New to AI-assisted development? Learn the security essentials before you build your first app. These practices will protect you from common mistakes that trip up new developers.
Check if you've made any common beginner security mistakes.
You might think “I'm just learning, security can wait.” But security mistakes made early are the hardest to fix later. Credentials you accidentally commit to GitHub can be scraped within minutes. Bad patterns you learn now become habits.
The good news: basic security isn't hard. These five rules will prevent 90% of beginner security mistakes.
API keys, passwords, and database credentials should never be pasted into AI prompts. Use fake values while developing, then add real ones via environment variables.
Here's my Stripe key: sk_live_abc123... now help me add paymentsI need to add Stripe payments. Use a placeholder like STRIPE_SECRET_KEY for the API key.Create a .env file for secrets and add it to .gitignore immediately. This habit will save you from accidentally exposing credentials.
const apiKey = 'sk_live_abc123'const apiKey = process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEYAI makes plausible-looking mistakes. If you don't understand what a piece of code does, ask the AI to explain it before using it.
Tip: Especially be cautious with authentication, database queries, and anything handling user data.
Authentication is hard to get right. Use established libraries like NextAuth, Clerk, or Auth0 instead of writing your own login system.
Tip: If AI starts generating custom JWT validation or session handling, stop and use a library instead.
Before deploying your app, run a security scan. Many issues that seem fine in development become vulnerabilities in production.
Tip: A 2-minute scan can save you from embarrassing (or expensive) security incidents.
Why it's dangerous: Your secrets become public and can be found by automated scanners within minutes
How to fix: Add .env to .gitignore BEFORE creating the .env file
Why it's dangerous: If one app is compromised, all your apps are compromised
How to fix: Create separate API keys for each project and environment
Why it's dangerous: Attackers can bypass any client-side checks
How to fix: Always validate data on the server, even if you also validate on the client
Why it's dangerous: AI auth code often has subtle bugs that lead to account takeovers
How to fix: Use auth libraries, or if you must write custom code, understand every line
Why it's dangerous: Known vulnerabilities in your dependencies can be exploited
How to fix: Run npm audit fix regularly, or at least before deploying
Why it's dangerous: Debug endpoints, test accounts, and logging can expose sensitive data
How to fix: Review your code before deploying and remove anything that's only for development
Once you've mastered the basics, here are resources to deepen your security knowledge:
The most critical web application security risks. Understanding these will make you a better developer.
Learn what HTTP security headers do and why they matter for your applications.
Deep dive into how modern auth works - JWTs, sessions, OAuth, and more.
Building something with AI? Our free scan checks for all the common beginner mistakes - exposed secrets, missing security headers, and more. Get peace of mind before you share your project.
Scan Your App FreeYes, but with caveats. AI can accelerate your learning by explaining concepts and generating examples. However, don't just copy-paste code - take time to understand what each piece does. The best approach is using AI as a tutor who can answer questions, not as a replacement for learning fundamentals.
For a first project, focus on the basics: no hardcoded secrets, .env files gitignored, using an auth library instead of custom code, and HTTPS in production. Run a security scan before sharing your project. Don't worry about advanced security until you're building something with real users and data.
Act immediately: 1) Rotate the exposed credentials (generate new API keys), 2) Revoke the old ones, 3) Remove the secrets from your code and use environment variables. Note: Simply deleting the commit doesn't help - git history is public. Always assume exposed secrets have been captured.
You need to understand security basics, yes. AI tools make it easy to build features quickly, but they don't automatically make those features secure. The good news: security basics aren't that hard to learn. A few hours of learning now will save you from serious problems later.
Portfolio projects still need basics: environment variables for secrets, .env in .gitignore, HTTPS. Even if no one uses your app, exposed API keys can result in charges to your account. Plus, showing good security practices in your portfolio is a signal of professionalism to potential employers.
All major AI coding tools can help you learn. The security considerations are similar across all of them: never share real credentials, don't blindly trust generated code, and use established libraries for sensitive features. Pick whichever tool fits your workflow and budget.