Security for Vibe Coders: Simple checklist before launching your...
Prajwal Tomar@PrajwalTomar_
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Mar 21, 2025
~2 min read
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Security for Vibe Coders: Simple checklist before launching your MVP
If you’re using Cursor to build apps fast, it’s easy to ignore security.
But skipping it can cost you users, data, and credibility.
Here’s a simple checklist to keep your MVP safe before going live:
If you’re using Cursor to build apps fast, it’s easy to ignore security.
But skipping it can cost you users, data, and credibility.
Here’s a simple checklist to keep your MVP safe before going live:
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1/ Rate limit your API endpoints
Without limits, bots or bad actors can hit your backend hundreds of times a second.
This can:
• Slow down your app
• Crash your database
• Open you up to brute-force attacks
Use:
• Supabase Edge Functions + rate limiter
• Vercel Middleware
• API Gateway (if on AWS/GCP)
Without limits, bots or bad actors can hit your backend hundreds of times a second.
This can:
• Slow down your app
• Crash your database
• Open you up to brute-force attacks
Use:
• Supabase Edge Functions + rate limiter
• Vercel Middleware
• API Gateway (if on AWS/GCP)
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2/ Use Row-Level Security (RLS)
If you’re using Supabase, turn on RLS from day one.
It makes sure users can only access their own data - even if they try to tamper with the app.
No RLS = all data is public with the right query.
Enable it. Always.
If you’re using Supabase, turn on RLS from day one.
It makes sure users can only access their own data - even if they try to tamper with the app.
No RLS = all data is public with the right query.
Enable it. Always.
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3/ Add CAPTCHA to auth forms
AI bots can flood your app with fake accounts in minutes.
Add CAPTCHA (Google reCAPTCHA or hCaptcha) to:
• Signup forms
• Login pages
• Forgot password
It takes 5 minutes to set up and protects your backend from spam.
AI bots can flood your app with fake accounts in minutes.
Add CAPTCHA (Google reCAPTCHA or hCaptcha) to:
• Signup forms
• Login pages
• Forgot password
It takes 5 minutes to set up and protects your backend from spam.
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4/ Turn on WAF protection (for Vercel users)
Go to:
Settings → Security → Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Enable Attack Challenge on all routes.
This blocks suspicious traffic before it reaches your app. No code changes required.
Go to:
Settings → Security → Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Enable Attack Challenge on all routes.
This blocks suspicious traffic before it reaches your app. No code changes required.
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5/ Keep your API keys secret
Never expose your API keys or tokens in frontend code.
Instead:
• Store them in your .env file
• Use them only on the backend
• Double-check AI-generated code, it often forgets this
Once your keys are exposed, anyone can abuse your services.
Never expose your API keys or tokens in frontend code.
Instead:
• Store them in your .env file
• Use them only on the backend
• Double-check AI-generated code, it often forgets this
Once your keys are exposed, anyone can abuse your services.
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6/ Validate everything on the server
Don’t trust just the frontend.
AI tools often handle UI validation, but forget the backend.
Always validate:
• Emails
• Form inputs
• Uploaded files
• API payloads
Anything that comes from the user should be verified server-side.
Don’t trust just the frontend.
AI tools often handle UI validation, but forget the backend.
Always validate:
• Emails
• Form inputs
• Uploaded files
• API payloads
Anything that comes from the user should be verified server-side.
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7/ Clean your dependencies
AI-generated code often includes packages you don’t need.
After generating your MVP:
• Run npm audit or yarn audit
• Remove unused packages
• Update anything outdated
Leaner code = fewer bugs = fewer security holes.
AI-generated code often includes packages you don’t need.
After generating your MVP:
• Run npm audit or yarn audit
• Remove unused packages
• Update anything outdated
Leaner code = fewer bugs = fewer security holes.
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8/ Monitor and log activity
Use simple logging tools like:
• Supabase logs
• Vercel analytics
• LogSnag / LogRocket
Track:
• Failed logins
• Spike in requests
• Suspicious patterns
You can’t fix what you can’t see.
Use simple logging tools like:
• Supabase logs
• Vercel analytics
• LogSnag / LogRocket
Track:
• Failed logins
• Spike in requests
• Suspicious patterns
You can’t fix what you can’t see.
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Key Takeaways
AI helps you build fast.
But security is what keeps your app alive.
Before you launch, check:
• Rate limiting
• RLS
• CAPTCHA
• WAF
• Secrets secured
• Server-side validation
• Clean dependencies
• Basic monitoring
Build fast. But build safe.
AI helps you build fast.
But security is what keeps your app alive.
Before you launch, check:
• Rate limiting
• RLS
• CAPTCHA
• WAF
• Secrets secured
• Server-side validation
• Clean dependencies
• Basic monitoring
Build fast. But build safe.
