Hackers use clickjacking to fool people into downloading malware or revealing confidential information. There’s usually a hidden frame over an innocuous web page. The malicious invisible frame gets activated when users click on the web page.
Sensitive data can be stolen and accessed, leading to reputational and financial damage for small businesses. There are even penalties under data protection laws like The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). A content security policy frame has some excellent safeguards.
What is Clickjacking?
One standard clickjacking method involves using a decoy button or link. The user believes they are clicking on what they see but interacting with a hidden malicious iframe. It could be sharing sensitive information or enabling a hidden webcam they don’t know about.
Common Types of Clickjacking Attacks
Here are some clickjacking attack tactics.
- A hacker overlays a transparent iframe over a web page in the classic version of clickjacking attacks.
- Some iframes that get used are barely noticeable because hackers can set the opacity to zero on the target website.
- Some clickjacking attacks can manipulate a cursor.
- Some attackers offer a video or survey with a hidden video player that’s malicious underneath what looks like a benign user interface. An example of this can be seen in cases of Google publishers using clickjacking.
Small Business Deals
How Clickjacking Can Affect Your Business
This can lead to hackers getting access to sensitive business data. Stolen information can be used for identity theft or sold on the dark web. Understanding more about cybersecurity terms can be beneficial in recognizing and preventing such threats.
Severe Breaches
Some other impacts on businesses include clickjacking as an entry point for even more severe breaches. Hackers can exploit click-jacking vulnerabilities to access business systems and send users to malicious pages.
ErodeTrust
Clickjacking can erode the trust in a small business. There could be a corresponding decline in revenue and a spike in customer churn, plus a loss of reputation.
Recognizing Clickjacking
Here are a few things you should be looking for to recognize an attack.
- If clicking on a landing page redirects you to a different site, triggers downloads or opens new tabs, you could be the victim of an attack.
- Frequent pop-ups on a website could be another clear indicator.
- It’s another red flag if your cursor is acting strangely like it’s misaligned.
- Poor website performance is another element you should be looking at. Unresponsiveness and slower load times can be the result.
Clickjacking Prevention Strategies
Here are a few proven methods to prevent this problem. Don’t forget the security policy frame enhances security.
- The CSP is a security standard. Website owners who use it can tell which content is legitimate. It’s a great way to prevent an attack.
- Software updates are essential. That’s particularly true for plugins and web browsers. Remember to include patches for any security vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
- Remember to enable any built-in browser security features to protect against this issue.
Utilizing the X-Frame-Options Header
Frame-Ancestors Directive
This controls which websites can embed content. Frame ancestors can list different domains that are allowed. It allows the resources that a browser can load for any given page.
X-Frame-Options Header
This tool can prevent click-jacking attacks by ensuring a page is not embedded into other websites. Developers can set it in their service configuration and or web application framework.
Updating and Patching Web Applications
Closing security gaps so you don’t visit malicious web pages through click-jacking is essential.
- Regularly updating modern web applications and browsers to ensure security policy features are current is necessary.
- Take advantage of software updates that include patches and update these regularly.
Conducting a Clickjacking Test
Performing a test to access a website’s vulnerability against attacks from invisible iframes means taking advantage of the following guide:
- You’ll need to understand the invisible iframe, which is one of the standard methods used.
- You can choose from several different test tools like OWASP.
- Next, you can create a test page with an embedded iframe. There are automated scanners you can take advantage of, like OWASP ZAP.
- Documenting all of your testing processes, findings, and vulnerabilities is essential. Consider tweaking your x frame options.
- Remember to schedule regular tests. New vulnerabilities are constantly emerging with time.