Online shopping, posting content online, and writing blogs, are some of the things people are highly following these days. Such content on the internet is helpful for people across the globe. Hence, such content is highly viewed and has much traffic. This thing is preyed on by the hackers looking for such popular content online to hack. Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the owner to keep their website safe and take complete security measures for it.
Reasons to Hack a Website
Let us have a look at some of the reasons that can explain why hackers hack a website:
- Resources
There are small business websites that might think their content does not attract a high amount of traffic. Hence, there are times when such website owners do not pay attention to the security of their website. This is the moment hackers take advantage of. They immediately hack the websites with low-security measures and direct the traffic towards the website. This helps the hacker to sell their products and content.
- Monetary Gains
Some people think hackers hack a website because they are being paid by someone to do so. But there is another side of the story. Let us have a look at some of the possible reasons why hackers hack a website:
- To gain usernames and passwords
- To gain access to the database of a website and control the functioning of it
- To gain credit and debit card details like card number and CVV number
- Gain contact information to sell it to unethical marketers
- To leak personal information of a website to its competitors
- SEO spams for search engines
Hackers also hack a website to make a fake profile, apply for a loan, and pass on personal details for its sanction. One can also easily hack someone’s profile and use that identity for illegal or inappropriate activities.
- To Polish their Skills
You might get amazed to hear this but the fact is the truth!!! Many hackers hack the website just to polish their skills and realize that they can do so whenever the need requires. Though it might polish the black hat skills of a hacker but deface a website and ruin its business completely. Therefore, it is always advised though your website and business be small or humongous, they should always be protected with complete security measures.
Various Hacking Methods
Let us have a look at some of the common and highly observed hacking methods used by hackers to seep into a website:
- Broken Access Controls
Access control is used to provide certain access and privileges to the users and different owners of the website. It allows the owners to share access with various users to allow them to modify the website accordingly. If the access is broken by a hacker then the privileges can be used by them as well. This allows the hacker to made changes accordingly to his needs and requirements.
This also gives the hacker the access to make changes in the core files of the website and make changes in the database. The hacker can also inject malicious codes easily and ruin the important files of the website. This immediately defames a website within minutes and tarnishes the reputation for a huge time. The websites that lack the steps mentioned below are at a higher risk of being hacked. Let us have a look at those steps:
- Weak policies for authorization and user privileges
- Low emphasis on setting up a strong password
- No emphasis on two-factor authentication policy
- No requirement of HTTPS connections
- Exploitation of Vulnerabilities
Vulnerabilities are loopholes or weaknesses of a website that can be advantageous for a hacker. These vulnerabilities can be easily used by hackers to hack a website and run ads and sell their products. These ads might be inappropriate that might disturb the regular visitors of the website and shaken their faith in the business as well. The activity defames and website and ruins the reputation earned by the business over years. Therefore, it is advised to scan the websites for vulnerability very often to keep them safe and secure. Vulnerabilities of a website are often found in:
- Website Application Code
- Web Development Frameworks
- Content Management Systems
- Outdated Components
- Shared Hosting
Shared Hosting is one of the obvious and highly-found reasons a website being hacked. If your website is hosted by a platform with hundreds of other websites then the chances of your website being hacked are high. If one among those hundred websites carries malicious content or is infected then it is a hazardous situation for others as well. Therefore, it is preferred to have private hosting to avoid such kinds of hacks or malicious attacks.
- Third-Party Services
Though third-party services might assure your website’s security it depends upon the security measures taken by them for their network, application, or system. If their system faces vulnerability then it affects your website as well. Therefore, it is advised to stay updated about your website’s security and do not compromise for it at any cost.
Conclusion
The following write-up is a highlight on how do hackers seep into a website for their profit. To protect a website and stay at bay from such situations one must be aware of its security and do not compromise for it. Though your website is small or an enormous one, always be concerned about its security, because a single vulnerability can be dangerous for the whole business.