The top 6 cybersecurity risks to look out for this year

By Johnny Finger, Digital Marketing Account Executive

Modern websites face growing security risks that extend far beyond design and performance. This article breaks down the most common website security risks businesses face today, from attack surface expansion to third-party exposure, and explains how to identify, reduce, and manage vulnerabilities before they damage trust or reputation. 

Most visitors will look at a website and ask for speed, intuitive UX and clear information. That’s what we do, create hardworking websites that deliver results. But what happens when they stop working? What happens when security is breached? All that hard work goes to waste and reputation management sets in.  

That’s why we have to stay ahead when it comes to the security of websites. Just like design isn’t just decoration, development isn’t just writing code. It’s about protecting the business, reputation and trust behind the website. 

Even if you only run a simple website, your digital estate is probably a lot bigger than you think. Attackers don’t limit themselves to your home page, they probe APIs, cloud resources, forgotten subdomains, third-party scripts and even your employees. Security isn’t a one and done task, it’s a continuous process of discovery, testing and patching. If you think you don’t have any digital vulnerabilities, you haven’t looked hard enough. 

Here are our top 6 areas to investigate and assess:  

1. Attack surface: it might be larger than you think 

Your attack surface is every route an attacker could take to reach your data, and its far more than just your website itself. Attack surface analysis must examine internet facing assets and internal services that can be reached by users, including exposed APIs, misconfigured cloud resources and third-party components. Hidden entry points, such as forgotten APIs, shadow IT systems, abandoned subdomains and misconfigurations vastly increase the ways criminals can get in.  

Key areas to consider: 

• Digital assets: websites, login pages, admin dashboards, apps, databases, and remote access points (like staff logins or VPNs). 
• Cloud & DNS: file storage or shared systems that may be accidentally left public or unprotected. 
• Third parties: things like chat widgets, payment systems, analytics trackers, or customer service plugins that you’ve added to your site. 
• People & process: staff being tricked by phishing emails, reusing weak passwords, or approving fake login requests. 

If you haven’t audited these layers lately, start now: continuous discovery and testing are the only sustainable defence for your digital presence. 

2. Application-level bugs: what goes wrong when your code runs right 

Application vulnerabilities arise from how your software handles user input and manages data. They often bypass traditional security measures because they exploit logic errors inside the code itself. 

SQL injection: SQL injection is when attackers trick a website into sending harmful instructions to its database by typing special commands into input fields such as logins or search bars. Instead of treating the input as plain text, the system runs it as code, letting attackers steal data, change records, or bypass logins. This is dangerous because it can expose sensitive information, damage trust, and even give hackers control over your systems. To fix it, websites should strictly check user input, use safe coding methods that keep data and commands separate (like prepared statements), and test regularly to catch vulnerabilities early. 

CrossSite scripting: Cross site scripting or “XSS” is when an attacker injects harmful code into a web page though an input. When this site loads, this code it runs inside visitors’ browsers. When that code runs, it can steal users’ logins, hijack their sessions, change what they see, or redirect them to malicious sites. This is dangerous because it attacks your users directly, undermines trust, and can lead to account takeover or data theft. Fix it by carefully validating and cleaning all user input, encoding data before showing it on pages, and using browser security controls (like Content Security Policy) to block unexpected scripts. 

3. Session and cookie safety 

Sessions are authenticated tokens that keep users logged in. Without proper controls, they are prime targets for: 

Session hijacking: When an attacker steals the cookie a website uses to keep users logged in, through malicious scripts (XSS), unencrypted connections (like public Wi-Fi), browser plug-ins, or leaked tokens in site code they can drop it into their own browser and the site will treat them as a verified user. This lets them access private accounts, view or change data, or make transactions without needing a password. Marking cookies as HttpOnly ensures that scripts can’t read them, and using the “Secure” attribute ensures they are only sent over encrypted HTTPS. Together, these steps protect cookies from theft during transit and from malicious actors. 

Token handling: Tokens are similar to cookies, both prove identity, but tokens are often more powerful because they usually last longer and can grant wider access. Unlike cookies, which typically expire when you log out or after a short time, tokens may remain valid for hours, days, or even indefinitely if they aren’t rotated. They’re also often used for system-to-system communication (like between your app and a cloud service), which means they can unlock not just a single user account but entire databases or APIs. If attackers steal one, they can repeatedly call those services, download data, or act as your application itself. To protect against this, never store tokens in localStorage or front-end code, keep them short-lived, rotate them regularly, and store refresh tokens securely (e.g., in HttpOnly cookies) so attackers can’t easily grab and reuse them. 

4. Web delivery quirks attackers abuse 

Modern websites are built in layers. The systems that pass information between users and your servers don’t always interpret things the same way. Hackers take advantage of these mismatches to sneak harmful requests through. 

