Probably everyone has heard about the increased danger on the internet that comes in the form of cyber crime, malicious codes, social engineering like phishing and network spoofing etc. But have you ever thought that these web security threats could have been avoided only if the software developers made some decisions differently when creating a software development solution?
Read more: What services does a software development company provide?
Well, this thought might be new not only to you, but also to software developers. So let’s look at 10 key takeaways from the secure software development process that every software developer should use to ensure that software is secure:
1. Make sure the components you use are safe.
- This is one of the most common mistakes made by software development companies that compromises the data security of software users. While on the one hand such components may seem reliable and safe to use, if they are not updated regularly, it is a red flag. Regular updates can help prevent problems caused by system vulnerabilities. However, even this does not guarantee complete safety. Therefore, in order to minimize the possible risk, it would be worthwhile to use third-party components as little as possible.
2. Think twice before using third-party tools.
- The reason you should do this is the same as for using third-party components. Their use makes it difficult or impossible to ensure information security. And this means that every component or tool used becomes, in a way, a place for hackers to break into. Meanwhile, the fewer possible entry points left for hackers, the safer it is for software users. So think carefully before using third-party tools. Otherwise, you could quickly regret making quick decisions. And removing the consequences can be time-consuming and expensive.
3. Don’t share sensitive information.
- Sometimes developers leave some information in the comments that might also be useful to hackers. This is a mistake that is usually not made on purpose. It’s just recklessness, but it definitely puts the information a hacker needs on a plate. What could be better, right? That’s why it doesn’t take long for them to take advantage of comments left by developers. So the advice is to always check carefully whether you are leaving any sensitive data.
4. Keep confidential information safe.
- For those who ask how to do it, the answer is – use cryptography. It is a secure communication technique that ensures that only the sender and the intended recipient of a particular message can see it. This means that such information becomes unavailable to third parties. For example, VPN software works on the same principle. Establishes an encrypted connection between the user’s computer and the Internet. This means that no one can see the information that he sends or receives. Even if it was your Internet provider, government officials, hackers, etc.
5. Do not provide detailed error messages.
- Why is it significant? This is because providing detailed information can be like reaching out to an attacker. Although at first glance it is only technical information that cannot be used for malicious purposes, it could be worth its weight in gold for an attacker. Therefore, to ensure security, you should always follow the rule – less information about an error for the user is always better than more. By using it, you will be able to protect yourself from cyber attacks more often than you can imagine.
6. Manage memory properly.
- It’s an extremely important tip for custom app development services that every developer should have framed and hanging above their desk! Improper memory management is one of the weakest parts of software that opens the door to malicious attacks. So you should make sure you don’t use any functions that have vulnerability issues, to double check that input strings are truncated correctly, and also check that the buffer size is sufficient for overflows. Proper memory management can go a long way in protecting users’ personal data, so why not take advantage of it?
7. Forget about backdoor access.
- Usually, software developers add such access within the system because of the other benefits it has. It is completely understandable why they choose him. However, one should stick to the saying that if there is an entrance, there will come a time when someone will try to use it. Although it can be called a handy tool for software developers, it is also a major risk factor that increases the possibility of hacker attacks. Therefore, if you have backdoor access, get rid of it as soon as possible. It could be one of the best decisions to increase security.
8. Pay attention to database security.
- It will prevent threats in custom software development. The question is – where to start? First and foremost, you should use parameterized queries to secure database access credentials, turn off database features that aren’t really needed, disable default accounts that aren’t business-critical, and ensure that administrator passwords are strong and are renewed regularly. You really knew it was important to do all this. But do you apply these steps in your daily practice?
9. Validation of entries.
- It is performed to ensure that only properly formatted data enters the workflow in the information system. Also, to avoid retaining faulty information in the database, which could cause various downstream components to malfunction. It cannot be used as the main and primary method to prevent Injection, XSS, SQL attacks. But it definitely reduces their impact. So if you’re choosing between using input validation or not, it’s always better to give it a chance. Who knows, maybe it will be a vital tool to counter a hacker attack?
10. Output coding.
- It is like a shield against XSS attacks. What is XSS? Commonly referred to as multi-page scripting. It is a web attack that involves delivering malicious code to the user and injecting client-side scripts into other web pages. To use output encoding correctly, software developers must pay attention to how data is displayed on a particular page. Also, output encoding should be used in case there is data that could come from user input. This defensive programming technique works very well when defending against scripting attacks in different places. That’s why every developer should think about its use.
Read more: Top skills software development companies are looking for in 2022
Conclusion
All in all, these 10 tips for software development services listed above could be key to keeping software users’ personal information private. Although these security tools do not guarantee that you will never face cyber attacks, they reduce the risk of facing them by at least 10 times or more.
Of course, an abundance of security measures doesn’t mean that hackers won’t test the strength of your software’s protection. They probably will. However, carefully selected and constantly updated tools will ensure that the process of trying to get in is much more difficult or even impossible. So, do everything in your power to make it so!