Cybersecurity has always been an arms race where the enemy’s arsenal is more sophisticated than ever. These attacks are getting smarter, faster, and costlier, thanks to the advent of generative AI and the lack of an offense-based security culture.

Once, it was enough to fend off the occasional virus with a simple antivirus scan. Now, we’re locked in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse where the mouse keeps getting bigger. To outsmart these digital adversaries, Avya Chaudhary, writing for TechRepublic Premium, looks at the most common cybersecurity threats ​​and how you can fight back.

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2. SQL INJECTION

SQL injection is a technique that exploits vulnerabilities in web applications to execute malicious SQL statements. This sneaky attack can redirect query results to an external server or receive the results of the malicious SQL statement within the same channel as the original request.

The idea is to manipulate input data to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, modify data, and even execute remote administrative commands.

How to prevent SQL injection?

Isolate user input before a malicious code infects your database. Parameterized queries and stored procedures are your best bet to separate the SQL query’s structure from the user-provided data. Instead of directly inserting user input into the SQL statement, you can also use placeholders, so the database starts treating the input as data, not code, effectively blocking potential attacks.

Create stored procedures for common database operations and call them from the application. This approach encapsulates the database logic, shielding it from direct exposure to potential attacks. By calling these stored procedures from the application, you create a secure interface, reducing the attack surface and protecting sensitive data.

Centralize patch management solutions to ensure all systems are up-to-date and vulnerabilities are patched promptly.

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TIME SAVED: Crafting this content required 20 hours of dedicated writing, editing, research, and design.