What can Maria do to prevent cookies from becoming a security threat?

To mitigate the security risks associated with cookies, Maria can implement the following measures:

1. Use HTTP-only cookies: Setting the HTTP-only flag in cookies ensures that they cannot be accessed through client-side scripts, such as JavaScript. This helps protect cookies from being accessed by malicious scripts or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

2. Use secure cookies: Marking cookies as secure indicates that they should only be transmitted over encrypted channels (HTTPS) to prevent eavesdropping and tampering during data transmission.

3. Set appropriate cookie expiration times: Setting appropriate expiration times for cookies can help prevent sensitive data from being stored in cookies for longer than necessary. Regularly expiring and renewing cookies can reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

4. Implement strict access controls: Restricting access to cookie-related configuration and management to authorized personnel and systems can minimize the risk of unauthorized modifications or access attempts.

5. Perform regular security audits and monitoring: Regularly auditing cookie usage and configurations can help identify and address any potential security vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. Monitoring systems for suspicious activities related to cookies can provide early detection and response to potential threats.

6. Use Content Security Policy (CSP): CSP can be implemented to restrict where and how cookies are accessed and used within the browser, further enhancing security by preventing malicious scripts from reading or manipulating cookies.

7. Provide user education and awareness: Educating users about cookie security and privacy risks, and encouraging them to adopt secure browsing practices, can contribute to overall security by making them mindful of potential threats.