input which contains malicious SQL from affecting the logic of the executed query.
Restrict Database Permissions
It’s true that two heads are sometimes better than one. Not here though! The most dangerous thing you can do to your databases is to allow unfettered access to your most valuable information.
So, allow a trusted few to access your company’s data and no one else.
Limit Fillable Error Messages/Add Entry Limits
Say you’re logging into your bank and you’ve forgotten your password. As soon as the “Oops, looks like that’s the wrong password” popup appears, a hacker/SQL injection attack can attempt to brute force their way through the login portal.
Many high-security entities only give you three guesses after you’ve run into an incorrect login error message. So, if you have the option to limit data entry attempts, you should as well.
Got It? Good. It’s Time To Stop SQL Injection Attempts!
The more you practice digital vigilance, the better off you’ll be when a digital attack actually does target your system. What’s more, you can believe us when we say that the last thing you want to do is wait around until an attack happens to beef up your security!
The sooner you put measures in place to stop SQL injection attacks, the better.
Have any questions about setting up a good SQL injection defense strategy? Reach out! We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Pegasus Technologies is the IT Team for organizations that don’t need a full-time IT department. Our technology experts build you a technology plan to keep your business running at its best. We have offices in Kennett Square, PA, Media, PA, and Wayne, PA to provide better computer support and IT services to you.
