Web developers and businesses are prime targets for on-path attackers who can steal logins and passwords. Acquired credentials give attackers unrestricted access to modify website content, steal customer databases, and plant malicious content on innocuous websites. They can even create sleeper power users with escalated privileges or add plugins and other back doors to allow them to return at will.
A VPN can protect web developers and their clients from on-path attacks.
Web Hosting for Businesses
Web hosting involves storing website files on a server and serving their content to visitors. Web hosting providers employ skilled technicians to maintain an advanced infrastructure. They also use special software and cybersecurity measures to ensure websites work properly.
Web developers and website owners can rent a space on a web hosting server to make it all happen. Most commercial web hosting companies offer an interface like CPanel to make publishing and maintaining a website easier.
Why Do You Need a VPN for Web Hosting?
When you look for a website, your device connects to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP connects to the internet, looking for the website’s unique address. When it finds the appropriate web server, it sends along your request to fetch the website. The web server reacts, sending the information back. This internet traffic flow is usually unencrypted and uses a predictable and public path. The user’s IP address is exposed at each step of the process.
The trouble is that ISPs can keep logs of these requests. Additionally, because the data flowing back and forth is unencrypted, nosy parties can eavesdrop to find out what you’re doing. Unencrypted data is a beacon that draws attackers to execute on-path attacks.
What Is an On-Path Attack?
Attackers place themselves between two devices. From this privileged position, they can intercept or modify all communications between those devices.
Imagine a situation where your nosy neighbor is in charge of receiving and handling all your mail. They could read your private messages or change the contents before passing them along.
- In the modern world, an on-path attacker can insert himself between your website visitors and the web server.
- In a development context, an on-path attacker can insert himself between you and the website you’re working on.
These attackers can collect your username and password by hijacking the HTTP connection between the user and the website. Alternatively, the attacker can steal the users’ cookies. Cookie theft allows attackers to hijack a user’s session and impersonate you on the site. Well-known examples are the Man-in-the-Middle attacks that typically occur at WiFi hotspots.
How Dangerous Are On-Path Attacks?
These attacks can target websites, email communications, DNS lookups, and public WiFi networks.
During the DNS lookup process, web browsers find websites by associating the domain name with its IP address. An attacker can compromise the DNS lookup process, sending users to a different site. These “wrong” sites usually distribute malware or steal sensitive information. This is known as DNS spoofing and DNS hijacking.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN creates a private, encrypted digital “tunnel” for data traveling between your device and the internet. Encryption turns the data into indecipherable gibberish as it enters the connection (tunnel). When the data exits at the other end, a similar process decrypts the information to make it usable again.
The process described above has greater importance than you might think.
One of internet users’ most critical security measures is preventing data tampering in transit. A VPN is an ace in the battle against cyber threats.
- A VPN helps to prevent hackers from stealing sensitive data.
- It changes your IP address by routing the data exchange via a remote server. It ensures better privacy, as advertisers will find it harder to track you across the Internet.
- You can also use a VPN to overcome geographical restrictions. You can change your server to connect to a different country. That allows you to access websites or streaming content unavailable in your country.
A Defense From On-Path Attacks
VPNs add a crucial security layer to your internet communication. The VPN servers encrypt the website data before serving it to visitors. Thus, hackers can’t intercept or corrupt a website’s “clean” or innocuous content before it reaches the visitor.
Your website visitors who use VPNs are also safer, for example, when they shop online. A VPN protects users’ login credentials, payment information, and customer data. It can also protect against DDoS attacks.
How to Choose a VPN Provider
At first glance, comparing VPN providers is easy since most offer relatively standard services. However, there is more than one catch. It’s crucial to understand that not all web hosting companies provide the same level of security and privacy. For example, some providers keep user data logs and can even sell them to data brokers and marketers.
It’s a treacherous violation of people’s privacy. Even worse, it can blow your cybersecurity precautions out of the water. Use the following criteria to select a trustworthy VPN provider:
- Reputation is Everything: Select a reputable VPN that prioritizes user privacy. Look for a provider who not only declares keeping a no-logs policy but also has it verified by independent 3rd parties.
- Pay Attention to Data Encryption Protocols: WireGuard is a newer technology than yesteryear’s standard OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec. It is compact, lightweight, and much faster than other protocols, yet it offers the same level of security.
- Latest Hardware: High-speed servers are expensive to buy and maintain. VPN companies must continually invest in network infrastructure to meet bandwidth requirements, connection speed, and top website performance. The friendly neighborhood IT Company with a few old, creaky servers in a basement can’t cut the mustard.
- Optimal Speed and Performance: The determining factors for optimum website performance are the users’ distance from the server, the type of VPN protocol used, and the server capacity. That’s why you need many server locations for the fastest VPN.
- A Choice of Server Locations: The math is simple–the more servers worldwide a provider offers, the less opportunity for connection issues it leaves.
- Robust Security Features: Protocols like AES-256 are the minimum encryption standards.
- Flexible Plans: You may need to scale up or down without fuss. Examine the plans for hidden fees or charges.
- Customer Support: You never know when you’ll need a 24/7 customer support desk. The customer support team should be knowledgeable and able to solve problems on the fly.
- Transparent Pricing: Pricing can sometimes be a determining factor. However, be wary of false savings and pay attention to what additional features (such as Threat Protection) a VPN offers. When investigating packages of different providers, compare apples to apples.
The Key To Safe Web Development
Web developers and businesses are high-priority targets for open-path attackers. Attackers can intercept your credentials and plant malicious content or even build a backdoor that allows them to return later. VPNs encrypt your internet data and prevent attackers from intercepting your sensitive information online. They also make your online experience more private–considering you chose your VPN provider wisely. However, don’t forget to read the fine print before you sign up.
