# Security Guide

## 🔐 Security Best Practices for Medication Reminder App

### **Password Security**

#### **Password Requirements**

- Minimum 8 characters
- Must contain uppercase and lowercase letters
- Must contain at least one number
- Must contain at least one special character
- Cannot be common passwords (password123, admin, etc.)

#### **Password Hashing**

- Uses bcrypt with salt rounds for secure password storage
- Passwords are never stored in plain text
- Password verification happens through secure hash comparison

### **Authentication Security**

#### **Session Management**

- JWT-like token system for user sessions
- Tokens have expiration times
- Secure token storage and transmission
- Automatic session cleanup on logout

#### **Email Verification**

- All new accounts require email verification
- Verification tokens are time-limited
- Prevents unauthorized account creation
- Uses cryptographically secure random tokens

#### **OAuth Security**

- Supports Google and GitHub OAuth
- Secure OAuth flow implementation
- No password storage for OAuth users
- Account linking prevention for security

### **Environment Security**

#### **Environment Variables**

- Never commit `.env` files to version control, especially `.env.production` which contains production credentials
- Use `.env.example` as a template for creating new environment files
- Create separate environment files for different deployment environments:
  - `.env` - Local development
  - `.env.staging` - Staging environment
  - `.env.production` - Production environment
- Always add all `.env` files to `.gitignore` to prevent accidental commits
- Use environment variables for configuration to maintain security and flexibility
- Rotate credentials regularly and use strong, unique passwords for each environment
- Consider using a secrets management system for production environments
- Never hardcode sensitive information in source code

#### **Docker Security**

- Non-root user for application execution
- Multi-stage builds to minimize attack surface
- Health checks for service monitoring
- Isolated network for services

### **Database Security**

#### **CouchDB Security**

- Admin authentication required
- Database-level access control
- SSL/TLS encryption for production
- Regular backup and security updates

#### **Data Protection**

- User data isolation by user ID
- Input validation and sanitization
- Protection against injection attacks
- Secure data deletion capabilities

### **Production Security Checklist**

#### **Before Deployment**

- [ ] Change default admin password
- [ ] Configure strong CouchDB credentials
- [ ] Set up Mailgun with proper API keys
- [ ] Enable SSL/TLS certificates
- [ ] Configure firewall rules
- [ ] Set up monitoring and logging

#### **Regular Security Tasks**

- [ ] Rotate credentials monthly
- [ ] Update dependencies regularly
- [ ] Monitor logs for suspicious activity
- [ ] Backup databases securely
- [ ] Review user access permissions
- [ ] Test disaster recovery procedures

### **Incident Response**

#### **Security Breach Protocol**

1. **Immediate Response**
   - Disable affected accounts
   - Change all credentials
   - Review access logs
   - Document the incident

2. **Investigation**
   - Identify breach source
   - Assess data exposure
   - Notify affected users
   - Implement fixes

3. **Recovery**
   - Restore from secure backups
   - Update security measures
   - Monitor for further issues
   - Conduct post-incident review

### **Compliance Considerations**

#### **Data Privacy**

- User data minimization
- Right to data deletion
- Transparent privacy policy
- Secure data export capabilities

#### **Healthcare Compliance**

- HIPAA considerations for health data
- Secure medication information handling
- Audit trail capabilities
- Data retention policies

### **Security Monitoring**

#### **Logging**

- Authentication attempts
- Failed login monitoring
- Admin actions tracking
- Database access logging

#### **Alerting**

- Multiple failed login attempts
- Admin privilege escalation
- Unusual data access patterns
- System health issues

### **Emergency Contacts**

#### **Security Issues**

- Development Team: security@your-domain.com
- System Administrator: admin@your-domain.com
- Emergency Response: +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX

#### **Third-party Services**

- Mailgun Support: support@mailgun.com
- CouchDB Security: security@apache.org
- Docker Security: security@docker.com