Many online applications, such as insurance portals healthcare portals, messaging apps, rely on the secure uploading and downloading of business-related files. Leaving file uploads unrestricted is the most common attack vector for malicious actors that can easily insert malware and steal private information.
A reliable file upload system should check uploaded files against a list of allowed file types and test them http://firedataroom.com/why-do-lawyers-love-working-on-a-virtual-data-room for viruses before they are saved. This ensures that the client’ personal information is not exposed and that the system is compliant with standards, such as HIPAA for health-related records and GDPR for EU citizens.
It is important to be able and able to confirm the file types, as attackers are able to “mask” malicious programs by changing the file’s name to acceptable extensions like.jpg or.gif. This means that your solution might not be able detect the file’s actual type and could allow it to pass without being detected. You will require a file-uploading system which also checks the extension of the file to avoid this.
A strong encryption of all data in flight and at rest is another method to protect yourself against various attacks. This transforms messages and files into code that hackers are unable to read, even when they gain access to.
You can also set up a system for uploading files that rejects any files that don’t meet your naming conventions. This will help keep your team organized and also prevents you from exposing confidential information in file names.
