Yvonna Cook’s Post

🌐 Hello, Connections! 🌐 I'm excited to share that I've published my very first blog on Medium! 🎉 📖OAuth 2.0 & JWT: The Dynamic Duo of Digital Security! In this post, I take a beginner-friendly approach to the basics of digital security, focusing on how OAuth 2.0 and JSON Web Tokens (JWT) work behind the scenes to make our logins smoother and more secure. It’s a light and simple read for anyone interested in understanding how our everyday logins stay safe without the hassle of remembering endless passwords. If you've ever wondered how that “Sign in with Google” magic happens, this post is for you! I’d love for you to give it a read, and please feel free to share your thoughts or feedback. Your support means a lot! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gWDpPi7X #DigitalSecurity #OAuth2 #JWT #CyberSecurity #Blog #Learning #TechExplained #FirstBlog #Medium

OAuth 2.0 is a widely used authorization framework that allows a third-party application (client) to access user data from another service (resource server) without needing the user’s password. This ensures that the user’s credentials remain safe and private. 🔒 Here's the simple flow: 1️⃣ User grants permission via an authorization server. 2️⃣ Client app gets an access token instead of sensitive credentials. 3️⃣ Access token is used to interact with the resource server securely. This standard powers secure logins and integrations across platforms like Google, LinkedIn, and more! 🌐 #OAuth2 #CyberSecurity #APIIntegration

Understanding Session, Cookie, JWT, Token, SSO, and OAuth 2.0 Easily Explained in One Picture. When initiating a login session on a website, the management of your identity becomes pivotal. Here's an overview of how various solutions operate: Session: The server retains your identity information and issues a session ID cookie to the browser. This facilitates the server in tracking the login state. However, cookies may encounter limitations across different devices. Token: Your identity is encoded within a token dispatched to the browser. Subsequently, the browser forwards this token in subsequent requests for authentication. Notably, no server session storage is necessitated. Nevertheless, tokens necessitate encryption/decryption procedures. JWT: JSON Web Tokens standardize identity tokens by employing digital signatures to establish trust. The token encompasses the signature, thus obviating the need for server sessions. SSO: Single Sign-On leverages a central authentication service, enabling a unified login experience across multiple websites. OAuth2: This protocol enables restricted access to your data on one site by another site, all without divulging passwords. QR Code: Utilizes a random token encoded into a QR code for mobile login purposes. By scanning the code, users are seamlessly logged in without the need for manual password entry. The rise in QR code logins shows they are becoming more popular. Do you know how they work? #penetrationtesting #cybersecurity #websecurity #infosec

Day #54 of #100Daysof #SecurityChallenge Today, I worked on #OAuth #Flows. In OAuth, the term "control flow" typically refers to the sequence of steps and interactions that occur during the #authentication and #authorization process between a #client application, a #user, and a #server. There are 4 basic types of flows in OAuth: 1- #Authorization Code Grants 2- #Implicit Grants 3- #Client Credentials Grant 4- #Resource Owner Password Credential Grants My focus today was on the Authorization Code Grants flow(the default flow by the way), and I learned that it is a #redirection-based flow, which means the application must be able to interact with the #user #agent, and in this case, we are talking about web the #browser. There are 5 main steps involved in this process: 1- The user authorization request, 2- User authorizes application, 3- Authorization Code Granted, 4- Access Token Request with code, 5- Access Token Granted. That’s just how straightforward the Authorization Code Grant flow works. In the following days, I will explore the remaining control flows and move on to other cool OAuth topics. #Cybersecurity   #EthicalHacking   #HappyHacking

Ever wondered how you seamlessly log in to different apps using the same credentials? That's the magic of identity protocols! Let's dive into some common identity protocols that you might encounter in your digital journey: 1️⃣ OpenID Connect (OIDC): Imagine this as a secure way to verify your identity across different applications. It works by building on top of OAuth2, another protocol that handles authorization (think permissions). OIDC uses JSON tokens, a lightweight and modern format, to exchange information between applications. 2️⃣ Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML): SAML is an open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between different parties. It's based on XML and is used to communicate security information, like who you are and what you're allowed to access, between an identity provider and a service provider. These protocols are like behind-the-scenes heroes, ensuring a smooth and secure login experience for users. #identityaccessmanagement #IAM #microsoft #microsoftsecurity #microsoftsc300 #cybersecurity #comptia #security+ #cysa+ #cc

