Security Essentials Every Developer Should Know

Let’s face it: most developers don’t get serious about security… until they get burned.

You're shipping features, squashing bugs, deploying updates — security often feels like “someone else’s job.” But the reality? One overlooked vulnerability can destroy your app and your reputation.

Whether you're building a simple portfolio site or managing enterprise-scale applications — security must be baked in from day one.

Here’s what every developer (yes, you) should know to stay secure and sleep better at night.

1. Always Hash Passwords (and Never with MD5 or SHA1 😱)

Passwords should never be stored in plain text — that’s a given. But even common hashing algorithms like MD5 and SHA1 are outdated and breakable.

Use a hashing algorithm built for security like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2.

// Example using bcrypt in Node.js
const bcrypt = require('bcrypt');
const saltRounds = 10;

const hashPassword = async (password) => {
  const hash = await bcrypt.hash(password, saltRounds);
  return hash;
};

👉 Read why bcrypt is still secure

2. Don’t Trust User Input — Ever.

SQL Injection, XSS, Command Injection — all stem from trusting user input.

Use input validation libraries and sanitize everything.

For SQL: Use parameterized queries
For XSS: Escape output with libraries like DOMPurify
For backend validation: Use tools like Joi or Zod

-- BAD
SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '$input';

-- GOOD (Parameterized)
SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?;

3. Store Secrets Securely

Hardcoding your API keys in code or uploading .env files to GitHub? That’s how leaks happen.

Use environment variables, and tools like:

Check out this guide: Stop hardcoding your secrets

4. Use HTTPS — Always

Even for local development. With tools like mkcert, it's super easy.

mkcert localhost

If your app runs without HTTPS in production, you're exposing users to man-in-the-middle attacks. No excuses in 2025.

5. Set Secure HTTP Headers

Headers are your first line of defense.

Use a security middleware like helmet in Express.js:

const helmet = require('helmet');
app.use(helmet());

CSP (Content Security Policy) is especially important to stop XSS attacks.

Dive deeper into secure headers guide

6. Keep Dependencies in Check

Most vulnerabilities don’t come from your code — they come from third-party packages.

Regularly run: npm audit or yarn audit
Use Snyk
Remove unused packages!

Use tools like Socket.dev to analyze open-source packages before installing.

7. Use Proper Authentication Flows

Stop building your own auth — seriously.

Use OAuth, OpenID Connect, or services like:

And always use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for admin accounts.

8. Protect Against CSRF

Cross-Site Request Forgery is sneaky and dangerous. If you’re building forms or APIs, protect your endpoints.

Use tokens, check referrers, and enable SameSite cookies:

res.cookie('token', value, {
  httpOnly: true,
  sameSite: 'Strict'
});

Learn more in OWASP CSRF Prevention Cheat Sheet

9. Don’t Roll Your Own Crypto

Unless you’re a cryptography expert, don’t try to “encrypt stuff” yourself.

Use well-tested libraries:

For Node.js: crypto module
For frontend: Web Crypto API

Bad crypto = false sense of security.

💡 Pro Tip: Bookmark OWASP Top 10 — it’s the Bible for web security.

Security isn't a checkbox — it's a mindset.
Start thinking like an attacker, and you’ll build systems they can’t easily break.

🔁 What’s the worst security mistake you’ve seen in the wild? Share your horror stories (or wins!) in the comments.

💬 Have questions or tips to share? Drop them below — let’s learn from each other!

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