Apps Leagues 
August 6, 2024What Is Mobile App Security? [8 Steps to Boost Your Apps Security]
According to research, approximately 21% of millennials open apps 50 times or more throughout the day, and around 70% of digital media and more come from mobile applications. With this being said, the average smartphone usage per day increases each month. Smartphones have outshined desktop usage for a long time. This is why you would see more apps for mobiles rather than desktops. Regardless of whatever app it may be, social media, gaming apps, job-finding apps, or apps for personal use, such as medical apps, have been downloaded by millions of people.
Mobile apps have become very popular, but some of them can contain malware or bugs that may compromise your personal information. Mobile app users need to be cautious about what they download. If you’re interested in creating your own app, it’s crucial to prioritize mobile app security, as it greatly impacts user loyalty along with the overall design of the app.
In this short read, we will learn about mobile app security and why it is important for application owners and users. If you already own a mobile app, you will learn effective steps to boost its security further.
What is Mobile App Security?
Mobile apps and security go hand in hand. Without security, a mobile app can cause cyberattacks and data theft within minutes. Mobile app security refers to technologies or tools that protect your mobile app against malware, bugs, data theft, and more. The mobile app security framework automates mobile application security test runs on platforms such as Android or iOS.
Mobile app security best practices include safeguarding your app from potential threats. A multifaceted approach is used to protect the application itself, your information, and sensitive details. These measures take a proactive stance in increasing user credibility and reliability. With strong security measures applied to your mobile app, users will feel comfortable keeping your app downloaded and safe to share images and so on.
It is important to know that mobile app security is not a one-time thing. It requires continuous management and adaptation to counter any threats that could occur at any time and protect your information and your smartphone.
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Why You Need Mobile App Security
Here, we will take a closer look at the whys of mobile app security. Whether you want to create an app or simply wish to learn what measures should be considered for mobile app security, this is what you need to know:
1. Financial Data Theft
Almost everyone uses a mobile banking app. It is very common now. These apps contain all your personal information and banking information. These include credit card information and transaction details. For example, say you are interested in creating a mobile banking app. You would have to stay updated with all the security measures and use the most advanced tools to ensure your users trust your mobile app. In several cases, banking apps and specific IDs have been hijacked, and the users cannot do much about it.
Your mobile app can generally contain your credit card details, and that has to be kept secure for your users. Many users make in-app purchases. If your mobile app starts acting up and users find out about unwanted transactions, this could result in a mishap for your app and your users.
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2. Identity Theft
Identity theft is very common and difficult for users and even mobile app owners to solve. This can lead to a bad reputation, causing people to release a case on your app. Most applications include security measures such as “Is this person you?” and ask for further details and measures.
User data can be made public if the application lacks these security measures, which can cause users to feel skeptical about your app.
3. Intellectual Property Theft
Your address and personal information can be at risk without the right mobile app security and other features. For example, every mobile application is built on a represented piece of code. Some mobile app creators and owners try to create similar apps to professional ones but with the sole purpose of hacking and stealing your information, which can ultimately lead to intellectual property theft.
4. Login Data Theft
Incidents like this have happened numerous times where social media app users have found their apps hacked. Hackers like this send links to those main users, which then spreads the login theft process. These links can also include bugs and viruses that can cause major mishaps. Because of this, users have been scared of creating profiles online since there was a time when login thefts happened quite frequently. Only now have the security measures of certain apps have increased.
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Common Vulnerabilities in Mobile Apps
Sometimes, users can tell if an app is sketchy or if a certain link they are provided with is odd. However, sometimes, hackers can create realistic links that can fool users instantly. For example, if a user tries to close a pop-up from their app, that would open a new unwanted window on their smartphones, causing their data to either be leaked or used against them.
While there are many ways to hack into mobile applications, here are a few of the most common vulnerabilities:
1. Man-in-the-middle Attacks
Most applications depend on communication with servers to function. Since client-to-server communication uses HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), an application delivers or receives several kinds of data, such as personal data, financial data, login credentials, etc. If the mobile application lacks this protocol and internal security measures, certain information could be altered, which is usually known as a man-in-the-middle attack.
2. Server-side Vulnerabilities
Servers process and store all the data necessary for the application to function. The information can be personal, business data, credentials, and transactional data. Most communication between an application and a user takes place through the server. Because of this main reason, your server should be trustworthy and have optimal security measures for your application to prevent any risk of danger.
3. Storing Data Insecurely
Whatever app you use or create, that app will store the data and keep it for future tracking purposes. If your app lacks security measures, this could cause a massive security issue for a number of users. Data such as cookies, device settings, text files, and some social media apps are requested to gain access to your media files and access to your voice recorder. This is to allow you to send those pictures and voice notes.
Some apps reassure their users that their data and files are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that there is no third party or any chance of data being leaked. Encryption should be effective to ensure the privacy of the application’s sensitive data.
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Reasons For Advanced Security Threats to Mobile Applications
Advanced security for mobile applications is crucial since there are a number of ongoing threats that can continue to occur. Here are a couple of extremities and reasons why and how mobile applications face these issues:
1. Insecure Data Storage
Data stored without proper safeguarding could pose a risk for users and the application owner. Not only will it attack the app and take data from it, but also your entire device. This can cause mishaps in the operating system. Your mobile device will ultimately get hacked, and recovering that data will be a hassle.
