It is worthy noting that despite the new generation languages, PHP remains a strong and respectable language for web application developers. However, as we know the amount of power in the hands of these computers is enormous and this implies a huge responsibility especially on the side of security. Applications developed in PHP lack protection; this creates the risk of a break-in, which could expose user information and threaten the stability of the entire system.
Here are seven critical security measures every PHP developer should diligently follow:
Thoroughly Validate User Input: This is the fundamental of PHP security. Validate the data given by users (from forms, URLs, etc. ) minutely. It is better to remove or at least sanitize the code (for example, attempts of SQL injections) before the processor gets it. Use the proper functions like htmlspecialchars, filter_var and use of regular expressions for modifying the structure of data to make it fit into the certain format.
Sanitize Output Data: When outputting the data entered by the user to the site, it is advised to use functions like htmlspecialchars to filter it, thus, avoiding the execution of potentially dangerous scripts. This helps protecting from Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) that can threaten user data or force them to visit a malicious site.
Keep PHP Up-to-Date: Nearly each developer is involved in the process of response to the potential problem in PHP. I believe that operating with updated versions helps avert known threats while using the previous versions opens the applications to those threats. It is recommended to update the PHP version often in order to include security changes.
Implement Prepared Statements: Always use prepared statements, when dealing with databases to eliminate the problem of SQL injection attacks. Prepared statements take the SQL queries and segregate them from the data hence, avoiding the injection of malicious code into the database queries.
Protect User Passwords: Do not save passwords native form in the file/database. To increase password security, include a secure hashing algorithm such as bcrypt or Argon2. Even if a hacker gains access to your data base, cracking user passwords will remain a major challenge.
With the knowledge of these best practices, you’ll be able to significantly improve the protection of your PHP applications and users’ data. Do not forget that security should be created, not installed – it is a process that does not or should not have an end. Be conservative always with your code, and always keep on checking your code to ensure the secure applications of PHP to build trust in the applications.
