Cyber Security has no longer remained a debatable topic. Every software company has to stay vigilant and embrace the safety measures to safeguard them against the burgeoning threats.
However, despite many proactive measures and steps, cyber thefts are steeply rising. These hackers are orchestrating many brazen steps to delineate the developers’ efforts and create a chaotic environment for them that puts the organization’s reputation at stake.
In this post, we have compiled a list of cybersecurity mistakes that you should avoid while testing software.
Vital Cyber Security Mistakes to Avoid While Testing Software
Restraining Penetration Tests
One of the highest cyber security mistakes to avoid while testing software is not to do penetration tests. These tests vanguard you against cyber security loopholes.
To conduct this test, the testers stimulate the hacking scenarios that would lead to real-world losses. They remove the doubt element by discovering the security or gap issues that might be difficult to predict using manual analysis, leading to massive data breaches.
Without it, your software will become vulnerable to malicious attacks, crucial data might get corrupted, and servers might crash, thus leading to a cyber security blow.
Infrequent Detection
In the passive computing era, when frauds were not massive, once-a-year testing was enough. Still, with the evolution of technologies and their easy implementation, frequent detection has become necessary.
Not keeping up with it can lead to data breaches and jeopardize your confidential information. The early check-up or scanning will diminish the cybercriminal attempts, and you will better gain a foothold in the market.
Not Enough Training Is Given to the Employees
The mass exodus of dollars might protect the company from data breaches. However, as said, “to err is human,” so nothing can overcomplicate cyber security concerns other than humans.
For example, your employees sometimes bypass the threats by passing confidential information to identity thieves. This can lead to compromisеd cyber security, phishing attacks, and many other concerns.
Hеncе, thе employees should bе trainеd to protеct thе data, rеcognizе thе attack, and fight back against it. Don’t nеglеct this crucial stеp during softwarе tеsting. Employees should be trained in and provided with website security software and tools to have a proper track of the activities as well as identify the threats in time.
Inadequate Third-Party Testing
It might be surprising, but software developers rarely create software from scratch. They instead take the existing codes or use open-source software to build the same.
However, the third-party code should be secured; otherwise, it might impact the final build. To thwart these vulnerabilities, the developers should get those codes audited; otherwise, hackers might exploit them. Hence, third-party testing is necessary.
Lack of Encryption
Encryption adds a cyber security layer to the sensitive data. If your software is not tested with encryption or lacks it, it is susceptible to boundless cyber attacks. The data could be anything; it could be the user’s passwords, financial credentials, webcam access, etc. It could dismantle your reputation and cause a wave of distrust among the employees.
However, data encryption is not the only factor in stopping cyber attacks. Tests should be conducted using encryption tools to ensure they can withstand any cyber attack. Proper industry experts’ recommended tools should be used for secure and result-oriented encryption.
Buying the Wrong Tools for Software Testing
Automated tools and technology can simplify and overhaul your software testing abilities, but these tools should be chosen carefully; otherwise, it would lead to a loss of productive hours. There are several testing tools in the market for use but each has some Pros and cons so to overcome this mistake, irrespective of available Free or Paid, one must opt for the best which is recommended by industry experts.
Software Testing tools help in streamlining your testing process and with each update they bring in more functionalities to test your software based on more cyber security factors.
Trusted and highly recommended Software Testing tools always have advanced features and are ready to produce error-free reports for tests. So, before testing software, ensure that the tools you use are user-friendly, responsive, and provided by dedicated vendors.
Using Backdoor Accounts Before Testing
The biggest and most enormous cyber security mistake software developers make is using a backdoor account for software and then forgetting it. Though nobody can easily find it, if the hackers do, they will end up snatching all your private information, thus causing a cyber attack.
For example, if CISCO discovers that they had left their backdoor accounts open, it gives attackers access to vulnerable information. Also, attackers can hijack the backdoor accounts if the password is not strong enough or if it does not have special characters.
In a nutshell, for any software that you are planning to launch in the market or have launched, it is necessary to conduct a backdoor account check and ensure that you remove the login credentials after the checking is complete so that the hackers do not have a chance to attack your information.
‘Nothing Can Happen to Me’ Mentality
Many businesses consider taking proactive steps to mitigate the risk and deploying the strongest protocols to safeguard themselves from it. They keep thinking that nothing can affect them, and suddenly, a cyber criminal enters and dissociates your organization.
So, the remedy is not to fixate on your thinking because these criminals do not breed apathy, which might risk your critical business information, profits, and reputation. The organization should conduct regular cyber security risk assessments, do penetration testing, and strengthen its measures to stay safe from the attack.
