The present time is where we mostly limit ourselves to home due to the ongoing restrictions of the pandemic. And that itself has increased the demand for mobile applications all over the world. The changed lifestyle has brought in security risks and concerns as well. Mobile applications lacking the security binding in their backdrop continue to be the prime target for online hackers.
Try counting the number of mobile applications you use on a typical day. We constantly exchange data through these apps and are less concerned about security. It can leave you vulnerable without a doubt. Mobile application security is all about protecting these applications. And Mobile Application Security Testing marks a critical requirement for businesses to see where their applications turn security-critical for the end-users.
Let us first walk through the definition of mobile application security in detail.
What is Mobile Application Security?
It involves the approach and technique used to defend mobile applications or secure them from fraudulent attacks and breaches. The process denotes a secure way to your business application readiness. For this, application owners or developers require integrating security into the early stages of mobile app development.
Why secure mobile applications?
Let us consider the situation of a corporate business. Most of the employees will be working remotely, and a large proportion use their own personal devices. Such an approach will connect risks sooner or later. An insecure mobile application is an open invitation for hackers to lurk in and invade privacy. The very possibility can turn into breaches in no time.
Thus, developers and owners must inspect their app security throughout the development cycle. So, what is the best way to incorporate security into your mobile applications? And that bridges you to look for state-of-art Mobile App Security Assessment & Testing Services tailored for business requirements. Before diving into security testing for mobile applications, let us comprehend the different issues that might approach your mobile application.
Understanding mobile application security issues
It is common to note that app developers are shady about security. However, the rise of application threats and attacks has a lot to do with the poorly developed infrastructure of the applications. To segment the concern, you need to understand that there is a clear distinction between the applications developed in Android against those in iOS. And hence, the security issues for these platforms also vary. So, what security issues are we talking about?
1. Security issues in Android
Mobile app invasion stats clearly demonstrate that Android applications are more prone to cyber-attacks than iOS. One core reason for this is due to the open-source environment. It means that anyone could use Android source code for application development. Also, Android lacks stiff screening and testing validations that make the applications vulnerable in number and severity. Major security challenges that strike the Android apps include man-in-the-middle attacks, malvertising, crypto jacking, phishing and authentication issues.
2. Security issues in iOS
Now let’s move our head toward what happens in iOS. Here, the platform raises a closed development process accompanied by a stiff screening process. Would that mean they are secure or less vulnerable? In fact, security concerns are minimum for iOS in comparison to Android. But that doesn’t make the applications completely free of security risks. Being used by the affluent community on a large scale, these applications are a hot target in the cyber world. So, what all security issues can you expect in iOS apps? Local device storage threats, jailbreaking, phishing, permitting 301 directs, and social engineering are the critical issues faced by iOS applications.
3. Other development fallouts
After all, what other security issues sprout from poor development practices from developers? Take a look at some common development flaws affecting the security of mobile applications.
- Server-side vulnerabilities.
- Insecure storage of information.
- Insecure app components.
- Insecure inter process communication.
- Doubtful data storage practices.
- Configuration flaws.
- Lack of code tests in development stages and on runtime.
- Lack of periodic code patching practices.
- Lack of Tamper Protection.
- Lack of SSL Certificate Pinning.
Mobile Application Security Testing as a solution
What is the best solution to catch security issues living in your mobile apps? Mobile App Security Assessment as a solution is the best way to accomplish the requirement. Ideally, the assessment or security inspection fits in the early stages of the software development life cycle before launching your mobile apps to the end-users. And what if you have missed it there? Probably, you can initiate the test today, and it would be the best way to address the concern.
Mobile App Security involves performing both vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing as a combined approach. Vulnerability Assessment involves the complete inspection of mobile app infrastructure to detect possible vulnerabilities and existing weaknesses. On the flip side, Penetration Testing involves the deep exploitation of vulnerabilities identified in the VA phase to access the scope and penetration impact.
“In a simple way, VA help enlist the existing vulnerabilities in your application, and PT exploits them to detect the severity.”
Know the tips for enhancing mobile app security
Here are some common tips to follow while building a mobile application.
1. Writing a Secure Code
What is the most vulnerable part of a mobile application? It is indeed the application’s source code. Developers need to build a highly safe and secure codebase to avoid potential harm in the after phase of the application.
2. Encrypting Data
Enabling encryption standards for handling and storing app information is another vital consideration for app developers. Encryption can help organizations save application data from getting exploited in malicious ways.
3. Mindful of Libraries
Mobile applications leverage third-party libraries for building codebase. Most of the libraries that you use may not be secure. Insecure libraries exploit your application code and allow attackers to use malicious codes against you.
4. Using Authorized API
It is well-recommended to use an authorized API in your codebase. A central authorization for the whole API achieves maximum security in mobile application development. The prime intent of using Authorized API is to confirm that client requests access data in a secure way.
5. Using high-level Authentication
A weak authentication process within the mobile app is a critical vulnerability. From the security point of view, user authentication holds prime importance. Using high-level authentication measures for your mobile apps is a security best practice you need to have.
Final Thoughts
Mobile phones have become inevitable in our daily lives, but we often forget how secure the devices are and the data it holds. If you take the simple instance of your mobile, you can identify the amount of information sensitivity it carries. That is why application owners and developers need to ensure that the app leaves no data of its end-users at risk. Incorporating mobile application security testing help identify the potential weaknesses and patch the gaps at the earliest. Moreover, a robust level of protection is what you get for your applications in terms of data privacy. And that shoots how useful the service line goes in the digital clock. If your organization is searching for mobile application security assessment and testing services, join hands with ValueMentor – a trusted security choice for your application readiness and safety.
