{"id":1646,"date":"2023-08-14T05:51:19","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T05:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/?p=1646"},"modified":"2023-08-14T05:51:20","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T05:51:20","slug":"rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Rules for Improving Security in Mobile App Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Over 800 thousand <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mobile_malware\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mobile malware<\/a> installation packages were detected on mobile devices in the second quarter of 2021, according to Statista. You must be aware that app security is essential, and it is impossible to achieve full-fledged security from threats and vulnerabilities. But, we can strive hard to maintain the security and quality of our projects and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Long story short, let\u2019s understand mobile app security and know a list of rules you need to follow to improve mobile app security and stay safe for the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662c3691dcc77\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662c3691dcc77\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#What_is_mobile_app_security\" title=\"What is mobile app security?\">What is mobile app security?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#6_rules_for_improving_security_in_mobile_app_development\" title=\"6 rules for improving security in mobile app development\">6 rules for improving security in mobile app development<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Rule_1_Working_with_secure_app_code\" title=\"Rule #1: Working with secure app code\">Rule #1: Working with secure app code<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Rule_2_Use_high-level_authentication\" title=\"Rule #2: Use high-level authentication\">Rule #2: Use high-level authentication<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Rule_3_Understand_the_context_of_your_business\" title=\"Rule #3: Understand the context of your business\">Rule #3: Understand the context of your business<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Rule_4_Use_authorized_APIs_only\" title=\"Rule #4: Use authorized APIs only\">Rule #4: Use authorized APIs only<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Rule_5_Perform_penetration_testing\" title=\"Rule #5: Perform penetration testing\">Rule #5: Perform penetration testing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Rule_6_Encrypt_all_data\" title=\"Rule #6: Encrypt all data\">Rule #6: Encrypt all data<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/rules-for-improving-security-in-mobile-app-development\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_mobile_app_security\"><\/span><strong>What is mobile app security?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mobile app security defines the protection measures of an app on mobile devices from fraudulent attacks such as malware, hacking, phishing, or other criminal manipulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why is mobile app security important?&nbsp; It enables users to protect confidential and private data, data loss, malware, virus attacks, and lawsuits against unprotected systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how can developers protect their apps from privacy risks and cyber assaults? We\u2019ve compiled a list of rules which can help you improve security during <a href=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/the-ultimate-guide-to-mobile-app-development\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1178\">mobile app development<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_rules_for_improving_security_in_mobile_app_development\"><\/span><strong>6 rules for improving security in mobile app development<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rule_1_Working_with_secure_app_code\"><\/span><strong>Rule #1: Working with secure app code<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When creating mobile apps, mobile security should always be taken into account. Consider the commercial and technical aspects of mobile app development projects before you start developing code. By doing this, you can immediately understand the situation and spot any dangers or security gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the majority of attackers begin their attacks on an application by exploiting faults and vulnerabilities in the code. According to research, the malicious virus is currently affecting more than 11.6 million mobile devices. Your security code must be hardened and kept in mind constantly. Your code should be minified and obscured to prevent reverse engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Test repeatedly and fix bugs whenever they are exposed. Design the code so that it would be easier to update and patch. Keep your code agile; it would make your code easier to verify. Also, you can use code hardening, especially for banking applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rule_2_Use_high-level_authentication\"><\/span><strong>Rule #2: Use high-level authentication<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s undeniable that some of the most significant security breaches happen due to weak authentication. Therefore, it has become an increasingly important factor in using stronger authentication. Authentication means passwords and other personal identifiers, which act as a barrier to entry. So, a more significant part depends on the end-users of the application. Nevertheless, being a developer, it\u2019s essential to encourage your users to be more sensitive towards authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, design your apps that only accept solid alphanumeric passwords that must be renewed every 3 to 6 months. According to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/authentication-failures-result-in-the-loss-of-customers---new-ponemon-institute-report-finds-301512068.