Today I focused on enhancing security and user experience through improvements to our user authentication and session management system. By leveraging PropertiesService and UserProperties, I implemented features to ensure secure session handling, user-specific storage, and streamlined logout processes.
I built the user authentication system using PropertiesService to securely manage user sessions. By storing session data in properties, the system can track user logins across different sessions, ensuring each remains active without requiring repeated logins during navigation. This approach maintains a lightweight, efficient, and secure method for storing and retrieving session data.
To ensure session data is specific to each user, I implemented UserProperties for storing information like user ID and username in a manner unique to individual users. This prevents session data mixing between different users, which could lead to security vulnerabilities. Each user’s session now persists independently, allowing for a tailored experience where preferences, actions, and data are consistently retained throughout platform interactions.
As part of ensuring secure session management, I added logic to properly clear user userId and username properties upon logout. This critical step prevents unauthorized access to user data after logout, minimizing the risk of session hijacking or data leakage. By wiping session data when users exit, we safeguard their privacy and protect their personal information.
To further enhance security, I proposed and began implementing a timestamp-based session expiration mechanism. This ensures sessions are automatically invalidated after a predetermined period of inactivity, preventing sessions from remaining open indefinitely. This feature adds another security layer that mitigates risks associated with prolonged account access.
Finally, I implemented session timeout handling and refined the logout process. The system now automatically logs out users after a defined period of inactivity, ensuring sessions don’t remain active longer than necessary. The improved logout process ensures all session data is properly cleared and users are appropriately redirected, enhancing overall user experience.