Malicious JavaScripts: How Can You Get Hacked? Detecting the vulnerabilities and leaking are of the essence in hacking. That’s why maintaining cyber security is quite crucial for individuals and corporations. In 2017, even a big firm like Yahoo was hacked by a simple phishing e-mail. Equifast -one of the largest credit bureaus- was hacked through a vulnerability in its dispute portal, revealing 143 million users’ personal information. The year of 2017 also saw one of the most full-scale cyber attacks: Wannacry ransomware affected many computers, including Bitcoin wallets.

So, cyber vulnerabilities matter.

Hackers and hacker groups increased the complexity if their methods. JavaScripts are being commonly used by hackers as well as usual methods. Here is an overview of how you can get hacked by different methods of JavaScript and take simple steps to protect yourself and your firm.

What is the importance of JavaScripts?

JavaScript is a widely-used programming language. It is one of the three fundamental technologies for creating content for the web, apart from HTML and CSS. Today’s web traffic heavily relies on JavaScript to display content and help users all over the world to do more things online. JavaScript is used by 93.6% of all the websites.

Recently, malicious javascripts are emerging as a new weapon of the hackers due to a certain characteristic: JavaScript lets website developers to use any code when someone visits their website. So, malicious act may happen without the user’s notice in contrast to an ordinary virus case.

Infected JavaScript files doesn’t need user interaction. They are usually encoded in the links so browsing a website is enough to be hacked. That’s why malicious Javascripts are quite dangerous. There are several ways through which the malicious JavaScripts spread as listed below.

Code injections

Code injections are not necessarily malicious acts. Legitimate sites also use them with different purposes. These injections are also preferred ways that can be used by hackers. Malicious code injections in legitimate websites are online advertising sites and commonly used by hackers who engage in JavaScript.

Cross site scripting (XSS)

It is just one kind of the security gaps that websites may have. Using this method, malicious scripts are injected into normally trusted web sites. Hackers engage in XSS attacks by using a web application to send malicious code, generally in the form of a browser side script. Cross site scripting involves an embedded danger: Hacked legitimate sites constitute a large share of the malicious sites. It is the main attempt of the hackers to leak into legitimate sites since these sites give trust to the user in the first place. That’s how the hackers exploit passwords, accounts, and other data.

With these tactics, a hacker is able to gain unauthorized access to the users’ personal details through their devices. These methods are not so costly and can easily be spread from user to user. The main point of the JavaScript attacks are that they rarely cast doubt on them. Browser add-ons, fake pop-up messages all include danger to a certain extent. Some downloaded files can also launch malware infections. But overall, JavaScript is not a completely insecure programming language as long as you keep the programs in your devices up-to-date.

Growing Danger: Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (or malware) that, once it’s taken over your computer, threatens you with harm, usually by blocking your access to your data. Hackers demand a certain amount of ransom before enabling access again. Along with social engineering tools, ransomware can be circulated by using JavaScript codes. Recently, hackers created a ransomware that is called “Ransom 32” which consists of 100% JavaScript. This ransomware is a contemporary example how cyber attacks conducted by hackers can wear you out both financially and psychologically.

Malicious JavaScripts; How can you get protected?

Even though the malicious JavaScripts are hard to detect at a first glance, certainly there are several ways to avoid them. Keeping all kinds of software up-to-date is the key, the updates give the users the assurance that they fight with those malicious attacks with their new security methods. You can control your online traffic with the settings section in your browser. You can choose not to run JavaScripts, but you still have the option to exclude some websites you trust so that you can enjoy them fully. Yet, it is needless to say that you should avoid suspicious websites and spams in your mailbox.

The ways of hacking are getting diverse day by day. JavaScripts are only a specific example of these malicious cybercrime methods. However, the ways of protecting your personal information and other corporate data are also becoming more developed. Using a comprehensive security software and working with professionals are quite vital for individuals and firms to maintain their cybersecurity.

As a proactive measure, it would be great help if you know that your company and associated vendors are at risk of such cyber attacks. Get your risk score now.