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> the study<\/a>, the average business losses across all authentication weaknesses range from $39 million to $42 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multi-factor authentication is also gaining prominence, consisting of a combination of static passwords and dynamic OTP. Furthermore, in the case of oversensitive apps, biometric authentication such as retina scans and fingerprints can also be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rule_3_Understand_the_context_of_your_business\"><\/span><strong>Rule #3: Understand the context of your business<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It always has a great impact on security measures. Whether it is an app of an intelligence agency or a bank, every field has a different level of security. In addition, regional regulations like GDPR can also affect the new application, so IT leaders must be prepared to prioritize accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rule_4_Use_authorized_APIs_only\"><\/span><strong>Rule #4: Use authorized APIs only<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you know authentication schemes give a secure way of identifying the calling user? Unfortunately, if APIs are not authorized and loosely coded, they can intentionally offer different ways for hackers to misuse gravely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, caching authorization information locally can help programmers quickly reutilize the information while making API calls. It also makes coders\u2019 lives easier by making it easier to use the APIs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it also gives attackers a loophole to hijack privileges. Therefore, experts also recommend using authorized API in the mobile app code since using central authorization for the entire API to obtain maximum security during mobile app development services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>API calls are generally protected by a simple API key and user credentials. However, mobile apps are usually considered less secure. Since they are installed on a device, hackers can also install an app on a device that they can control to manipulate the application and find weaknesses. That\u2019s why each API should require app-level authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rule_5_Perform_penetration_testing\"><\/span><strong>Rule #5: Perform penetration testing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose businesses do not take software testing services seriously. In that case, mobile applications could not be released and accepted by the customers as the way companies want them to achieve their goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Security testing is always essential as it validates the app\u2019s resistance to attacks from malicious users. Furthermore, from developers\u2019 perspectives, it ensures they apply security practices while programming for mobile apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To apply security testing for mobile apps in a correct manner, it\u2019s necessary to have a good understanding of penetration testing (or pen test). This testing is usually performed to improve <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Web_application_firewall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">web app firewalls<\/a> (WAF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"820\" height=\"407\" data-id=\"1647\" src=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pen-testing.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Mobile App Development\" class=\"wp-image-1647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pen-testing.jpg.jpg 820w, https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pen-testing.jpg-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pen-testing.jpg-768x381.jpg 768w, https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pen-testing.jpg-696x345.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid attacks, adapt and modify web app firewalls security policies and patch the bugs before launching the mobile application. In actuality, penetration testing is independent of standard software testing. However, both of these testing methods are crucial to boosting the security of an application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to make it personalized to review and test the written code earlier to test flaws and implement the improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rule_6_Encrypt_all_data\"><\/span><strong>Rule #6: Encrypt all data<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Encryption is scrambling plain text and translating it into an unreadable format called \u2018ciphertext.\u2019 This process helps mobile apps protect the confidentiality of digital data, either stored on the computer or transmitted through the Internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is considered one of the most effective ways to save data from being exploited in a malicious way. Even if the mobile app data gets stolen, the hackers will not be able to decipher it. So, ultimately, it will be useless to them. So, this is the last but not the least rule that must be followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Developers should carefully consider the above-mentioned rules while working on their mobile app development projects. Although, It\u2019s impossible to monitor or cover every area, ensuring a security level can help achieve a secured mobile application against serious threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Securing your app is always a life-long process, and it never ends. But, the above guidelines can help your users and clients be satisfied and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"><em>If you think this blog helped you and want to share your thoughts on this, please feel free to share.<\/em><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over 800 thousand mobile malware installation packages were detected on mobile devices in the second quarter of 2021, according to Statista. You must be aware that app security is essential, and it is impossible to achieve full-fledged security from threats and vulnerabilities. But, we can strive hard to maintain the security and quality of our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1651,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[247,61],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1646"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1646"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4060,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1646\/revisions\/4060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typesofapps.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}