istunnonvarkauksille

Istunnonvarkaus, often translated as "session hijacking," is a type of cyberattack where an attacker gains unauthorized access to a user's active session on a website or online service. This typically occurs after a user has logged in and established a valid session. The attacker exploits the session token or identifier, which is a piece of data that the server uses to recognize a user and maintain their logged-in state.

There are several methods by which session hijacking can be achieved. One common technique is "session fixation," where an attacker sets a user's session ID to a known value before the user logs in. Once the user logs in with that predetermined session ID, the attacker can then use it to impersonate the user. Another method involves "cross-site scripting" (XSS) attacks, where malicious code is injected into a legitimate website. This code can then steal the session cookies of users who visit the compromised page. Network sniffing on unencrypted connections can also allow attackers to intercept session tokens.

The consequences of a successful session hijacking attack can be severe. Attackers can gain access to sensitive personal information, financial data, or perform actions on behalf of the victim, such as making purchases or sending fraudulent communications. To mitigate this risk, websites employ various security measures. These include using secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS), regenerating session IDs upon login, setting appropriate cookie expiration times, and implementing robust input validation to prevent XSS attacks. Users can also protect themselves by avoiding suspicious links, ensuring they are on secure websites, and logging out of sensitive accounts when finished.