Tanya Janca -- What Secure Coding Really Means

Tanya Janca, also known as SheHacksPurple, joins the Application Security Podcast again to discuss secure coding, threat modeling, education, and other topics in the AppSec world. With a rich background spanning over 25 years in IT, coding, and championing cybersecurity, Tanya delves into the essence of secure coding.

Tanya highlights the difference between teaching developers about vulnerabilities and teaching them the practices to avoid these vulnerabilities in the first place. Instead of focusing on issues like SQL injection, she emphasizes the importance of proactive measures like input validation and always using parameterized queries. She believes teaching developers how to build secure applications is more effective than merely pointing out vulnerabilities.

She also explains the importance of a secure system development life cycle (SDLC). Software companies often state "We take your security seriously." Tanya believes the phrase should only be used by companies that have a secure SDLC in place. Without it, the phrase is rendered meaningless.

Discussing the intersection of coding and threat modeling, Tanya shares personal anecdotes that underscore the need to view systems with a critical eye, always anticipating potential vulnerabilities and threats. She recounts her initial reactions during threat modeling sessions, where she is surprised by the myriad ways applications can be exploited.

One of her most crucial takeaways for developers is the principle of distrust and verification. Tanya stresses that when writing code, developers should not trust any input or connection blindly. Everything received should be validated to ensure its integrity and safety. This practice, she believes, not only ensures the security of applications but also makes the lives of incident responders easier.

Toward the end of the podcast, Tanya recommends This is How They Tell Me the World Ends," which offers a deep dive into the zero-day industry. She lauds the book for its meticulous research and compelling narrative. The episode wraps up with Tanya encouraging listeners to stay connected with her work and to anticipate her upcoming book.

Links:

Alice and Bob Learn Application Security by Tanya Janca
     https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Alice+and+Bob+Learn+Application+Security-p-9781119687405

This is How They Tell Me the World Ends by Nicole Perlroth
     https://thisishowtheytellmetheworldends.com/

WeHackPurple
     https://wehackpurple.com/

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