🔒 How HTTPS Encryption Works: A Step-by-Step Breakdown 🔒 Ever wondered how your data stays secure online? Here’s a simplified view of the HTTPS encryption process that ensures our sensitive information remains private: 1🔻 Connection Request : Your browser initiates a request to establish an HTTPS connection with a web server. 2🔻 Public Key Exchange : The web server responds with its public key, which your browser will use to encrypt a "session key" for secure communication. 3 🔻 Session Key Generation : Your browser creates a unique session key specifically for this session, then encrypts it with the server’s public key. 4 🔻 Encrypted Session Key Transfer : The encrypted session key is sent to the server, which uses its private key to decrypt it and retrieve the session key. 5 🔻 Symmetric Encryption for Faster Communication : With the session key now shared, both the browser and the server switch to symmetric encryption for the remainder of the session, allowing faster, secure communication. In summary, HTTPS combines asymmetric encryption (using public/private keys) for the initial exchange and symmetric encryption for efficient data transfer, protecting user data every step of the way. 🌐🔐 #CyberSecurity #Encryption #DataPrivacy #Infosec #CyberAwareness #SSL #EthicalHacking #DataProtection

🔒 Securing REST APIs: Essential Authentication Methods 🚀 In today's digital world, securing REST APIs is crucial. Here’s a quick overview of the top authentication methods: API Keys 🔑: Simple and quick. Ideal for public APIs. Always use HTTPS. Basic Auth 🔐: Uses username and password. Best for simple apps. Requires HTTPS. OAuth2 🌐: Standard for secure, scalable access. Great for third-party integrations. JWT 📜: Self-contained tokens. Reduces server load. Ensures data integrity. Mutual TLS 🔒🔒: Both client and server authenticate each other. Ideal for sensitive data. Best Practices: 🔒 Always use HTTPS. 🔄 Rotate and revoke credentials regularly. ⚖️ Implement rate limiting. 📈 Log and monitor authentication attempts. Which methods work best for you? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️#APISecurity #RESTAPI #Authentication #WebDevelopment #CyberSecurity

Today the CyberArk Secure Browser (CSB) is generally available! As a component of the CyberArk Identity Security Platform, CSB is designed to eliminate security gaps between consumer-focused browsers and SaaS applications, endpoint-based controls, and identity providers. The goal: unprecedented visibility, control, and governance for security teams to help prevent the malicious use of compromised identities, endpoints, and credentials both at and beyond login. See our 3-minute demo showcasing multiple use-cases here:

🔐 What is a JWT Bearer Token? Let's Clarify! 🔑 Have you heard of JWT tokens being referred to as Bearer Tokens? 🤔 Well, they’re a powerful tool in API security, but here's the deal: ✅ Bearer Token means that the one who "bears" or holds the token can access resources. But it's NOT just that simple! 🚫 🛡️ How It Works: When a user logs in, they get a JWT (JSON Web Token) from the server. This token is used in requests to access protected data. BUT! The server always validates the token (checking for expiry and signature) and ensures the user has permission. ❗ So, holding a token ≠ automatic access. The server still needs to make sure it’s legit! 💬 Have questions about how to secure your API with JWT tokens? Drop them below!👇 #CyberSecurity #APISecurity #WebDevelopment #JWT #BearerToken #TechExplained #APIAuthentication #CodingTips #FullStackDeveloper #SoftwareEngineering #DevTips #DataSecurity #TechForGood #DeveloperCommunity

Ever wondered how HTTPS works? Check out this fantastic visual guide on how HTTPS ensures secure data transfer between your browser and the server! 1️⃣ Server Certificate Check: The client and server exchange greetings, and the server sends its certificate. The client verifies this certificate with a Certificate Authority (CA) to ensure it's valid. 2️⃣ Key Exchange: Once the certificate is verified, the client and server exchange keys. The client generates a session key, selects a cipher suite, and encrypts the session key using the server's public key. The server decrypts this using its private key, establishing a secure connection. 3️⃣ Encrypted Tunnel: With the session key in place, both the client and server can now encrypt and decrypt the data they send to each other, ensuring a secure communication channel. Understanding this process is crucial for anyone involved in web development, cybersecurity, or IT. It highlights the importance of encryption in protecting data integrity and privacy on the internet. A big shoutout to ByteByteGo for creating this insightful and easy-to-understand flowchart! #CyberSecurity #HTTPS #WebDevelopment #Encryption #TechInsights #InfoSec #SSL #cybersecurityawareness #internet #intect