Web security is essential to protecting digital platforms from exploitation, data theft, and service interruptions. The modern internet relies on continuous data exchange, user authentication, and interconnected services, all of which can become potential targets if not properly protected.

The foundational principles of web security include:

Authentication – Verifying the identity of a user (e.g., through passwords, biometrics, or OAuth).

Authorization – Granting permissions based on user identity (e.g., different levels of access for administrators and regular users).

Confidentiality – Protecting information privacy through encryption and secure communication channels.

Integrity – Ensuring that data remains unaltered and uncorrupted, whether intentionally or accidentally.

Availability – Maintaining system functionality even during failures or attacks (e.g., through load balancing and backups).

These principles help defend against key threats such as:

Data breaches and credential theft; SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks; Ransomware and denial-of-service attacks; Session hijacking and unauthorized access to APIs.

Understanding these fundamental concepts is crucial before advancing to more complex security topics.

Aydane ABALAKOVA,

student of the International University for the Humanities and Development.