Episode 65 — API Security Fundamentals: Keys, Tokens, and Rate-Limits
APIs are the unseen infrastructure of digital communication, and this episode examines how to secure them without slowing innovation. You’ll learn how authentication and authorization apply in the API world through mechanisms like API keys, OAuth tokens, and signed requests. We explain how these controls establish identity between systems, prevent misuse, and support fine-grained access. The discussion also highlights common pitfalls—such as embedding secrets in code, overbroad scopes, or missing expiration checks—that attackers exploit for persistence and privilege escalation.
Listeners will then learn about rate limiting and throttling as vital countermeasures against brute-force and denial-of-service attacks. The episode shows how logging, schema validation, and input filtering complement these safeguards to prevent data leakage or abuse. Whether you’re defending internal microservices or public APIs, understanding these principles equips you to secure one of the most dynamic areas of modern computing. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
