Top Tips to Safeguard Any .NET Web App

When a company sets out to add a web application to its business strategy, the primary focus is on developing and testing applications that will drive productivity, enhance business efficiency and improve revenue. The market offers plenty of choices when it comes to selecting a platform for building such an app. But, many experts agree that .NET, a cross-platform, open-source platform is ideal for enabling the development of high-quality, complex web apps that serve the precise goals of the business.

It is the crucial reason why developers and companies alike choose .NET for its ability to deliver robust security. No matter the industry, secure web application development is a critical priority. It is because the constant evolution of web app technologies has transformed how we access and share information. Thus put the spotlight on business, who must ensure top-notch security of their apps. In this regard, .NET has long proven its caliber as a platform that can deliver the highest levels of protection for web apps.

Let’s analyze some of the different ways how developers can use .NET to secure their web apps:

1. Examine and purge URLs: Since attacks and breaches occur when the query string values pass via the URL, developers can ensure the security of their app by defining a commonplace to whitelist the URL. It helps since sanitizing URLs with a group of whitelisted characters and eliminating the bad ones. It is an excellent way to safeguard the app with this ability to prevent aspects that are whitelisted.
2. Encrypted service calls: Opening the WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) services via fundamental HTTPBinding causes the relayed message to appear as plain text, which, is open for manipulation by unauthorized entities. Hence, developers are advised to use wsHTTPBinding to convey encrypted messages since it will intercept and obstruct unsanctioned access to such data. It is also a good idea to host services under an SSL layer since it further improves security.
3. Message Authentication Codes: Also referred to as MAC, it is a cryptographic code spawned by the server and then allocated to the ViewState hidden form field. The MAC value ensures the client has not tinkered with these fields. Though EnableViewStateMac's default value is real, is set to false, which, then renders the app susceptible to cross-site scripting attacks. Since ASP.NET 4.5.2 was released, the platform does not allow the application to change the default value to prevent such attacks.
4. Encode data: .NET developers have access to the AntiXSS library, which offers a variety of robust ways to encrypt the app's data. With encrypted data, the XSS scripts remain inactive, and execution is not possible.

When it comes to web application development in dot NET, it is imperative to make provisions for adequate security measures to make sure that customers' data is always protected and safe. It, in turn, can contribute to enhancing the business' position in the market as well as its sales and revenue.