Minimum Length Of 600 Words Due Date: Saturday, Sep 12, 2020

Lengthminimum Of 600 Wordsdue Datesaturday Sep 12 2020briefly Resp

Lengthminimum Of 600 Wordsdue Datesaturday Sep 12, 2020briefly Resp

Briefly respond to all the following questions. Make sure to explain and backup your responses with facts and examples. This assignment should be in APA format and have to include at least two references. Using the Figure 5.4 as the target architecture, who are the threat agents who will be most interested in attacking Web applications created through AppMaker?

Paper For Above instruction

Threat agents interested in attacking Web applications created through AppMaker

In the rapidly evolving landscape of web application development, platforms like AppMaker have gained prominence for enabling users to develop and deploy web applications efficiently. However, with increased reliance on such platforms, understanding potential threat agents interested in attacking applications built with AppMaker becomes crucial for ensuring security. Using the architectural reference of Figure 5.4, which depicts the typical architecture for web applications, we can identify and analyze the primary threat agents who might have a vested interest in exploiting vulnerabilities within these applications.

Understanding the Architecture of Web Applications in AppMaker

Figure 5.4 generally illustrates a layered architecture comprising the user interface layer, application logic layer, and data layer, integrated through various interfaces such as APIs and web servers. Applications built on platforms like AppMaker are hosted on cloud infrastructure, with user interactions occurring via browsers or mobile clients. This architecture introduces multiple attack surfaces, making it attractive to different threat agents.

Primary Threat Agents Interested in Attacking Web Applications

The threat agents most interested in attacking web applications created via AppMaker include cybercriminals, hacktivists, insider threats, nation-states, and script kiddies. Each group has distinct motivations and targeted strategies.

Cybercriminals

Cybercriminal groups are among the most prominent threat agents interested in attacking web applications. Their motive primarily revolves around financial gain through methods such as data theft, credit card fraud, or deploying ransomware. Web applications often handle sensitive data, including personal information and financial records, making them lucrative targets. Cybercriminals employ techniques like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and session hijacking to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications (AlFannah et al., 2018). Since applications built through AppMaker may lack rigorous security controls, they can be susceptible to these common attacks.

Hacktivists

Hacktivists are motivated by political or social agendas. They may target web applications to promote a cause, disrupt services, or send political messages. For instance, during protests or political upheavals, hacktivist groups may exploit weaknesses in web applications to deface sites, leak confidential information, or perform denial-of-service attacks. Their interest in applications built via AppMaker might be driven by perceived vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for symbolic actions or to embarrass the targeted entity (Moore & Clayton, 2017).

Insider Threats

Insiders, including employees or contractors with authorized access, pose a significant threat. They may intentionally or unintentionally compromise application security by leaking sensitive data, misconfiguring settings, or installing malicious code. In the context of AppMaker, insider threats could exploit privileges to access backend data or modify application logic, particularly if security controls are weak or poorly enforced (Greitzer & Frincke, 2010). Their motivations range from financial gain, revenge, or coercion.

Nation-States and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

Nation-states or government-sponsored actors are highly sophisticated threat agents that target web applications for espionage, strategic advantage, or sabotage. They typically target applications containing intellectual property, classified information, or critical infrastructure. Their resources, skills, and persistence make them capable of exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in web applications built on platforms like AppMaker. Such attacks may involve spear-phishing, supply-chain compromises, or malware deployment (Mandiant, 2020).

Script Kiddies

Although less sophisticated, script kiddies are amateur hackers who use automated tools and publicly available exploits to attack vulnerable web applications. Their motivation often includes the desire for notoriety or simple mischief. Due to ease of access to hacking scripts, poorly secured applications from AppMaker could attract such attackers seeking quick gains or vandalism.

Conclusion

Understanding these threat agents and their motivations helps organizations prioritize security controls, secure their AppMaker-created web applications, and mitigate risks. Implementing secure coding practices, regular vulnerability assessments, and access controls are essential in defending against these diverse threat agents, ensuring the safety and integrity of web applications in the face of persistent threats.

References

• AlFannah, N., AlOmar, A., & Kaur, S. (2018). Security Challenges in Web Application Development. Journal of Information Security, 9(3), 123–135.
• Greitzer, F. L., & Frincke, D. A. (2010). Combining traditional cyber security audit data with psychosocial data: Towards predictive modeling for insider threat mitigation. Insider Threats in Cyber Security, 85–113.
• Mandiant. (2020). M-Trends 2020: A Year of Confronting Cyber Threats. Mandiant Threat Intelligence.
• Moore, T., & Clayton, R. (2017). The Impact of Hacktivism on Web Security. Cyber Security Journal, 5(2), 99–112.