HTTP request smuggling: If the systems that handle web requests don’t agree on how long a message is or how it should be read, hackers can sneak a hidden malicious request inside a real one. This confuses the systems and lets attackers slip past normal checks. The results can include serving poisoned versions of pages, where users information can be stolen, and forcing users into fake sessions, where hackers hijack logins, giving them access to private accounts. Making sure all systems handle requests the same way can prevent this, block unclear or suspicious requests, clean and standardise requests before processing them, and keep your web servers and tools updated. 

“Off by slash” errors: Websites sometimes read addresses differently depending on the system. Hackers exploit this by adding extra slashes or unusual symbols into a URL, which can trick one system into thinking the page is safe while another gives access to private files or areas. Sometimes it also causes sensitive pages to be stored in the wrong place by a cache, making them visible to others. This is dangerous because it can expose confidential information or let attackers bypass security controls. To prevent it, make sure all systems handle web addresses consistently, keep servers patched, and test for odd or unexpected cases in URLs. 

5. Supply chain pitfalls: your domain, their content 

Modern sites rely heavily on cloud resources and third-party services. These dependencies create new attack paths. 

Subdomain takeovers: A subdomain takeover happens when an address on your website (like shop.example.com) points to a service that you no longer own or use. If that external service has been shut down, someone else can claim it and serve content using your subdomain. An attacker who claims an unused service can publish pages under your address. They might host fake login pages, phishing forms, or other malicious content that looks like it came from you. Because the page runs on your domain, users and systems trust it. That makes phishing far more convincing, damages your brand, and can lead to stolen credentials, fraud, or legal and regulatory fallout. Keep an up-to-date list of all subdomains and immediately remove or update DNS records that point to services you’ve retired. Run regular automated checks for orphaned subdomains and watch certificate/DNS change alerts so you can catch takeovers early. 

Misconfigured cloud storage: Companies often use cloud storage (like online folders or file buckets) to hold data, backups, or documents. If these are set up incorrectly, they may be left open to the public without anyone realising. Hackers can browse and download sensitive files such as customer details, financial records, or internal documents. In some cases, they can even upload malicious files into these folders, making it look like the files came from you. Real breaches at companies like Twilio and Premier Diagnostics happened this way. Exposed cloud storage can leak confidential information, spread malware, damage your reputation, and lead to costly fines or lawsuits. Always set cloud storage to private by default, only give access to those who need it, and block public permissions. Turn on logging so you can track who is accessing or changing files. 

6. Secrets & client-side exposure 

Hardcoding secrets: Sometimes developers accidentally leave sensitive details, like passwords, tokens, or keys, directly in the visible parts of a website’s code. Because anyone can look at that code in their browser, these secrets are effectively public. Hackers can copy those details and use them to unlock systems, steal data, or impersonate your services. Once exposed, those keys can be shared widely and reused. This gives attackers direct access to systems that should be protected, leading to data theft, fraud, or full account takeovers. Keep all secrets hidden on the server, store them securely in a password vault or key manager, and rotate them regularly so they can’t be reused if leaked. Use automated tools to scan your code and spot accidental exposures quickly. 

Minimum security baseline: a quick audit checklist 

Don’t know where to start with securing your digital presence? Use the following checklist to assess your current security status: 

1. Inventory everything. Maintain a list of all domains, subdomains, APIs, cloud buckets, third-party scripts and remote access points. Unknown assets are unprotected assets. 
2. Reduce your exposed surface. Close unused ports and protocols, use IP allowlists for admin areas and require multi factor authentication for all users with special privileges. 
3. Secure your code pipeline. Scan source code and dependencies in CI, and run dynamic tests against staging and production.  
4. Harden the edge. Keep proxies and backends aligned to prevent request smuggling and path normalization issues. Set strict CSP headers, use SRI for third-party scripts and enable HSTS (force HTTPS). 
5. Patch promptly. Subscribe to CVE feeds for your stack and schedule regular maintenance windows to deploy updates. 
6. Monitor & respond. Review web application firewall logs, watch for unexpected DNS changes and certificate issuances, and enable access logging for storage buckets. 

Your attack surface is broader than you might imagine, stretching from forgotten subdomains to the laptops of your staff. Addressing these risks doesn’t require becoming a hacker yourself, it requires awareness, digital hygiene and the right partners.  

At Aspectus, we understand what a secure web estate entails, and if you want expert advice about where you could be vulnerable, get in touch and let’s protect your information. 

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Key takeaways

Why is website security more than just protecting a homepage? 

Attackers target APIs, cloud services, subdomains, third-party tools, and even employees. Every connected asset increases risk. 

Which vulnerabilities cause the most damage to businesses? 

Application flaws, session hijacking, misconfigured cloud storage, and supply chain weaknesses often lead to data breaches and brand damage. 

How can businesses reduce website security risks effectively? 

By continuously inventorying assets, reducing exposure, securing development pipelines, patching promptly, and actively monitoring for threats. 

About the author

Johnny Finger, based in London, is an Account Executive on our Digital team.