Guides4 min read

No-Code Security 101: A Plain English Guide

Everything non-technical founders need to know about securing their Lovable, Bolt, or Base44 app. No jargon, just actionable advice.

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HackNope Team

December 29, 2025 · Updated Dec 29, 2025

Illustration of a protective security shield guarding a no-code web application - showing how HackNope protects Lovable, Bolt, and Base44 apps from hackers

So you've built an app with Lovable, Bolt, or Base44. Congratulations! You shipped something real, and that's no small feat.

But now you're lying awake at night wondering: Is my app secure? Could someone hack my users?

Let's fix that.

What "Secure" Actually Means

Good to know

Security isn't about being unhackable—that's impossible. It's about making your app hard enough to hack that attackers move on to easier targets.

When we talk about security, we're really talking about three things:

  1. Keeping bad guys out - Making sure only authorized users can access your app and data
  2. Protecting user data - Ensuring sensitive information stays private
  3. Staying online - Preventing attacks that could take your app down

The Top 5 Security Issues in Vibe-Coded Apps

Based on scanning thousands of apps built with no-code and AI tools, here are the most common problems we see:

1. Exposed API Keys

Critical Risk

Immediate action required

API keys hardcoded in your frontend code can be seen by anyone who views your page source. Attackers can use these keys to access your backend services, run up bills, or steal data.

Your API keys for services like Supabase, Firebase, or Stripe should NEVER be in your frontend code where users can see them.

How to check: Open your deployed app, right-click, select "View Page Source" and search for "key", "api", or "secret". If you find anything sensitive, you have a problem.

AI Fix Prompt

Copy to Cursor, Claude Code, or Copilot

Move my API keys from the frontend code to environment variables. Create a backend API route that makes calls to third-party services so the keys are never exposed to the browser. Show me which keys are currently exposed and where to move them.

2. Database Permissions Gone Wrong

If you're using Supabase (which most Lovable apps do), Row Level Security (RLS) is your best friend—or your worst enemy if configured wrong.

Heads up

The default Supabase setup often allows anyone to read all data in your tables. You must explicitly set up RLS policies to restrict access.

Real example: We scanned an app where anyone could read the entire users table, including email addresses and hashed passwords, just by knowing the Supabase URL.

3. Weak Authentication

"Login with email and password" sounds simple, but there are dozens of ways to get it wrong:

  • No rate limiting (attackers can try millions of passwords)
  • Password reset links that never expire
  • Sessions that last forever
  • No protection against account enumeration

4. Missing Input Validation

When users can type anything into your forms, bad things happen:

AttackWhat HappensExample Input
SQL InjectionAttackers read/modify your database'; DROP TABLE users; --
XSSMalicious scripts run in users' browsers<script>steal(cookies)</script>
Command InjectionAttackers run commands on your server; rm -rf /

5. Insecure File Uploads

If your app lets users upload files (profile pictures, documents, etc.), attackers might upload malicious files that:

  • Execute code on your server
  • Contain viruses that infect other users
  • Take up massive storage space

Your Security Checklist

Here's what you should check TODAY:

  • API keys are NOT in frontend code
  • Database has Row Level Security enabled
  • Authentication uses a trusted provider (Clerk, Supabase Auth, Auth0)
  • Forms have rate limiting
  • File uploads are validated and size-limited
  • HTTPS is enforced everywhere
  • Error messages don't reveal sensitive information

What to Do Next

  1. Scan your app - Use HackNope to get a plain English report of your vulnerabilities
  2. Fix critical issues first - Focus on the red flags, ignore the yellow ones for now
  3. Set up monitoring - Get alerted when something suspicious happens
  4. Schedule regular scans - Security is ongoing, not a one-time thing

Pro tip

Don't try to fix everything at once. Start with the critical issues (data theft, account takeover) and work your way down. A secure app is built one fix at a time.

Getting Help

You don't have to figure this out alone:

  • HackNope - We scan your app and explain issues in plain English
  • Your AI assistant - Paste our fix prompts into Cursor or Claude Code
  • The community - Lovable, Bolt, and Base44 all have active Discord servers

Security might seem scary, but you've already done the hard part: you cared enough to read this guide. Now let's make your app bulletproof.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Written by

HackNope Team

The HackNope team helps non-technical founders secure their vibe-coded apps.

#no-code#security-basics#lovable#bolt#base44#vibe-coding#ai-coding
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