IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/aza/csj000/y2020v4i1p48-57.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Think like a hacker: Reducing cyber security risk by improving API design and protection

Author

Listed:
  • Giese, Gerhard

    (Akamai Technologies GmbH, Germany)

Abstract

Application programming interface (API) traffic now dominates the Internet. Unlike traditional web forms, APIs are faster and more powerful, but often do not get the correct protection — expanding the security risk for organisations. APIs connect people, places and things to create seamless integrations, richer experiences and new revenue models. This paper deals with when an API is misused, and stipulates how the exposure to an organisation can be significant. The paper discusses why it is no longer safe to assume APIs will be used as intended or remain hidden to prevent unauthorised access or abuse. To stay ahead of the next cyber security exploit, API developers need to start thinking like a hacker. The paper promotes a proactive approach to identifying, designing, managing and protecting APIs which will minimise the attack surface and prevent damaging data breaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Giese, Gerhard, 2020. "Think like a hacker: Reducing cyber security risk by improving API design and protection," Cyber Security: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 4(1), pages 48-57, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:aza:csj000:y:2020:v:4:i:1:p:48-57
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hstalks.com/article/5775/download/
    Download Restriction: Requires a paid subscription for full access.
    File URL: https://hstalks.com/article/5775/
    Download Restriction: Requires a paid subscription for full access.
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    API; attack surface; apps; Internet of Things (IoT); pen testing; hacking; web security;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:aza:csj000:y:2020:v:4:i:1:p:48-57. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Henry Stewart Talks (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.