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What are effective ways to secure REST API endpoints against unauthorized access?
Asked on Jan 17, 2026
Answer
To secure REST API endpoints against unauthorized access, implement authentication and authorization mechanisms such as OAuth 2.0, API keys, or JWT tokens. Additionally, ensure all communications are encrypted using HTTPS.
<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
// Example of securing an API endpoint with JWT in Node.js
const express = require('express');
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const app = express();
const authenticateJWT = (req, res, next) => {
const token = req.header('Authorization');
if (token) {
jwt.verify(token, 'your-256-bit-secret', (err, user) => {
if (err) {
return res.sendStatus(403);
}
req.user = user;
next();
});
} else {
res.sendStatus(401);
}
};
app.get('/secure-endpoint', authenticateJWT, (req, res) => {
res.send('This is a secure endpoint');
});
app.listen(3000);
<!-- END COPY / PASTE -->Additional Comment:
- Always use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit and protect against eavesdropping.
- Regularly rotate secrets and tokens to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
- Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse of your API endpoints.
✅ Answered with Security best practices.
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