The most common security risks for websites include injection flaws, broken authentication, broken access control, and security misconfiguration.
Injection flaws - Injection attacks allow an attacker to inject malicious code into your website through an application. The best way to stay safe from injection attacks is to always keep all your applications up to date.
Broken Authentication - If your website has users who log into an account, you have a system that authenticates them when they log in. If your authentication is broken or weak, it allows hackers to assume the identity of a legitimate user, infiltrate your system, and use their access to commit fraudulent activity.
Broken Access Control - It is important to limit and manage who has access to which parts of your website. If you hire a contractor to work on your site, you should give the contractor limited access and remove their access as soon as they are done with their work. The same logic applies to your employees. Whether intentionally or not, employees with too much access can break things on your website.
Security Misconfiguration - Using default credentials (“admin” or “webmaster” as a username and/or a generic password) leaves you vulnerable to brute force attacks. Similarly, if you get website security software but fail to set it up properly, you are leaving yourself at risk. It is important to change all default/generic usernames and passwords, and ensure that security tools are properly installed.