What is an attack surface?
An attack surface is defined as the total number of all possible entry points for unauthorized access into any system. It includes all vulnerabilities and endpoints that can be exploited to carry out a security attack. The attack surface is also the entire area of an organization or system that is susceptible to hacking.
Katie-Terrell-Hanna in this article
Front-end engineer's
Often think of security as a thing for database managers and back-end engineers. But The front end is the front-lines when it comes to security. You design the attack surface. You decide which files are served to the client.
Now I'm not saying you have to be a master hacker to create an effective and safe front-end to your application. But we are all cogs in a large piece of machinery. Knowing how that machine all fits together and what role each piece takes is important in helping us do our jobs more effectively.
Why front-end security matters
People input their information to the front end of applications. Sometimes sensitive data. It is the front-end engineer's job to make sure the information is passed to and from the backend safely. That it's not tamped with or even intercepted. Think of the security risk a single api key could create in the wrong hands. Or if you're the reason a hacker gets your clients credit card number.
Security is everyone's job.
Couldn't be more true. We should all take our impact on the security of others more seriously. Understanding that all developers are responsible for the safety of an application is a great place to start. Knowing the basics of how cyber crimes happen is key to preventing them in my opinion, no matter what end of the web you work on. Stay safe out there.
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