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How to Protect Your Applications Against SQL Injection Attacks?
With internet fraud and theft on the rise, companies that sell goods and services online are expected to update their security software and features frequently. In fact, there is a set of strict rules and regulations called the PCI DSS that all internet sellers must abide by. In this article we are going to discuss a common technique of internet thieves called SQL injection attacks SQL stands for Structure Query Language. It is a common set of codes that can be used by hackers to exploit the security vulnerabilities of a database. These attacks often occur when an application uses SQL statements to connect to the company’s database. Unfortunately, most current security programs cannot protect the database from SQL attacks.
What is the point? Once an unscrupulous user has gained access to your database, he is free to execute whichever commands he wants. And when it comes to the typical internet thief, he will be looking for financial and personal information, such as credit card and social security numbers.
There are three common vulnerabilities that make your database more susceptible to these attacks. They include: weak input validation codes, no type-safe parameters and no restrictions on database logins. Fortunately, there are several things that a business can and should do to protect his clients.
How to proceed? Begin by using a list of acceptable characters to restrict input. Use specific parameters for all data access and select an account that is least privileged and that has limited access to the database. Using simple stored procedures and putting parameters on SQL commands is suggested because they ensure that SQL will be type safe. It is also possible to use character escaping tricks when SQL is unavailable. In the end, protecting your database from SQL injection attacks only takes a few simple steps. There is no costly software to purchase and the work can be completed in a matter of minutes.