Web Hacking and Secure Coding Fundamentals

Security is no longer optional for modern web applications. To build secure software, you must understand how malicious actors exploit common vulnerabilities and how to stop them at the source code level. This text-based course bridges the gap between offensive hacking techniques and defensive engineering, helping you write robust software that resists modern threats. You will start with foundational web security concepts and security terminology before moving into practical code-level defenses. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational web security concepts, HTTP protocols, and the mechanics of web exploitation. - Identify critical vulnerabilities including SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). - Apply defensive coding principles to sanitize inputs, parameterize queries, and secure application logic. - Configure essential security headers and implement secure modern authentication practices, including safe JWT storage. - Practice threat modeling basics to anticipate and mitigate potential security risks early in the development lifecycle. Starting with essential definitions and core web protocols, the course systematically walks you through common attack vectors and their corresponding code-level mitigations. This course is designed specifically for web developers, software engineering students, and information security beginners, requiring no prior cybersecurity background. Equip yourself with the essential security mindset and start writing safer code today.