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How Real-time API Abuse can be Prevented?
Having secure and robust encryption is essential as it provides token-based rate-limiting that have features to curb API access based on the number of IPs, sessions, and token from attackers
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CIO Applications | Friday, August 07, 2020

Having secure and robust encryption is essential as it provides token-based rate-limiting that have features to curb API access based on the number of IPs, sessions, and token from attackers
FREMONT, CA: The modern application architecture has changed drastically with the increase in the use of mobiles, IoT devices, and cloud systems. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are deployed to assist in communicating between different application architectures, but the attacks on poorly protected APIs are also increasing. Because of such attacks, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), business-critical services, and payment card details are at high risk.
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Many APIs do not have secure encryption between API clients and API servers. Attackers take adavntage of this loophole through main-in-middle attacks. They block unencrypted or less secured API transactions between API clients and servers to steal sensitive information or change transaction data.
Poor Endpoint Security
Many IoT devices and micro-service tools are programmed to interact with their server through API channels and authenticate themselves on API servers using client certificates. Hackers will attempt to take control over an API from the IoT endpoint and easily change the sequence API order, causing a data breach.
Authentication Flaws
A lot of APIs only check authentication status, but this does happen if a request comes from a genuine user. Attackers take advantage of this opening through various ways to imitate genuine API calls through session hijacking and account aggregation. They also target APIs by reverse engineering mobile apps to find out how it calls the API. If API keys are built into the app, it can result in an API breach.
Business Logic Vulnerability
Attackers make continuous and largescale API calls on an application server or slow POST requests resulting in rejection of services. A DDoS attack on an API can disrupt the front end web application.
Prevention
It is crucial to have a bot management solution that provides security to APIs against automated attacks and allows only genuine users to have access. When looking for solutions, always consider whether it provides broad attack detection and coverage, extensive reporting and analytics, and flexible deployment options.
Other steps can also include monitoring and managing API calls coming from automated bots, drop primitive authentication, use measures to avoid API access by complex human-like bots.
See Also: Top Endpoint Security Solution Companies
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