In recent years, mobile apps have become a source of income for many businesses. In 2023 alone, businesses earned revenue of $500 billion from mobile apps. Also, it is expected to increase to $700 billion by 2027 🧐. However, this surge in popularity comes with a downside – an increase in cyberattacks.
The 2021 Mobile Security Report shows that 97% of companies face mobile threats from several attacks. And almost half of the workers (46%) downloaded at least one harmful mobile app.
That’s why it’s crucial to implement mobile security features. This helps keep your data safe and out of the wrong hands.
In this blog post, we will cover the answer to the most asked question- “How to ensure your mobile app is secure?”. We will look at 8 best practices one can adopt to ensure the security of mobile applications.
What is Mobile App Security?
Mobile app security is all about the steps we take to protect mobile apps and the information they store from different risks, vulnerabilities, and fraudulent attacks. These attacks can take many forms, like tampering, malware infections, manipulation, or interference.
Mobile apps have become vital in our everyday lives. So, it’s crucial we place their security at the top of our list. This not only safeguards information but also maintains user trust and prevents unauthorized access or malicious actions. Mobile app security plays a role in achieving these goals.
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8 Tips To Ensure the Security of Your Mobile App
The key to mobile app progress is mobile app data encryption. It ensures user data security, builds trust, and prevents data theft or unauthorized access. Here’s how you can bolster your mobile app’s security:
Source Code Encryption
In many cases, mobile malware exploits bugs and vulnerabilities in the source code and design of mobile applications. A recent report by researchers at Synopsys, an application security company, revealed that 84% of commercial and proprietary code bases had at least one known open-source vulnerability.
Attackers usually adopt a reverse-engineering technique to repack renowned apps into rogue apps. After that, they upload the apps to third party app stores in order to attract unsuspecting users.
This is why you need to encrypt your source code. Source code encryption ensures that no one can access your code, thereby helping to prevent security breaches. It’s also a good idea to sign your source code when developing mobile apps to further secure your source code.
Implement High-Level Authentication and Authorization
Authentication and authorization are two security measures. Authentication is like checking a person’s ID. You’re confirming who a person is, possibly with a username, password, or biometric feature. Authorization, however, is like giving out special keys. You’re deciding what data or functions a person can use based on their role.
Both authentication and authorization protect your sensitive data stored on a mobile app from being accessed or changed by people who shouldn’t. For top-notch authentication, use strong methods like multi factor authentication (MFA). Likewise, to implement high-level authorization, using robust password rules is helpful, and there should be encouragement for users to make complex passwords.
Use a Code Signing Certificate
A Code Signing Certificate is a type of certificate that provides protection against cybercriminals for both app users and developers. It verifies the authenticity of the code. By utilizing Code Signing Certificates, it becomes more challenging for attackers to gain access, do data breaches, manipulate, or alter mobile app data.
When you install an Android app that has a Code Signing Certificate, you will be able to view the name of the publisher. IIf someone manages to change the code, you will see a warning saying ” unknown publisher,” which signifies risks associated with an app or code. In this way, a code signing certificate plays a role in mobile application security.
Follow the Principle of Least Privilege
The concept of least privilege is a security principle that emphasizes the need to restrict user permissions and access levels in your application to only what is necessary for its proper functioning. It lowers the chances of data leaks or corruption, making your app less of a target.
Here’s a tip: Routinely check and adjust user permissions. Ensure they align with the requirements of your app. Fitting them with your app’s needs reduces the damage if a breach were to happen, as a hacker’s actions would be limited.
Make Provision for Data Security
Another tip to make your mobile app safe is to take strong data security actions. Make sure important information on the device is encrypted. You can secure these data by using a multi factor authentication security method, biometric authentication, or limiting the access to just a few users.
In addition to this, you can set certain prompts to alert your systems if someone tries to mess with the app’s source code and other data.
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Secure Data in Transit
It’s essential to keep data shared between a client and server safe from prying eyes and thieves (attackers). There’s a high chance attackers can intercept HTTP traffic. That’s why we suggest using TLS (Transport Layer Security) during data transfer.
Through the use of key cryptography, TLS encrypts data while it is being transmitted. Although TLS does not directly secure data in end systems, it effectively prevents access during transmission.
Prevent Unintended Data Leakage
Two approaches can avoid data leaks: minimizing the storage of data and adhering to secure coding practices. You should only gather and store data needed for your mobile app functionality. Avoid keeping sensitive data for a long time.
Also, you should stick to safe coding habits. These include checking inputs, using encryption, setting up authentication and authorization, making device storage secure, reviewing code, etc. These measures help mitigate mobile app security issues, like injection attacks and other exploits that may cause data leaks.
Only Use Authorized APIs
If you must use third-party services for your mobile app, use APIs from authorized third party services. APIs that are not authorized to be used on a particular platform, such as Android or iOS mobile device, may unintentionally grant an attacker privileges and expose your data. What’s worse? Apple app store can also reject and remove your mobile apps if you use unauthorized APIs.
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Conclusion
Summing up, as the number of users using mobile apps is increasing day by day, businesses should consider putting the security of their mobile app as their top priority. A breach in the data can significantly impact your customer experiences, destroy your image, and reduce your profits.
There are several strategic mobile app security measures one can consider to ensure app security. These measures include encrypting source code, implementing high-level authorization and authentication, not downloading malicious code, only using authorized APIs, following the principle of least privilege, and several others.
FAQs
How do I ensure mobile app security?
Mobile app security requires the implementation of multiple security measures during its development and even after it is released. Here are some measures you can take to ensure mobile app security:
- Follow secure coding practices.
- Follow source code encryption.
- Implement authentication and authorization.
- Implement network security measures.
- Secure data in transit.
- Only use authorized APIs.
- Prevent data leaks.
- Secure the backend.
How do I make sure my application is secure?
To make sure your application is secure, follow these measures:
- Conduct regular penetration tests and update your app.
- Use secure coding languages, libraries, and frameworks.
- Implement multi-factor authentication.
- Encrypt sensitive data.
- Deploy your application on a well-configured server.
- Secure data in transit.
How do I know if my mobile app is secure?
To know if your mobile app is secure, do self-audit on various mobile app facets like app permissions, security certifications, and data access. Also, you can detect if your app is affected by any form of attack using reputable malware scanners like VirusTotal or Lookout.
What is the best security for a mobile app?
The best security for a mobile app would be implementing top-notch authentication and authorization.
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