Editing Technology/Software Development/General knowledge/Security Best Practices (section)

== Secure Coding Practices ==

1. '''Input Validation:'''

* Validate and sanitize all user inputs to prevent malicious data from causing vulnerabilities such as SQL injections or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

* Use input validation techniques like whitelisting, regular expressions, and parameterized queries.

2. '''Secure Authentication and Authorization:'''

* Implement robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive functionality or data.

* Use strong and properly hashed passwords, implement multi-factor authentication, and apply the principle of least privilege.

3. '''Secure Session Management:'''

* Implement secure session management techniques to prevent session hijacking or fixation attacks.

* Use secure session storage mechanisms, generate unique session identifiers, and enforce session expiration policies.

4. '''Error Handling and Logging:'''

* Implement proper error handling and logging mechanisms to avoid revealing sensitive information to attackers.

* Use custom error pages, log only necessary error details, and monitor logs for suspicious activities.

5. '''Secure Data Storage:'''

* Apply encryption techniques to sensitive data stored in databases, files, or any other storage medium.

* Use strong encryption algorithms, protect encryption keys, and consider additional security measures like data masking or tokenization.