Mobile app security is a concern that can no longer be taken lightly. As a developer or publisher of a B2B or B2C app, ensuring robust mobile application security is paramount.
Smartphones have become extensions of ourselves, handling everything from emails and social media to banking and home automation. As we trust more and more of our personal and financial information to apps, stringent security measures are even more important. If you get it wrong, you could damage your company’s reputation and incur costly data fines.
Below, we’ve compiled some of the most significant standards and best practices in mobile app security, providing developers and businesses with a comprehensive guide to mitigating risks and ensuring a safer user experience.
The journey towards creating a secure mobile app begins with rigorous security testing.
Penetration Testing, for instance, can be used to simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities before a hacker can exploit them. Static Application Security Testing, on the other hand, inspects the app’s source code for vulnerabilities that could compromise its security. Dynamic Application Security Testing can examine the app in its running state to identify security vulnerabilities.
Leave no stone unturned, ensuring that your app can withstand various threats and challenges.
At the heart of any secure mobile application lies robust code. Poorly written code is akin to building a house on a shaky foundation; it will collapse sooner or later.
Employ techniques like code obfuscation and encryption to safeguard your code from reverse engineering and tampering. Additionally, runtime application self-protection tools can offer real-time security, although they’re not a substitute for secure coding practices.
Utilising unauthorised APIs is tantamount to inviting a Trojan horse into your system.
Always make sure to use authorised, well-documented APIs from reputable vendors. For instance, accessing APIs from well-known platforms like Airbnb should come through official channels. Always read the fine print and ensure the API you integrate complies with security standards.
Libraries are invaluable in the development process, but if compromised, they could become a backdoor for cybercriminals. Stick to libraries that have a proven track record and are regularly updated, and make sure you’re downloading their latest tools and kits.
By making robust authentication methods easily accessible, you encourage users to secure their data. Two-factor authentication, fingerprint scanning, and facial recognition are all excellent choices – even more so if you bake on-device technologies like Face ID into your app. The aim is to raise the security bar without creating unnecessary hurdles for the user.
Data in motion is particularly susceptible to interception. Encrypt this data to ensure that even if it is compromised, it remains unintelligible to the unauthorised viewer.
Advanced techniques such as tokenisation can further bolster data security.
Security is not a one-off process; it’s an ongoing commitment. Regular patches and updates ensure the app adapts to new security challenges and vulnerabilities.
Failing to update is like ignoring a ticking time bomb; it’s only a matter of time before it explodes.
Mobile app security is an ongoing commitment that requires a holistic approach, integrating everything from secure code and authorised APIs to regular updates and strong authentication measures. Modern consumers are increasingly savvy about digital security; failing to meet their expectations can spell disaster for your business. The security standards we’ve mentioned above should give you a headstart.
If you’re looking for support building a secure, robust app for your business, reach out to the app development experts at Zudu today.
