The phrase security by obscurity often sparks debate among cybersecurity experts. At its core, it means relying on secrecy—such as hidden system designs, unknown algorithms, or concealed configurations—to protect a system from attackers. The question many ask is: What is the advice given for applying security by obscurity? The short answer is that obscurity should never be your primary defense, but it can play a minor role as part of a larger, layered strategy.

In this article, we’ll dive into what security by obscurity really means, when (if ever) it can be useful, the dangers of over-relying on it, and practical advice you can apply in your projects.

Understanding Security by Obscurity

Security by obscurity is the practice of hiding details of a system in the hope that attackers will be unable to discover them. Examples include:

• Using non-standard ports instead of securing access properly.

• Keeping algorithms secret rather than using peer-reviewed cryptographic methods.

• Relying on “hidden” URLs for sensitive information instead of applying strong authentication.

Historically, cryptography experts like Auguste Kerckhoffs and Claude Shannon emphasized that a system must remain secure even if everything about it, except the secret key, is publicly known. This principle forms the backbone of modern secure system design.

Why Obscurity Alone Is Dangerous

The most common advice given for applying security by obscurity is never use it as your only defense. Relying on secrecy as your primary safeguard leads to several issues:

• False sense of security: Believing attackers will not find hidden components ignores their persistence and advanced tools.

• Lack of resilience: Once the hidden detail is discovered, the system is exposed completely.

• Poor scalability: As systems grow, maintaining secrecy across environments, teams, and integrations becomes unrealistic.

The Proper Role of Security by Obscurity

So, what is the advice given for applying security by obscurity in modern cybersecurity practice? Experts recommend it be used only as a secondary measure—a speed bump, not the lock on the door. Here are a few examples:

1. Reduce Reconnaissance Value

Hiding version banners, trimming metadata, and removing debug information can make reconnaissance harder for attackers. This doesn’t stop them entirely, but it slows them down.

2. Hide Low-Value Endpoints

Non-critical debug endpoints or internal-only URLs should be removed from public access. If they must remain, secure them with authentication and monitoring.

3. Obfuscation as a Delay

Obfuscating client-side code (such as JavaScript in web apps) can help protect intellectual property and slow down trivial tampering. But server-side security must never rely on obfuscation.

4. Use in Defense-in-Depth

When paired with encryption, authentication, monitoring, and intrusion detection, obscurity adds a minor additional layer of complexity for attackers.

Best Practices: Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Do hide unnecessary system details such as software versions.

• Do secure debug endpoints and apply least-privilege access.

• Do layer obscurity with proven defenses like authentication and encryption.

Don’t:

• Don’t roll your own encryption or keep algorithms secret instead of using vetted methods.

• Don’t rely on hidden URLs or non-standard ports as the only protection.

• Don’t store sensitive keys or passwords in “hidden” locations, such as client-side code.

Key Takeaways

The bottom line is clear: What is the advice given for applying security by obscurity? Use it sparingly, and only as an additional layer—not as your main defense. Security by obscurity can help delay attackers and reduce unnecessary exposure, but true security comes from transparent, tested, and layered protections.

FAQs on Security by Obscurity

Q1: What is security by obscurity?

Security by obscurity is the practice of relying on hidden details—such as secret algorithms, non-standard ports, or hidden URLs—to keep a system safe from attackers.

Q2: What is the advice given for applying security by obscurity?

The main advice is to never use it as the sole defense. It can be used as a small, additional layer of protection (like hiding version numbers or trimming debug data), but it should always be combined with strong, transparent security controls such as encryption and authentication.

Q3: Why is security by obscurity considered risky?

Because once the hidden detail is discovered, the entire security collapses. Attackers are skilled at reconnaissance, so secrecy alone cannot stop them.

Q4: Can security by obscurity ever be useful?

Yes, it can slow attackers down by adding small hurdles, but it should only serve as a secondary measure within a defense-in-depth strategy—not the primary protection.

Q5: What are some examples of security by obscurity?

• Using a non-standard port instead of securing access.

• Hiding sensitive files in “secret” directories.

• Relying on a hidden URL to access critical resources.

• Obfuscating code without securing the server properly.

Q6: What is the difference between open design and security by obscurity?

Open design means systems remain secure even if their design is publicly known, relying only on properly managed keys or secrets. Security by obscurity, on the other hand, assumes that keeping design details hidden is enough—which is not a reliable approach.

At Technologies Era, we emphasize building systems that remain secure even when attackers know how they work. Obscurity may add a little friction, but strong authentication, authorization, encryption, and monitoring are what truly protect your digital assets.