Common Issues
security
My Users' Passwords Might Be Exposed
You just realized — or someone told you — that your app might not be storing user passwords safely. Maybe passwords are saved as plain text in the database, visible in logs, or sent without encryption. If anyone gets access to your database, they can see every user's actual password.
This is one of the most serious security problems an app can have. People reuse passwords across many sites, so if their password is exposed on your app, hackers can try it on their email, bank, and social media accounts too.
Even if no one has exploited this yet, you need to fix it before they do. The longer passwords sit unprotected, the greater the risk.
Error Messages You Might See
No obvious error — you discover this by checking your database or logs
Security audit warning: passwords stored in plaintext
SSL certificate missing
Mixed content warning
Common Causes
- Passwords stored as plain text — The app saves the actual password instead of a scrambled (hashed) version that can't be read back
- Passwords visible in database — You can open your database and read users' passwords in a column, which means they're not encrypted
- Passwords sent over unencrypted connections — Your login page uses HTTP instead of HTTPS, so passwords travel over the internet unprotected
- Passwords logged in server logs — The app accidentally writes passwords to log files that might be accessible to others
- Using homemade encryption — Instead of using proven security methods, the AI used a custom approach that isn't actually secure
How to Fix It
- Check how passwords are stored — Look in your database. If you can read the actual passwords, they're not properly protected
- Implement proper password hashing — Have a developer add bcrypt or Argon2 hashing so passwords are scrambled before storage
- Force all users to reset their passwords — Once proper hashing is in place, require everyone to create a new password
- Make sure your site uses HTTPS — Check that your website URL starts with https:// and that your hosting has an SSL certificate
- Check server logs — Search your logs for any password data and configure logging to exclude sensitive information
- Consider using a trusted auth service — Services like Supabase Auth, Firebase Auth, or Auth0 handle password security properly so you don't have to
Real developers can help you.
Daniel Vázquez
Software Engineer with over 10 years of experience on Startups, Government, big tech industry & consulting.
AUXLE
I am a Full Stack Developer experienced in building Websites, Web apps and Cross Platform Mobile Apps for Startups and Companies.
Dor Yaloz
SW engineer with 6+ years of experience,
I worked with React/Node/Python
did projects with React+Capacitor.js for ios
Supabase expert
Vlad Temian
15+ years shipping production infrastructure for startups. Former CTO at qed.builders (acquired by The Sandbox).
Cursor ambassador and agentic tooling builder.
I've scaled systems, automated deployments, and built observability tools for AI coding workflows. I specialize in taking vibe-coded apps from broken prototype to production-ready: fixing Supabase auth/RLS, Stripe integrations, deployment pipelines, and cleaning up AI-generated spaghetti.
I build tools in this space (agentprobe, claudebin, micode) and understand both sides: how AI generates code and why it breaks.
https://blog.vtemian.com/
BurnHavoc
Been around fixing other peoples code for 20 years.
Simon A.
I'm a backend developer building APIs, emulators, and interactive game systems. Professionally, I've developed Java/Spring reporting solutions, managed relational and NoSQL databases, and implemented CI/CD workflows.
Alvin Voo
I’ve watched the tech landscape evolve over the last decade—from the structured days of Java Server Pages to the current "wild west" of Agentic-driven development. While AI can "vibe" a frontend into existence, I specialize in the architecture that keeps it from collapsing.
My expertise lies in the critical backend infrastructure: the parts that must be fast, secure, and scalable. I thrive on high-pressure environments, such as when I had only three weeks to architect and launch an Ethereum redemption system with minimal prior crypto knowledge, turning it into a major revenue stream.
What I bring to your project:
Forensic Debugging: I don't just "patch" bugs; I use tools like Datadog and Explain Analyzers to map out bottlenecks and resolve root causes—like significantly reducing memory usage by optimizing complex DB joins.
Full-Stack Context: Deep experience in Node.js and React, ensuring backends play perfectly with mobile and web teams.
Sanity in the Age of AI: I bridge the gap between "best practices" and modern speed, ensuring your project isn't just built fast, but built to last.
PawelPloszaj
I'm fronted developer with 10+ years of experience with big projects. I have small backend background too
Antriksh Narang
5 years+ Experienced Dev (Specially in Web Development), can help in python, javascript, react, next.js and full stack web dev technologies.
Victor Denisov
Developer
Describe what's wrong in plain English. No technical knowledge needed.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if passwords are stored securely?
Look at your database. If you can read the actual passwords (like 'mypassword123'), they're NOT secure. Properly hashed passwords look like long random strings of characters (like '$2b$10$xJ3...') that are impossible to read back.
Should I tell my users about this?
Yes. Be honest and transparent. Tell them you discovered a security issue, that you've fixed it, and ask them to change their password on your app AND on any other site where they used the same password.