As an internet user, you might have stumbled across various websites that provide their users with interesting and rich content that almost fills up the whole page. But what these websites are actually doing is that these are running a complex code in order to provide access to their users to that rich content in the first place. For example, take into account playing videos on streaming sites which takes into practice a large number of complex codes for running those videos and deciding explicitly how the user can interact with the video or particular part of the content.
But with the advancements in technology and the treacherous intent of the cyber attackers the so-called code that controls a wide portion of the website can easily be hacked or manipulated, this is called scripting. When an unauthorized user or hacker takes control of the website code and the architecture on which it is running mostly through exploiting the security-related vulnerabilities of the website.
Now the virus that is incorporated into the website code can allow the user to take various actions into account such as exploiting the user data, deploying additional payload, or interfering with the website security and firewall systems and disabling them. All of these actions that are listed here are only for the purpose of understanding, in practice the particular action the attacker wants to go with can vary significantly from these mentioned here. This is called a website scripting virus.
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Brief working of the web scripting
Malicious websites that have artificial or malicious code embedded into them are created every single day and the forced infected code is the type of technique that is used for doing so in most cases. First of all to roll with the idea of web scripting the attacker needs to find the vulnerability that exists within the targeted website that would allow them to insert the malicious code into the web code and launch the attack. This vulnerability can be focused on the security of the website such as exploiting the firewalls of the website, bypassing the security protocols, or gaining access to the login information of an employee of the website using social engineering or other phishing scams.
Once the vulnerability is found and is exploited the next phase begins which is the insertion of the malicious code into the original code of the website. Thus begins the launch of the web scripting virus onto the targeted site. But even when the process is being done or in the middle of getting completed the website remains transparent and fully operational. It all seems extremely natural as no one knows that the malicious code has been inserted, deployed, and has been synchronized with the original code of the website. Thus, the feat is accomplished. Now the malicious attacker under the commandeer web control takes a fake position and gets ready for whenever a user enters their username and password the malicious attacker would be able to steal that away.
Things you need to know in order to be safe
The web scripting virus can be extremely dangerous but there are things and specific tips that can help you to dunk it pretty well. For instance, the following is a list of instructions and advice that can take you out of this jingle;
- This type of virus typically originates from the social media websites that are extremely popular in order to get the user reviews, spy on their online activity and steal the important data which user puts away in the form of their username and password.
- You must come around the web scripting virus all the time because the type of vulnerabilities that begrudgingly set the virus straight or help the attackers initiate the attack due to their weak security is extreme in number.
- This type of virus is able to propagate a bit faster than other forms of viruses such as various ransomware or malware type viruses.
- Scripting viruses are able to generate the botnets which can in turn lead to an enormous DDoS attack. The virus has all the potential it is required to damage the data of the organizations, steal the important user and corporate data as well as to defraud the customers.
- It sometimes might be a little difficult to work with the virus on spotting it and putting an end to its vicious activity because the network activity of the virus remains almost the same. And its Java-based code might become hard to differentiate from the general web page mark up.
- But in the end, there is a small and easy fix that applies here which is that if the user at hand attending to the abnormal behavior of a script decides to discard it or denies access to the affected website then it can be stopped right there and then.
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