Website defacement is the malicious act of changing the appearance of a webpage into one which the hacker prefers, also referred to as web graffiti. Usually, it involves injecting code which shows unwarranted images or text or even prompts a popup when the site is visited. In severe cases, websites can be taken down entirely and replaced by a different one altogether. The code pieces which are injected into the websites carry malicious scripts which infect user networks and make them vulnerable to external attacks. IT companies in Ottawa that offer network support for businesses can protect web pages from defacement. This is done by providing recommendations and resources on securing its web pages against hacking.
Why Do Hackers Deface Websites
There are a number of motivation factors for hackers to deface a website. The most common factor for website defacement is usually for the thrill of it. Hackers always feel like they have to prove their hacking ability. Website defacement provides an ideal platform for them to do so. Other motivating factors include disagreement with a certain company policy. The most potentially damaging motivation is when a hacker wants to introduce malware to bring down a company network or impair its proper functioning. Businesses in Ottawa must ensure that they receive tech support from reliable IT consulting companies to prevent themselves from defacement.
Methods of Website Defacement
The most common method which hackers use to deface websites is through SQL injection. It involves injecting SQL code into a website build or the use of a website’s SQL parameters to manipulate its URLs. Hackers insert the lines of code through variables which require user input, or any form of data which ends up in the system database.
Once the lines of code are concatenated with the data residing within the website data, they are activated and defacement is accomplished. Businesses in Ottawa can prevent SQL injection by ensuring that any suspicious code within the website build can be caught in time before it causes significant damages.
File inclusion is another common method by which hackers can deface a website. Whether remote or local, file inclusion entails adding a graphical interface on a website, which allows a hacker to run server-side commands within a network and exploit services offered. When a hacker acquires such permission, they can easily execute commands which allow them to change the outlook of a company website or cause other damages such as a network shutdown. Professional tech support from Ottawa IT consulting companies can help businesses ward off these attacks through methods such as SQL hardening and proper network management.