Clickjacking is a malicious technique that tricks users into clicking on something different from what they perceive, often by overlaying invisible or disguised elements on a webpage. This can lead to unintended actions such as sending confidential information, downloading malware, or liking and sharing content on social media without consent. Some malvertising schemes employ clickjacking. Clickjacking is a very real threat that is being actively exploited by attackers today.
In a clickjacking attack, a malicious actor embeds an invisible frame (or iframe) over a legitimate webpage. The user sees the legitimate page but interacts with the invisible frame when they attempt to click on something. For example, a user might think they are clicking on a video play button but are actually clicking on a concealed “like” button or “authorize” button, granting access to sensitive information.
Preventing clickjacking involves several layered strategies:
1. X-Frame-Options Header: Websites can use the X-Frame-Options HTTP header to prevent their pages from being embedded within iframes, thereby stopping most clickjacking attempts. This header can be set to deny framing altogether or allow it only from the same origin.
2. Content Security Policy (CSP): Implementing a Content Security Policy can prevent unauthorized framing. The frame-ancestors directive in CSP can specify which websites are allowed to embed a page.
3. JavaScript Frame Busting: Websites can employ frame-busting scripts that prevent a webpage from being displayed within a frame. However, some modern browsers block frame-busting scripts, and attackers may circumvent them.
4. Visual Indicators: Encouraging users to look for visual indicators of site legitimacy, such as the padlock symbol for SSL, can help, as clickjacking may affect the appearance of these indicators.
5. User Education: Educating users about the risks of clickjacking and encouraging safe browsing habits can help prevent successful attacks.
6. Regularly Update and Patch: Keeping all software, especially web browsers, up to date will ensure that you benefit from the latest security features and fixes.
By combining these strategies, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of clickjacking attacks. Speak to our security experts at Archway Securities to find out more.