Gain insights into enforcing web app security best practices, such as HTTPS, defending against XSS and clickjacking, managing HTTP cookies, and warding off DDoS attacks.

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There are more vulnerabilities than ever when creating applications for the web, so it is extremely important that software developers enforce security best practices such as, how to add protection through HTTP headers.

In this course, you will start off by learning how to prevent fraudulent SSL certificates from being served to clients, before moving on to how to defend against XSS attacks and clickjacking. 

In the latter half of the course, you’ll learn security practices related to HTTP cookies, and tips around security tradeoffs that you’ll make in your day-to-day work. Towards the end, you’ll learn how to ward off DDoS attacks, which is crucial when your application scales.

This course will demystify web security, and help you stay on top of important security-related concerns in your web apps.

Web Application Security for the Everyday Software Engineer

Only allows connecting to HTTPS websites.

What does the `hsts` header do when turned on?

What does the <code>hsts</code> header do when turned on?

Is <a href="http://educative.io">educative.io</a> HSTS preloaded?

HTTP Public Key Pinning is letting browsers know that your site will only be using (a) certain certificate(s) for a given duration.

HTTP Public Key Protocol is the exchange of public keys between clients and servers after the initial TCP handshake.

HTTP Private Key Protocol is the exchange of public and private keys between clients and servers after the initial HTTP exchange.

It invalidates certificates that were not advertised so if you lose your certificate, or simply make a mistake while testing, your website is gone.

It invalidates IP addresses that were not advertised so if you change your IP or simply make a mistake while testing, your website is gone.

It invalidates certificates that are not registered with a CA so if you change your certificate your website is gone.

How can HPKP lead to websites shutting down?

How can HPKP lead to websites shutting down?

An attacker gets a user to click on a dangerous link by setting its opacity to zero and overlaying it on another (usually very enticing) link.

An attacker gets a user to click on a dangerous link by setting its opacity to one hundred and hiding it behind a harmless looking link.

An attacker gets a user to click on a dangerous link by emailing it or messaging it to them under the guise of an enticing link.

How does a clickjacking attack work?

It stops users from clicking on iframes by increasing their opacity.

How does the `xfo` flag protect us from a clickjacking attack?

How does the <code>xfo</code> flag protect us from a clickjacking attack?

Let's take a quick quiz on protection through HTTP headers.

Introduction

Understanding The Browser

HTTP

Protection through HTTP Headers

HTTP Cookies

Situationals

DDoS Attacks

Bug Bounty Programs

Conclusion

Quiz Yourself on HTTP Headers