Mobile App Security:
Best Practices to Watch Out For

With the growing use of mobile applications and the rise of cybercriminals, businesses must ensure that their apps are safe and secure to protect their users from potential harm.

Last December 2022, Uber suffered from a data security issue. The hacker posted Uber data on a hacker forum, including Uber employee information. And this isn’t the first hacking attack on the ride-sharing app this year.

Some of the biggest companies that suffered a data breach in 2022 include Medibank, GiveSendGo, Plex, and LastPass. The consequences of these events can be dire, not only for the users but also for the app owner.

Mobile application security helps keep your data safe and ensures people trust the information they get. You can follow many best practices to ensure your app remains secure. This article will discuss some of these mobile app security best practices and how to implement them.

Why Is Mobile App Security Important?

Mobile application security is vital, as mobile devices have become part of daily life. Organizations must ensure that their security measures are up-to-date so that hackers cannot access sensitive data through apps.

Data theft and breaches can impact a company’s reputation and revenue and put customers at risk of identity theft and other cybercrimes.

Proper security measures protect user information from falling into the wrong hands.

Here are some of the security issues to watch out for:

Faulty server controls

When people use an app, the messages that go back and forth between the user and the app must pass through a secure server. Without it, hackers could break into the system to get information or cause problems. Developers shouldn’t miss any security steps when making apps. It would help to use automated scanners to check for any exploitable weaknesses in your codebase.

Absence of Binary Protection

Many things can happen when an app gets hacked. For instance, advanced hackers can tamper with apps and use them for illegal activities. To prevent this, you need to set up binary security measures. You must analyze and modify binary files without accessing the source code against common threats. This ensures your codes are tamper-proof.

Data Storage Insecurity

A mobile application that doesn’t have a sound storage system is challenging to secure. Criminals may take your data and use it illegally if they gain access. To keep the data secure, you should add an extra layer of encryption over the standard encryption protection of the operating system.

Inadequate Transport Layer Protection

Mobile app security ensures smooth data transfer and protection from hackers.

Here are some of the essential practices to implement at the transport layer level:

• SSL Pinning
• Industry-standard cipher suites
• Preventing user session ID exposure
• Alerting users in case of invalid certificates
• Using only secure versions for analytics

These tips can help prevent identity theft or fraud, which can be damaging to your users and your business.

Unintentional Data Leakage

Private data accidentally shared can cause severe problems for apps stored on mobile devices. Hackers could easily access apps and access your customers’ information. This mishap could expose businesses to unforeseen consequences. Monitoring common loopholes also helps detect potential risk factors and prevent unauthorized access or usage of confidential data.

What Is the Role of Security Testing in Mobile App Security?

Security testing is an integral part of mobile app security. Security testing helps identify a mobile app’s weaknesses that malicious users could exploit. It can also help determine if mobile applications securely store and transmit sensitive data and are vulnerable to known attack methods.

Security testing uses tools and methods like vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and manual security assessments to look for weaknesses.

By finding problems early on, developers can ensure mobile app security. Testing also makes sure that old apps stay safe from new risks.

Types of Mobile App Security Tests

Vulnerability Scanning

Vulnerability scanning is crucial to securing mobile applications. It involves using automated tools to identify app weaknesses and security flaws. Security scanners can uncover vulnerabilities by inspecting application code, databases, operating systems, and other parts of a mobile app.

Penetration Testing

Pen-testing is a way to figure out how secure a system is. Cybersecurity professionals do these tests by pretending to be hackers and trying to find weaknesses in the system. They use simulated environments so that no real damage can happen while they practice and learn. This kind of testing is more thorough than other types, like vulnerability scanning. It can give us a better idea of how secure our computers are.

Risk Assessment

Risk assessment can help companies figure out if they are in danger from security issues. It helps them figure out how bad the problem might be and what steps to take to ensure everything is safe. Companies can use this information to create plans that will protect their mobile apps from risks.

A comprehensive security risk assessment should include factors such as:

• The type of data collected by the application (e.g., personal information)
• The app’s distribution method (e.g., via the public app store or through direct downloads)

When performing a risk assessment for a mobile app, developers consider known vulnerabilities and other potential attack scenarios. Each situation can be a different level of risk. For example, a business app needs more security than a regular consumer app because it is more likely to get attacked by people trying to break into it.

Posture Assessment

Posture assessment looks at the safety measures a company has in place. It helps us to see how safe their app is. The assessment checks for weak spots and areas where security needs to be improved and looks at the hardware, software, and activities to ensure they meet industry standards. It uses both manual processes and automated systems to do this.

How To Overcome Mobile App Security Challenges

When making mobile apps, it is vital to ensure they are secure. Risk assessment should be a priority during development, and developers must comply with modern security standards.

The following are some of the security challenges in mobile app development and how to resolve them:

Challenge #1: Device Fragmentation

Devices using the same platform come in many different versions and configurations, which can make it difficult for developers. Each version requires a special code to access certain features or run an app, and this can lead to compatibility and security issues.

Solution:

To ensure the app code works on many devices, developers must use programs that offer solid support and security. Developers should also know what devices are popular and build the software for them. They should also check security often to ensure their app is safe from problems or hackers.

Challenge #2: Weak Encryptions

When encryption is weak, a mobile device is vulnerable to accepting data from any available device. Malware attackers are constantly looking for an open end in public mobile devices. Your app could be that open end if you do not follow a robust encryption process.

Solution:

Investing in solid encryption is one of the best ways to create a hack-proof mobile app.

Challenge #3: Weak Hosting Controls

Weak web hosting happens when servers, anti-malware tools, and software are not set up correctly. This can make websites unsafe from security risks and vulnerable to outside attacks.

Solution:

The best way to deal with this is to ensure that the servers hosting your app have adequate and robust security measures. This will prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data.

Proven Tips To Improve Mobile Application Security

With the popularity of mobile apps comes an increased need for organizations to ensure that their security and protect user information from threats or attacks. Here are some tips to achieve this goal.

1. Protect the App With Code Encryption

Encrypting the code of mobile applications helps secure mobile apps and protect sensitive data from attackers.

2. Perform a Thorough Security Check

Perform regular security checks on the application’s code and architecture to identify any vulnerabilities or risks.

3. Secure the Backend

Ensure robust authentication protocols for user accounts and other necessary measures to secure the app’s backend.

4. Ensure Secure Data Storage

Store sensitive user info on a secure web server and use encryption technology for added protection.

5. Implement High-level Authentication

Require users to authenticate their accounts with multi-factor authentication methods such as biometrics or OTP.

6. Have a Solid API Strategy

Implement an API security strategy to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data security.

7. Employ Extra Measures if Your Company Has BYOD Policies

If your organization allows employees to use their own devices, consider requiring them to install additional security measures. You can implement device encryption or other mobile threat defense systems.

8. Empower Your Users

Educate users on protecting their devices and data and report any suspicious activity they may encounter.

9. Hire a Mobile App Security Expert

An experienced expert can help identify potential security vulnerabilities and develop the appropriate safety protocols.

Jeffery Thompson

Jeff eats and breathes technology. His undying passion for software development inspired him to establish BIT Studios, a reputable custom software development company that caters to SMEs and Fortune 500 companies. Jeff is a strategic thinker who combines creativity and expertise to build digital ...