2. Hackers Taking Advantage
Apps are downloaded through mobile app platforms, such as Google Play and Apple Store. These platforms provide rules for secure app development that consist of keychains and permissions. Hackers have the potential to take advantage of these platforms and communication systems to meddle with your details and information from this platform.
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3. Flawed Data Encryption
Encryption is important for sending and receiving data. However, security can be jeopardized. Many app platforms even suggest not letting your personal information out to other users of the app. They also promote strict security and social guidelines since anyone can use your information against you in any way.
4. Bad Communication
Mobile applications transmit data using the standard client-server approach, which involves the device’s carrier network, like AT&T, and the internet. Hackers exploit communication security weaknesses to gain access to private data. For instance, an unprotected Wi-Fi network can be targeted through routers or proxy servers.
5. Poor Authentication Procedures
Skilled hackers can bypass standard identification processes and access information using fake identities. This is one of those reasons why online authentication processes are mandatory. Apps that require it often show that they have strong security measures.
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How to Increase Mobile App Security Standards
Here, we will examine a list of 8 steps to increase mobile app security and how to implement them effectively.
1. Increase User Authentication
Stronger mobile app access controls should include additional ways to verify users’ identities. These can include biometric and fingerprint systems, email verification, and 2FA (two-factor authentication) password protections.
2. Ensure Encrypted Software Supply Chain
The software supply chain for mobile apps can include elements and features from third-party sources. When choosing libraries and certain frameworks for mobile apps, app developers have to be careful what they choose. This is why app owners prefer to get their mobile applications made by professional mobile app design agencies. Appsleaguse takes strict precautionary measures for vehicle designing and developing your mobile app. Therefore, you will know that your app is in good hands.
Learn more: What Are IOS App Development Services?
3. Secured Data
Secure data means no third party, not even the app owners, can read or review your mobile application’s details and data. No one can read it. This means that your app is encrypted end-to-end. Secured data also means no one can meddle, change your information, or gain unauthorized access.
4. App Permissions
Sensitive user data is unnecessarily disclosed when an app requests more permissions than necessary, significantly increasing the mobile application’s attack surface. Developers should approach permissions more carefully, ensuring that only those requiring permission to perform their jobs are authorized.
5. Properly Maintained Sessions
Inadequate session management can significantly jeopardize the security of applications that store sensitive information, such as online banking apps. As a result, it’s recommended to set session timeouts to one hour for low-security apps and 15 minutes for high-risk ones. In addition, it’s important to use industry-standard technologies to issue security tokens and ensure that sessions are ended when a different user logs in.
6. Effective Testing Strategy
The method you use to test your mobile application should be right and be modified on the basis of your app. Not another kind of app. Wherever you get your mobile app designed and developed, you should ensure that the right kind of tests are applied to it under rigorous testing. This way, you can rule out any issues and risky or sketchy-looking features that could cause users to drive away from your app. Apps Leagues modifies its tests according to your app requirements and type. Ensuring that it looks and functions safely.
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7. Use App Shielding
App shielding is a security measure designed to protect Android and iOS mobile apps from tampering, reverse-engineering, and other types of attacks. It works by separating the application’s data from the runtime environment, effectively safeguarding the data inside the apps. This is extremely useful during mobile app security testing, whether before or after deployment.
One common method of app shielding is runtime application self-protection (RASP). RASP monitors the application’s internal state, inputs, and outputs, allowing developers to identify vulnerabilities in their apps during mobile application security testing.
8. Continuous Monitoring and Updates
If you hire a skilled mobile app development agency, you can always request a security and monitoring check to ensure your app runs smoothly. Running check-ups is not a one-time thing; this is an ongoing process. Several apps come as updates. This is another important measure for mobile applications. This way, the security measures increase over time, lowering the risk of cyberattacks and data theft.
Now You Know Why Application Security Matters
Mobile application security is a constant process that evolves over time in the mobile development world. There are new ways to monitor and fix threatful situations for your mobile app, and professional mobile app development and design agencies can help you gain the best security measures for your app during the process of development.
Cyber attacks and hackers will never end, which is why security measures increase regularly, and apps run through security check-ups time and again to figure out or fix any bugs or issues that could be causing the mobile app to slow down. To stay one step ahead of cyber attackers and hackers, you have to be aware of these happenings in the world of mobile applications.
Apps Leagues is known for custom app designs and development. We use the most advanced and robust tools to create your app. By implementing security measures during the mobile development process, we ensure that your mobile app is protected from all kinds of threats or bugs.
FAQs For Mobile App Protection
How do I ensure mobile app security?
There is a list of ways to ensure mobile app security:
- Increase User Authentication
- Ensure Data is Encrypted
- Secured Data
- App Permissions
- Properly Maintained Sessions
- Effective Testing Strategy
- Use App Shielding Tools
- Continuous Monitoring
How do I authenticate a mobile app?
There are several ways to authenticate users in your mobile app. The most frequent method is the two-step authentication process. Other methods include fingerprint verification, social logins, and PINS.
What is meant by mobile app security?
Mobile app protection or security is the practice of safekeeping mobile apps and users’ identities, details, information, and other login credentials. This includes ensuring that no one can hack into another account, even with simple details; verification will be needed. Bugs or cyberhackers will be less likely to interfere with your app or app usage.
How secure is a mobile app?
There are several ways to check if a mobile app is safe. The first one is to see its reviews and how users found it. The next best way is to note if it is the editor’s choice approved. Lastly, if you want to ensure that your mobile app is secure for users, then opt for professional mobile app design agencies to create an app for you.