Understanding security vulnerabilities is the first step in building a solid defense posture, whether you’re an average user or an IT professional. Threats evolve rapidly, but most fall into well-defined categories.
Here are the main types of vulnerabilities and best practices for mitigating them:
1. Software Vulnerabilities (Bugs and Flaws)
These are flaws in program or operating system code that allow attackers to perform unauthorized actions.
Buffer Overflow: Occurs when a program writes more data to a memory block than it can hold, allowing malicious code to execute.
Zero-Day: A newly discovered flaw for which there is no manufacturer patch yet.
How to protect yourself:
Keep everything updated: Enable automatic updates for operating systems and applications.
Patch Management: In companies, use tools to ensure that all devices are on the latest version.
Code Injection (e.g., SQL Injection)
This happens when a system accepts user input (such as login forms) without proper filtering, allowing an attacker to “inject” commands directly into the database or server.
How to protect yourself:
Input sanitization: Never trust what the user types; filter out special characters.
Parameterized queries: Use programming methods that separate data from execution commands.
3. Broken Access Control(Access Control Failures)
This occurs when restrictions on what authenticated users can do are not properly enforced. This allows a regular user to access administrator data, for example.
How to protect yourself:
Principle of Least Privilege: Give users only the access strictly necessary for their roles.
Access Control Lists (ACLs): Regularly review who has permission to access sensitive folders and files.
4. Social Engineering (The Human Factor)
This vulnerability isn’t in the code, but in human behavior. Attackers manipulate people into revealing passwords or clicking on dangerous links.
Phishing: Fake emails or messages pretending to be from banks or well-known companies.
Pretexting: Creating a fabricated scenario to obtain information (e.g., pretending to be from technical support).
How to protect yourself:
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA): Even if your password is stolen, the attacker won’t be able to access your account without the second code.
Education and Training: Be wary of excessive urgency and always verify the official sender.
5. Incorrect Settings (Security Misconfiguration)
This is one of the most common vulnerabilities. It occurs when devices or services are left with default settings, factory passwords, or unnecessarily open ports.
How to protect yourself:
Change default passwords: Never keep “admin/admin” on routers or systems.
Disable unnecessary services: If a server doesn’t need FTP access, disable that port.
Summary of Best Practices (Checklist)
| Action | Why do it? |
| Using a Password Manager | Avoid using weak and repeated passwords. |
| Data Encryption | It protects your information in case your device is stolen. |
| Regular Backups | Ensures recovery in case of ransomware attacks. |
| Using VPN | Protects your connection on public Wi-Fi networks. |