Web browsers are very important gateways to internet services. They are the primary means through which people access networks and connected systems. So much sensitive information pass through them, from ordinary shopping on the web to advanced technical online operations. Because of its importance to the internet and a large amount of sensitive information and personal data that pass through it, it has become an object of interest for hackers looking for browser vulnerabilities to exploit. We must understand browser vulnerabilities and take steps to secure our browsers. Below are seven vulnerabilities we should take seriously:
- Code Execution Exploits in the Browser: This is a conspicuous and malicious type of vulnerability, it is also the rarest. Hackers occasionally discover vulnerabilities in a browser that allow them to execute an arbitrary binary code when internet users visit a compromised site. Web browsers are made up of complex pieces of system tools with many subsystems such as Javascript engines, image parsers, CSS parsers, HTML rendering, etc. A small coding error in any of these systems could provide an egregious code enough time to start running and proceed to download other malicious packages and steal and send sensitive personal or business data to far distant servers. The hacker does not necessarily need to compromise a legitimate site to launch such an attack. Just executing a code on a network could be used to launch such an attack.
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APT): Over the last few years, APT has gotten a lot of publicity and notoriety as a browser vulnerability. This vulnerability is usually exposed when an attacker secretly installs malicious code at a system’s endpoint and then proceeds to steal users’ data such as browser activities, screenshots, keystrokes, etc., or to modify what a user sees in his or her browser. Because of the clandestine nature of this vulnerability and attack, it could go undetected for years. This type of attack uses several methods to get the code installed and steal sensitive information.
- SQL Injection: This is a browser security vulnerability that allows hackers to exploit or compromise SQL statements by manipulating internet users’ data. Injection happens when the users’ data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command and then tricks the interpreter into executing unintended commands by giving access to unauthorized data. An attacker can inject malicious data into the vulnerable fields and steal sensitive personal data such as user names and passwords and modify the database.
- Insecure Cryptographic Storage: This is a common yet serious vulnerability when sensitive personal data is not securely stored. The user profile information, credit card information, health records, credential, etc., when these details are not improperly stored by not using encryption or hashing (the transformation of a string of characters into shorter strings of fixed length), it becomes vulnerable to hackers. Exploiting this vulnerability, a hacker can steal, and modify data with weak protection to carry out identity theft, privacy violation, credit card fraud, and other internet criminals. This sort of attack could result in a damaging breach.
- Unrestricted URL Access: Internet applications check URLs right before protected links and buttons are rendered. This requires that applications perform similar access control checks any time these pages are to be closed. In most applications, the privileged pages are not really privileged pages, their locations are not made available to privileged users. This creates vulnerability, where through manipulation or intelligent guess, a hacker can gain access to the unauthorized URLs to access sensitive pages, conferential information, and modify functions.
- Insufficient Transport Layer Protection: Apps regularly transport information like credit card details, authentication information, and session tokens over a network. Making use of weak algorithms, and invalid or expired certificates can permit the communication to be exposed to unauthorized or untrusted users, which could lead to the compromise of web applications and theft of sensitive information.
- Spectra: Modern computer chips speed up their work by storing information related to the predictable repetitive process. When computers perform calculations ahead of time, unnecessary data generated is thrown into a storage cache that is supposedly secure. Hackers use malware to create a back door to gain access to the carded data, acquire sensitive private information and trick the system into discarding more sensitive data.
Browser vulnerability is a serious issue faced by digital systems and electronic devices. Also, browsers can leak your personal information and compromise your privacy online. Having a privacy app such as Hoody will help you protect your privacy and security. When using your browser with Hoody, each one of your tab and website gets a new IP, a new location, and a unique set of Fingerprints, making tracking impossible. Hoody Phantom Browsing™ future-proof technology beats the most advanced and invasive tracking techniques.
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