Best Practices for Cyber Security & Data Protection to Overcome the Common Mistakes
Password Security
Passwords are critical for businesses, as they safeguard all their accounts, data, and files with a mixture of text, numbers, and symbols.
Having a weak password can be a great threat to Businesses, as it allows hackers to access confidential data and hack the system.
Software Updates & Backups
Regular Software and backups help Businesses to have a fully secure system for use, free from any threats or cyber-attacks. Regular Software updates can provide you with advanced cyber security features as well as patterns to safeguard your internal data.
With Regular Backups, even if your system gets hacked or corrupted, you will have a copy of it secure & ready to implement it for immediate outcomes.
Avoid Visiting Unknown Sites
While surfing the internet, in most cases, users end up visiting risky sites that, in some cases, redirect them to some ad sites or sometimes automatically download a file on your system.
These visits or downloads help hackers gain access to your system, and if you don’t close the site in a particular time, your system will get into the hacker’s control. Try not to visit any unknown sites for assured cyber security.
Make Use of Antivirus Software
Trusted Antivirus Software and tools prevent you from visiting or downloading unauthorized sites or files respectively. Having a renowned Antivirus installed on your system is a good cyber security measure that safeguards you from upcoming threats as well as attacks and also helps you scan for virus files that can be harmful in the future. So use Trusted Antivirus software and avoid using free software to scan your files.
Stay Cautious of Unknown Links
Clicking unknown Links in emails and other Messaging Portals makes it easy to invite threats or attacks to your system.
Whenever a user clicks on one of such links, they are diverted to some temporarily built fake sites, which, at a later stage, ask for some private information or login credentials, which ultimately helps hackers to have open access to your data and even, in some cases, direct control over your Payments.
Set up Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor Authentication(MFA) has become an effective approach in recent times to make the verification process safer, more secure, and more robust and to stop hackers from having complete access to your data. Normal users generally have very simplified IDs and passwords as their login credentials, so this MFA approach acts as an extra security layer for authenticating the user trying to log into the account.
A one-time password, a temporary password generated is an excellent MFA approach. This approach sends the temporary numerical password to your secondary or recovery Email ID and the Contact Number set while creating the account, so your account is secure at a better level.
Avoid Redundant Downloads
Generally, users surf the internet to download movies, songs, APK files, game installation files, or any informative files. Sometimes, along with these files, they encounter corrupt files. Users download these unnecessary files and fall prey to cyber-attacks.
These unnecessary files are a type of virus that hackers use to gain access to your network and, ultimately, to your data. So, it is advised to be careful and precise about your downloads.
Bottom Line
The world of software is suffering due to cyber security fraud. However, mistakes can be avoided, and the organization’s reputation can be saved with the right software testing tools, proactive security measures, penetration testing, etc.
These measures go the extra mile to help you launch user-friendly, safe, and trustworthy software. So, whether you are an established software developer or have just entered this field, acquiring these dark secrets and how to confront them will always help.
We invite you to explore our other blogs for more in-depth information and insights on Cybersecurity. Our extensive collection of articles covers a wide range of topics within the cybersecurity realm, from best practices and emerging threats to the latest tools and technologies.
FAQs
What are common cyber security mistakes to avoid while testing software?
Common cyber security mistakes to avoid while testing software include using weak passwords, falling for phishing scams, not regularly patching software, granting unnecessary permissions, and not using antivirus solutions.
How can I protect my software from cyber threats?
To protect your software from cyber threats, ensure you enable strong security measures, regularly update software patches, employ antivirus solutions, and educate users on identifying and avoiding potential threats.
What are the risks of falling for phishing scams?
Falling for phishing scams can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromise of user credentials, malware infections, and potential identity theft.
How can I securely manage passwords while testing software?
You can securely manage passwords by using a password manager tool, creating strong and unique passwords for each account, and avoiding the practice of using the same password for multiple accounts.
How can I prevent hacker access during software testing?
To prevent hacker access during software testing, consider implementing robust security protocols, regularly monitoring suspicious activities, restricting user permissions, and ensuring data encryption.
How can I avoid giving away sensitive information during software testing?
To avoid giving away sensitive information during software testing, be cautious of social engineering schemes, be wary of suspicious emails or messages, and secure your network against unauthorized access.
Why is regularly updating software patches for cyber security important?
Regularly updating software patches is crucial for cyber security. It helps fix vulnerabilities, prevent cybercriminals’ exploitation, enhance system integrity and confidentiality, and ensure the availability of secure software.
