Why Feedback Link Expiry and Security Matter

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 45 views

Implement Feedback Link Expiry & Security: Enhancing Customer Experience and Data Protection

In today's digital landscape, customer feedback is a crucial aspect of any business. It helps companies understand their customers' needs, preferences, and pain points, enabling them to make informed decisions and improve their products or services. However, with the increasing importance of customer feedback comes the need for robust security measures to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized use. In this article, we will explore the implementation of feedback link expiry and security, ensuring that customer feedback is both valuable and secure.

Why Feedback Link Expiry and Security Matter

Feedback links are a common way to collect customer feedback, but they can be vulnerable to unauthorized use if not properly secured. Expired links can lead to duplicate submissions, while unsecured links can expose sensitive customer data. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to implement feedback link expiry and security measures.

Implementing Feedback Link Expiry

To ensure that feedback links expire after a set time, we need to implement the following steps:

Step 1: Add `expires_at` Field

When generating feedback links, we need to add an expires_at field to store the expiration timestamp. This field will be used to determine whether the link has expired or not.

Step 2: Store Expiration Timestamps

We need to store the expiration timestamps in the database, along with the corresponding feedback link. This will enable us to check if the link has expired when a customer attempts to submit feedback.

Step 3: Modify `GET /api/customers/verify/:productId`

We need to modify the GET /api/customers/verify/:productId endpoint to check if the link has expired. If the link has expired, we should return a 403 Forbidden error.

Step 4: Return `403 Forbidden` Error

If the link has expired, we should return a 403 Forbidden error to prevent duplicate submissions.

Step 5: Secure Feedback Links with One-Time-Use Tokens

To prevent unauthorized use of feedback links, we need to secure them with one-time-use tokens. This will ensure that customers cannot reuse feedback links once submitted.

Acceptance Criteria

To ensure that the implementation is successful, we need to meet the following acceptance criteria:

Criteria 1: Feedback Links Expire after 30 Days

Feedback links should expire after 30 days to prevent duplicate submissions.

Criteria 2: Expired Links Return a `403 Forbidden` Error

Expired links should return a 403 Forbidden error to prevent unauthorized use.

Criteria 3: Customers Cannot Reuse Feedback Links Once Submitted

Customers should not be able to reuse feedback links once submitted to prevent duplicate submissions.

Criteria 4: Unauthorized Requests Return a `401 Unauthorized` Response

Unauthorized requests should return a 401 Unauthorized response to prevent unauthorized access.

Testing Steps

To ensure that the implementation is successful, we need to test it in both the test environment and the production environment.

Test in Test Environment

Submit Feedback with a Valid Link:

Send a POST /api/customers/feedbacks request with a valid feedback link. Confirm that the response is message: "Feedback submitted successfully".

Attempt Using an Expired Link:

Set expires_at to a past date and attempt feedback submission. Expect 403 Forbidden.

Attempt Duplicate Submission:

Use the same feedback link again → Expect 403 Forbidden.

Unauthorized Request Check:

Try submitting feedback without a token → Expect 401 Unauthorized.

Test in Production Environment

Deploy Changes to Production (main branch).
Repeat Feedback Expiration & Security Tests Using Production API.
Ensure All Responses Match Expected Results.

By following these implementation steps and testing criteria, we can ensure that feedback links expire after a set time and are secured against unauthorized use, providing a robust and secure customer feedback system.

Implementing feedback link expiry and security is crucial for protecting sensitive customer data and preventing unauthorized use. By following the steps outlined in this article, we can ensure that feedback links expire after a set time and are secured against unauthorized use, providing a robust and secure customer feedback system.
Implement Feedback Link Expiry & Security: Q&A

In our previous article, we explored the implementation of feedback link expiry and security, ensuring that customer feedback is both valuable and secure. In this article, we will address some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to implementing feedback link expiry and security.

Q: Why is feedback link expiry important?

A: Feedback link expiry is important because it prevents customers from submitting duplicate feedback. If a customer submits feedback using an expired link, they will receive a 403 Forbidden error, preventing them from submitting duplicate feedback.

Q: How do I implement feedback link expiry?

A: To implement feedback link expiry, you need to add an expires_at field to store the expiration timestamp when generating feedback links. You also need to store the expiration timestamps in the database and modify the GET /api/customers/verify/:productId endpoint to check if the link has expired.

Q: What is the recommended expiration time for feedback links?

A: The recommended expiration time for feedback links is 30 days. This allows customers to submit feedback within a reasonable timeframe and prevents duplicate submissions.

Q: How do I secure feedback links with one-time-use tokens?

A: To secure feedback links with one-time-use tokens, you need to generate a unique token for each feedback link. This token should be stored in the database and used to verify the link when a customer attempts to submit feedback.

Q: What is the benefit of using one-time-use tokens?

A: The benefit of using one-time-use tokens is that they prevent customers from reusing feedback links once submitted. This ensures that customers cannot submit duplicate feedback and helps to maintain the integrity of the feedback system.

Q: How do I test feedback link expiry and security?

A: To test feedback link expiry and security, you need to test the following scenarios:

Submit feedback with a valid link
Attempt using an expired link
Attempt duplicate submission
Unauthorized request check

You should also test the implementation in both the test environment and the production environment to ensure that it works as expected.

Q: What are the common mistakes to avoid when implementing feedback link expiry and security?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when implementing feedback link expiry and security include:

Not adding the expires_at field to store the expiration timestamp
Not storing the expiration timestamps in the database
Not modifying the GET /api/customers/verify/:productId endpoint to check if the link has expired
Not using one-time-use tokens to secure feedback links

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with feedback link expiry and security?

A: To troubleshoot issues with feedback link expiry and security, you need to:

Check the implementation for errors
Verify that the expires_at field is being stored correctly
Check that the expiration timestamps are being stored correctly in the database
Verify that the GET /api/customers/verify/:productId endpoint is being modified correctly
Check that one-time-use tokens are being generated correctly

By following these troubleshooting steps, you can identify and resolve issues with feedback link expiry and security.

Implementing feedback link expiry and security is crucial for protecting sensitive customer data and preventing unauthorized use. By following the implementation steps and testing criteria outlined in this article, you can ensure that feedback links expire after a set time and are secured against unauthorized use, providing a robust and secure customer feedback system.