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Is storing data in local storage safe?
If a site is vulnerable to XSS, LocalStorage is not safe Storing something sensitive like a password in a local storage file actually simplifies the process for a hacker, because they won’t need to load the cookie into their own browser.
How do I protect my authentication token?
Before we actually get to implementing JWT, let’s cover some best practices to ensure token based authentication is properly implemented in your application.
- Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
- Do not add sensitive data to the payload.
- Give tokens an expiration.
- Embrace HTTPS.
- Consider all of your authorization use cases.
What is a token in authentication?
An authentication token securely transmits information about user identities between applications and websites. An authentication token allows internet users to access applications, services, websites, and application programming interfaces (APIs) without having to enter their login credentials each time they visit.
Where are authentication tokens stored in an application?
First, let’s talk about applications which are implemented with stateful authentication. The authentication state in these applications is just a simple file (or data/record) that’s stored in temporary storage. In addition to the file, users get an identification (or session) token.
Are there security issues with user authentication tokens?
While using the latest technology might be strongly recommended, not understanding how the technology works, the possible security issues, and the basics of secure development practices is also a big problem. Authentication and user session management are particularly vulnerable areas.
How often should a user authentication token be renewed?
Renewal – If the user is active, the authentication token should automatically be renewed every 10-15 minutes. In the event of a single token theft attack, the action time of doing harm is minimized.
How big should a set of authentication tokens be?
Use an extremely large set of possible values. Work with a strong source of pseudorandomness, ensuring an even and unpredictable spread of tokens across the range of possible values. Make the tokens long enough (at least 16 bytes).