Software security is a non-negotiable in this age of information technology. Being aware of the biggest software security threats that could turn your project upside down is vital. We explore the dangers of software safety in this article.
Tech innovations are changing many industry landscapes today. As such, digital transformation impacts many industries and institutions—from eCommerce to government intelligence agencies.
In this entry, we will detail the biggest software security threats that every software team should be aware of. As such, software development teams can work around these risks and better prepare for any potential breaches.
Let’s start by detailing the top 9 most common security risks in software development.
Top 9 Biggest Threats to Software Security in 2022
As impressive as technology gets, it’s not immune to threats. And while some may argue that digital activities are too risky, the pros of technology still outweigh the cons.
So, the best thing to do is safeguard your digital systems with utmost protection and security. With much at stake, information security should be paramount in every software system. Here are the biggest software security threats in 2022 to watch out for.
1. Credential Reuse attack
This happens when hackers obtain user credentials from a consumer website and sell them to bidders on the dark web. They then use the credentials on other consumer websites to see if they can get a hit and manipulate the account.
2. Man-in-the-middle attack
When a site’s user information is not entirely encrypted, this could expose them to vulnerabilities of a man-in-the-middle attack. There are packet sniffers that hackers release to find possible unencrypted data. As a result, they can hack a user’s account because the site exposed their data.
3. Phishing
Phishing has long been one of the most malicious hacking activities in the age of digitalization. This happens when an attacker poses as a reputable company to elicit an individual’s personal information.
Most hackers use bank companies as a front to make an individual input their credentials or passwords. Afterwhich, they use the information to complete a transaction or transfer using the account. This scheme is a common example of fund phishing.
4. DDoS attack
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack occurs when an attacker sends loads of packets to your servers causing massive traffic. Imagine an airline booking site that’s failing during the duration of its sale or promotion. This same website behavior happens when there is a DDoS attack.
The defining trait, however, is that there is a highly abnormal amount of traffic. Server administrators need to prepare their software systems to protect and handle such an attack.
5. Cloud Service attacks
With a lot of companies shifting to remote work, so is the adoption of cloud services and infrastructure. This now poses a new opportunity for hackers to attack cloud services that haven’t fully secured their platform in new infrastructures.
Attackers can target services and exploit them to gather important data. One must be wary when using cloud services before applying them to their processes.
6. Supply Chain attacks
This is a type of cybersecurity attack that targets less secure elements within a supply chain. For example, you’re using a 3rd-party ad service on your eCommerce website. This ad service could be a doorway for attackers to get into your system.
As more companies use the said ad service, it could impact the entire supply chain of online stores and websites. Before choosing a 3rd-party service, you need to ensure that it is secure and reputable.
7. Ransomware attacks
Ransomware is a kind of malicious software (malware) that encrypts an individual’s files. So when this happens, victims cannot access their files until they get decrypted. The malware asks the victim to send money, usually in a cryptocurrency, so they can get a decryption code. Thus, the term “ransom”.
One example would be the WannaCry outbreak in 2017. It happened when attackers hacked into over 200,000 computers in over 150 countries globally. Companies can secure their processes by implementing computer policies that avoid sites or software unrelated to work.
8. New risks introduced by Mobile devices
Probably one setback in remote work is the Bring-Your-Own-Device to work setup. This is common when hiring freelance developers who station all their work on their personal computers.
In this case, the vulnerability lies in the sites they visit or applications they download. Attackers often use social media or mobile ads to gain access permissions on target devices.
To avoid the risk of mobile device attacks, you can provide company-issued equipment to your software developers. The other alternative would be to back up all important files and applications in a secure cloud platform.
9. API threats
Nowadays, software development relies mainly on application programming interfaces (APIs) to enable system communication. As APIs become mainstream, attackers seek gaps in API usage to penetrate vulnerabilities.
Developers configure APIs to facilitate communication and actions between nodes of a software system. When an API attack happens, the hacker usually targets weak API configurations and bypasses secure information encrypted in the application layer. To avoid such incidents, software developers must implement proper data encryption or hashing.
Build Secure Software Today
One daunting challenge for many companies today is hiring reliable software developers to build secure software projects. Add to this challenge the drastic shortage of stateside developers, saturating the recruitment market further.
In this sense, you can hire top-notch software developers but, often, at a higher cost.
Fortunately, you can now jump into today’s trends of hiring offshore software development partners in a safe and effective way. Offshore software development provides affordable software services without compromising quality. So while at that, you need to look for reliable companies to partner with.
Partner with Full Scale!
If you’re looking for a reliable offshore software development partner, Full Scale is for you. We are a US-based company in the heart of the Midwest with offshore operations in the Philippines.
Our continually growing client base is a testament to the excellent software solutions we provide. We have provided over 1.5 MILLION HOURS of service hours to our global clients. You are sure to avoid today’s biggest software security challenges when you partner with Full Scale!
We have a pool of dependable software talent that underwent a stringent hiring process. Our recruitment team performs background checks, interviews, and skills assessments to ensure top-notch hires. Once employees onboard, we issue work equipment to avoid the setbacks of using their devices, especially those mentioned above.
