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5 Ways Your Website Can Get Hacked (And How to Stop It)

•6 min read
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5 Ways Your Website Can Get Hacked (And How to Stop It)

Let's talk about security without making it boring! 🛡️

Being part of security communities has taught me one thing: most hacks happen because of simple mistakes, not some Hollywood-style genius hacker.

Here are the top 5 vulnerabilities I see everywhere, and how to fix them. Your website will thank you!

1. SQL Injection - The Classic Villain 💉

What it is: Basically, letting users type database commands into your website. Yeah, as bad as it sounds!

The scary way (DON'T DO THIS):

// This is like handing a stranger your house keys!
$email = $_GET['email'];
$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = '$email'";

What a hacker types: [email protected]' OR '1'='1

Result: They see EVERYONE'S data. Oops! 😱

The safe way:

// Laravel does this automatically - one reason to love it!
$user = User::where('email', $request->email)->first();

The magic: Laravel uses "prepared statements" - it treats user input as data, not commands.

Golden Rule: NEVER trust user input. Ever. Not even your mom's input!

2. XSS - When Users Write JavaScript on Your Site 🎭

What it is: Cross-Site Scripting. Fancy name for "someone snuck evil JavaScript into your website"

The scenario: User comments <script>alert('Hacked!')</script> on your blog.

Without protection: Every visitor sees that popup. If it was malicious code instead? Game over.

The fix is stupid simple:

// Laravel Blade does this by default
{{ $userComment }}  // Safe! Auto-escaped

{!! $userComment !!}  // Dangerous! Only use for trusted content

Translation: Those curly braces {{ }} turn evil code into harmless text. Like defusing a bomb with punctuation!

Pro tip: Use {{ }} by default. Only use {!! !!} when you KNOW it's safe (like your own admin content).

3. CSRF - The Sneaky Form Submission 🎣

What it is: Cross-Site Request Forgery (try saying that 3 times fast!)

The attack: You're logged into your bank. You click a link. Boom - you just sent money to a hacker without knowing it.

How it works: The hacker tricks your browser into submitting forms without your permission.

The Laravel fix:

<form method="POST" action="/transfer-money">
    @csrf  <!-- This one line saves you! -->
    <!-- Your form fields -->
</form>

What @csrf does: Creates a secret token that validates the form is legit.

Best part: Laravel checks it automatically. If the token is missing or wrong? Request denied! 🚫

4. Weak Passwords & Auth - The Open Door 🔓

The horror story: Someone uses "password123" and wonders why they got hacked.

The fixes:

// Laravel's got your back with secure password hashing
$hashedPassword = Hash::make($password);  // One-way encryption

// Checking passwords
if (Hash::check($inputPassword, $hashedPassword)) {
    // Password is correct!
}

Also do this:

  • Require minimum 8 characters (12 is better!)
  • Force at least one number and special character
  • Add rate limiting (stop brute force attacks)

Rate limiting in Laravel:

Route::middleware('throttle:6,1')->group(function () {
    Route::post('/login', [AuthController::class, 'login']);
});

Translation: Only 6 login attempts per minute. Brute force attackers: "Am I a joke to you?"

5. Leaking Sensitive Data - TMI Syndrome 📢

The mistake: Showing too much information to users.

Example: Error messages that say "Password incorrect" vs "Email not found"

Why it's bad: Hackers now know that email exists in your system!

The fixes:

// Hide sensitive fields in API responses
protected $hidden = [
    'password',
    'api_key',
    'credit_card',
];

// Encrypt sensitive data in database
$encrypted = Crypt::encryptString($creditCard);
$decrypted = Crypt::decryptString($encrypted);

Also:

  • Use HTTPS (it's 2026, no excuses!)
  • Don't store passwords in plain text (seriously, DON'T!)
  • Keep sensitive stuff out of logs
  • Use .env for secrets, NEVER commit it to Git

Your Security Checklist 📋

Before you deploy:

  • Using Laravel's {{ }} for output (XSS protection)
  • Added @csrf to all forms
  • Using Laravel's built-in authentication
  • Set up HTTPS (Let's Encrypt is free!)
  • Rate limiting on login/API endpoints
  • Sensitive data is encrypted
  • No secrets in your Git repo
  • Updated all dependencies (old = vulnerable)

The "But I'm Too Small to Be Hacked" Myth 🎯

Wrong! Hackers use bots that scan EVERY website. Size doesn't matter.

It's like locking your door. Thieves don't care if you're rich or poor - they just check if the door is locked!

Quick Wins (Do These Now!) 🏃‍♂️

  1. Run composer update - Update your dependencies
  2. Add rate limiting - 2 lines of code, huge protection
  3. Enable HTTPS - Free with Let's Encrypt
  4. Check Laravel's security docs - They're actually readable!
  5. Use Laravel's helpers - They're secure by default

Real Talk 💬

Q: "I'm a beginner, is this too much?"

A: Laravel handles most of this automatically! Just use the framework properly and you're 80% protected.

Q: "Should I hire a security expert?"

A: If you handle payment/medical/sensitive data? YES. For a blog? These basics are enough.

Q: "What about penetration testing?"

A: OWASP ZAP is free and will scan your site for common vulnerabilities. Run it!

Resources (Actually Useful Ones)

The Bottom Line

Security doesn't have to be scary or complicated. Laravel makes it easy - you just need to:

  1. Trust the framework (use its built-in tools)
  2. Never trust user input (sanitize everything)
  3. Keep dependencies updated (old code = vulnerabilities)
  4. Use HTTPS (it's free, seriously)
  5. Don't roll your own crypto/auth (use Laravel's)

Think of security like brushing your teeth - boring but essential, and way better than dealing with cavities (or hackers)!

Questions? Security concerns? Hit me up on LinkedIn. As someone from YAS and InitCrew, I've seen (and fixed) a lot of security issues!

Want more security tips? Follow this blog! More posts coming soon! 🔐

Now go forth and build secure stuff! 🛡️✨

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