Application security: thinking backwards

Source: Dev.to

Why think backwards?

Developers often focus on what library or tool they can use to secure their microservices. Modern tools are powerful nowadays, but you can’t be sure all doors are locked if you have never looked at them from the other side.

To truly protect an application, you must first learn how it can be attacked. Thinking like an ethical hacker helps you understand:

• How can your application be invaded?
• Where sensitive data can be leaked?
• What weak points can be exploited?
• How attackers chain small issues into real threats?

OWASP Top 10

The OWASP community plays a huge role here. The OWASP Top 10 list of grouped vulnerabilities provides clear explanations of the most common vulnerabilities, how to test for them, and, most importantly, how to mitigate them.

Practice in a safe environment

Theory alone is not enough. There are excellent platforms where you can practice ethical hacking in a secure environment and understand how vulnerabilities behave in real‑world scenarios. One of my favorites is PortSwigger Academy. You can choose a specific vulnerability, exploit it step by step, and then draw parallels to your own application.

PortSwigger Academy –

PortSwigger also developed the Burp Suite DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) tool. Burp Suite is a set of tools used for penetration testing of web applications.

Main goals

• Prevent attacks before they happen
• Protect our users
• Let us (and our users) get some well‑needed shut‑eye, knowing the doors are locked

Combining SAST and DAST

SAST, in combination with DAST tools, provides a more comprehensive security posture by identifying vulnerabilities in both the source code and the running application, enabling earlier detection, improved coverage, and reduced risk in production.