Many sectors in the human race are being digitized; websites are now becoming a hub for storing data and information. This convenient means can be said to have taken over classifying data via paper and pencils.

This digital age still, however, presents its risks. Website hackers can attack your website in various ways.

For prevention purposes, you have to understand how the attacks happen

Cross-site scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting is a major vulnerability that hackers often exploit for website hacking. Unfortunately, it is one of the more difficult vulnerabilities to deal with because of how it works.

Most XSS website hacking attacks use malicious Javascript scripts that are embedded in hyperlinks. Hackers often will insert these malicious links into web forums, social media websites, and strategic locations where end-users will click them.

When the user clicks the link, it automatically steals their personal information or takes over a user account on that particular website. They might even change the ads being displayed on the page.

There are three main types of XSS attacks:

• Reflected XSS;  in this case, the corrupt script comes from the HTTP request.
• Stored XSS, the corrupt script comes from the website’s database.
• DOM-based XSS, where the entry window exists only on the client-side code and not the server.

To avoid XSS attacks, users must carefully filter their inputs on various websites.

THROUGH SQL INJECTIONS

SQL means structured query language. It is used to interact with databases. It also allows the website to create, retrieve, update, and delete database records. It is used for everything from logging a user into the website.

This website hacking technique is a very common one. An SQL injection attack places SQL into a web form to get the application to run it.

Wikipedia says, “SQL injection is a code injection technique used to attack data-driven applications, in which malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for execution” This can allow a hacker to gain access to a restricted section of a website. Other SQL injection attacks can be used to delete data from the database or insert new data.

SQL injection attacks allow these attackers to spoof identity and mess with the existing data; this attack allows them to change or erase any data on the system.

The attackers can also make it unavailable so that they become the admin of the data. This malicious attack has affected so many websites, both present, and past.

An example is the 2005 Taiwanese information security magazine hack, where a teenager used an SQL injection to break into their site and then stole customers’ information. This presented a huge flaw in their security.