Protecting against Cross Site Scripting Attacks (XSS)

A cross site scripting attack happens when a hacker finds a hole in a software application. XSS attacks are very common with open source software as hackers have the advantage of being able to see how the code works and find weaknesses.

The best way to protect yourself from these types of attacks is to keep your Open Source software up to date. Once a hole is found hackers quickly search the net for sites which use vulnerable software.

You can also keep yourself protected by removing any reference to the software you are using. For example many open source programs have "Powered by" in the footer. This makes it incredibly easy for hackers to find you, and they normally have scripts to do this for them.

If you think your site may have been compromised you need to contact us immediately. An XSS attack normally gives the hacker complete control over your account, this enables them to see configuration files containing your username and passwords, they can add or delete databases and deface your homepage and install viruses.