Certified Internet Web (CIW) Professional Practice Exam 2026 – Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Website developers must be acutely aware of security issues such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting because these vulnerabilities can lead to significant breaches and compromise sensitive user data. SQL injection occurs when an attacker manipulates a web application's database query, allowing them to gain unauthorized access to or manipulate database information. This can lead to data theft, corruption, or even complete control of the database.

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is another prevalent security vulnerability where an attacker injects malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. When executed in the context of a trusted website, these scripts can steal cookies, session tokens, or even redirect users to malicious sites. Both of these issues highlight the importance of secure coding practices, input validation, and output encoding.

While the other options touch on important aspects of web development, such as performance optimization, user experience design, and marketing strategies, they do not directly address security vulnerabilities that can have detrimental effects on user trust and data integrity. Ultimately, prioritizing awareness and prevention of SQL injection and cross-site scripting is crucial for safeguarding both the website and its users.