As our lives are spreading wide in the digital arena, every activity or transaction that we do leaves behind a footprint that is recorded as data that can range from our social media activity to any Software Vulnerabilities that we use.
Within the last 24 months, numerous cases of fraud have been recorded owing to Software being used by the masses.
Hence, it is imperative to address this major concern and rid of all the security flaws in the systems to live a safer life online.
What Are Software Vulnerabilities
Any weakness within a software or a program that can be used by an attacker to gain access to data and/or perform unauthorized activities which are deemed illegal or unethical is a software vulnerability.
There can be various kinds of such weaknesses in a system that we shall discuss further. Attackers use various techniques to exploit these different types of vulnerabilities to their advantage.
The causes that could give rise to such weaknesses include the complexity of the software, connectivity, password management flaws, OS design flaws, software bugs, unchecked user input points, and more.
Vulnerability and risk are often incorrectly interchangeable. Risk is the potential of some significant impact resulting from the exploit of a vulnerability.
Types of Software Vulnerabilities
- Memory safety violations
- Input validation errors
- Privilege-confusion bugs
- Privilege escalation
- Race conditions
- The side-channel attack, and
- User interface attack
When developing software, companies maintain a software vulnerabilities database to regularly update new loopholes in the software.
Moreover, while discovering new weaknesses, software updates unroll to ensure fixing in time. There can also be a network vulnerability in which proper coding of the software can plug.
How to Effectively Address Vulnerabilities?
Following is a list of measures to ensure that the software vulnerabilities are addressed effectively:
- Timely updating the software vulnerabilities database
- Swiftly rolling out software updates
- Running a thorough testing cycle
- Ensuring compliance with the set standard (local and global)
- Having a failsafe to ensure safety for users against attacks
Software or network vulnerability can occur anytime. It is a matter of being vigilant to address them at the right time and stopping them before any damage is done.
There are many software vulnerability examples, Microsoft is one such example that targets extensively – hence the numerous Windows updates.
Apps like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Zomato, and various more which we use on a regular basis face attacks using their software vulnerabilities. So always ensure to keep your software updated.
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