I’m going to step you through a PHP MySQL login system that you could use for a
website.
Creating a login system for your website is a common task and using the combination of PHP and MySQL
is a popular choice. PHP is a web based programming language and MySQL is a database system that
would store your
user’s credentials such as email and password.
Please watch the above video to learn how to implement the needed files.
There is also a link to the code.
Security is the most important thing to consider when creating a PHP MySQL login. Here are a few key
tips:
Hashing and Salting Passwords: Store user passwords securely by using strong hashing algorithms,
such as bcrypt or
Argon2, along with a unique salt for each user. This ensures that even if the database is
compromised, it's extremely
difficult to retrieve the original passwords.
In the code provided I use php’s built in bcrypt encryption which also
automatically salts your
password in addition to hashing it.
Additionally, we Use prepared statements or parameterized queries when connecting to SQL statements.
This helps to prevent SQL injection attacks. This practice helps sanitize user input and separates it
from the SQL
logic.
Example:
$stmt = $connection->prepare("SELECT id, username, password FROM users WHERE username = ?");
Sanitize user input to prevent cross-site scripting attacks. Use output escaping functions when
displaying user-provided
data to avoid executing malicious code.
Example:
$sanitizedInput = mysqli_real_escape_string($connection, $input);
Be careful with PHP Sessions. Check remote IP addresses to limit session hijacking. and use
appropriate session
expiration times.
A few other things to be aware of in this code…
The config.php file should be in a folder/directory that is password protected.
This should be obvious, but make sure your MySQL database has a table named users.
To make sure usernames are unique you should make that a unique column in your MySQL database.
Once again, I hope this is obvious, but make sure you update the config.php file with your MySQL db
credentials
Otherwise, that should be it.
And please don’t take my word for it… Security is an ongoing process, and it's crucial to stay
informed about the latest
security best practices. You should regularly review and update your security measures.