Undoubtedly, the average internet user is susceptible to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Their data is valuable, and cybercriminals will do anything possible to access it. Considering the threats, technology firms and similar stakeholders focus on. creating awareness about the need for better cybersecurity measures.
Despite the emphasis on end users, web developers should be equally or more concerned about internet security. The safety risks associated with web developers greatly outweigh those that regular individuals face. In addition, hackers also employ more sophisticated methods when targeting web developers.
Unlike regular web users, web developers are specialists and will not fall for regular tricks. However, this sometimes causes them to be complacent and not make conscious efforts towards ensuring their digital safety. Here are five reasons why web developers should care about hacking attacks.
Web Developers Are the Primary Targets
The number one reason why web developers should care about hacking attacks is that they are the primary targets of cybercriminals. Hackers often pick on individuals because they are much easier targets and easily fall for certain tricks. However, this does not mean that website specialists are not susceptible to cybersecurity threats.
In fact, statistics show that 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human errors. This may not seem like an indicator. After all, web developers are not the only human beings. However, the picture becomes clearer when you consider that 54% of companies believe that their IT departments are not advanced enough to handle sophisticated attacks.
In addition, Check Point also confirms that 43% of hacks are usually due to intentional or unintentional insider mistakes. In simpler terms, cybercriminals are targeting web developers and administrators.
Access to Sensitive Enterprise Information
We have established that web developers are the main targets of hackers. But why is that the case? What makes this group of individuals so unique? The answer is simple. Web developers guarantee access to information on a grand scale. It is like giving a rat key to the candy jar.
When a cybercriminal successfully bypasses the security of a single user, they only get access to the person’s information. With a web developer, hackers have access to the information of multiple web users. This includes those who visited the website or created accounts on such platforms. There are no limits on what they can achieve with enterprise-level data, especially for eCommerce websites. For example, data breaches cost businesses a whooping sum of $4.34 billion in 2021 alone.
A Route to Attacking Other Websites
Some web developers certainly feel reassured that they only create or manage websites that do not store personal or financial information. After all, hackers only focus on websites that store user data. However, this is very far from the truth. Studies from 2018 show that cybercriminals can use websites for hosting and delivering malware.
Once your website is compromised, the hacker can utilize it as a base for attacking internet users and other organizations. Since your website is legitimate, it easily evades signature-based detectors and other security protocols when connecting to the cloud. Since most firms use shared cloud services, the hacker can easily tap into the backed-up information from other establishments.
Long-term and More Severe Consequences
This does not need much emphasis. The effects of internal security breaches can be crippling. If the situation is not correctly mitigated or managed, it can degenerate into something worse. Many organizations have folded up because a cybercriminal got backend access to their website.
The most dangerous aspect of hackers is how they operate. Even after gaining access to enterprise information, they still work stealthily. It takes an average of 212 to 286 days to identify and contain security breaches. In simpler terms, the unsuspecting employee may not even know their computer is hacked. The longer the attack remains under the raider, the more damage the hacker inflicts. If the company is unlucky, it may lose more than user funds. The primary reason why many firms crumble after security breaches is the loss of customer trust. People will become hesitant to trust a website that has been hacked in the past.
Ever-Evolving Security Risks
Web developers should be wary of hacks because of the ever-evolving security risks. Website creators and administrators often feel relaxed because they have covered everything. However, the stats mentioned earlier confirm otherwise. The cybersecurity terrain is constantly changing, and hackers are developing even trickier ways to bypass security. In this regard, these professionals must be more vigilant and stay updated with the latest security trends.
Conclusion
Web developers are equally at risk of cybersecurity vulnerability as regular internet users. More so, data breaches resulting in their actions or inaction have more devastating effects. In this regard, they should be even more concerned about suffering hacking attacks.
