Mesa.Module 03 Assignment - Selecting Security Countermeasures.docx

1 Enhancing Web Server and Internet Connection Security: Threats and Countermeasures Claudia Mesa Palm Beach State Collage CNT4406 Network Security and Cryptography Dwight Elliott January 20th, 2024

2 Enhancing Web Server and Internet Connection Security: Threats and Countermeasures In the digital age, the security of web servers and Internet connections is paramount for businesses, organizations, and individuals alike. As network professionals, it is essential to anticipate and mitigate potential threats to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of web servers and Internet connections. This analysis aims to identify four likely security threats to web servers and Internet connections and propose appropriate countermeasures to uphold their security. Security Threats and Countermeasures 1. Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks:  Threat Description: DoS attacks overwhelm web servers with a flood of illegitimate requests, rendering them inaccessible to legitimate users.  Countermeasure: Implementing rate-limiting measures, deploying intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and employing content delivery networks (CDNs) to distribute traffic can mitigate the impact of DoS attacks. Additionally, configuring firewalls to filter out malicious traffic and using load balancers to distribute incoming requests efficiently are effective countermeasures. 2. SQL Injection Attacks:

3  Threat Description: SQL injection attacks exploit vulnerabilities in web applications to execute malicious SQL queries, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or manipulation of databases.  Countermeasure: Employing prepared statements and parameterized queries in web applications can prevent SQL injection attacks. Regularly updating and patching web server software and employing web application firewalls (WAFs) to filter and monitor incoming traffic for malicious SQL injection attempts are crucial countermeasures. 3. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks:  Threat Description: XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users, enabling attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or deface web pages.  Countermeasure: Sanitizing user input, encoding output data, and implementing strict content security policies (CSPs) can mitigate XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing of web applications can identify and address potential XSS vulnerabilities proactively. 4. Data Breaches and Unauthorized Access:  Threat Description: Data breaches occur when attackers gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on web servers, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of data.

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