Top Security Guide for Mobile Development

Today, the mobile application market is flooded with many emerging alternatives now and then. Each of them is offering their best to the users. Experts in the business are working on the structure, ease, content, and value. Apart from all of this, mobile app security is one task that still needs a lot of attention. With the inclination in the number of global attacks, privacy and security have emerged as a significant concern in the market.

There’s a lot of concern among the users regarding sharing data and sensitive information that they share with the apps. Therefore, this is a requirement for all mobile application developers to prioritize mobile app security.

The organizations must ensure that the security is not overlooked at any cost or stage and should put maximum effort into making the application secure and sound.

Here, we have created a complete guide for the security of mobile applications and the dos and don’ts of the same.

Let’s dive in and quickly understand the same from the very beginning:

1. A secure source code:

No matter how strong the application is, if the original code or the source code is public, it cannot serve the purpose appropriately. Cyber attackers can efficiently execute the attack if you do not keep the source code secure. The hacker should not have the code accessible as it can increase the chances of getting attacked. One can make good use of obfuscation which is an exercise to make the source code confusing. All the essential attributes are converted into unclear characters, resulting in an overall robust code.

In this manner, it is essential to have experts who can evaluate the entire picture behind the open-source codes and design an application that can lessen the possibilities of an attack. We accept that it is a tedious exercise to perform, but you cannot just afford to keep your app vulnerable to attacks.

2. Safe data files and establish safer communications:

  All the critical information shared by the users with you, including the details of the credit or debit card, mail addresses, and other sensitive information, should be stored at a safe location in the device. Every organization should take firm steps to prevent data leakage at all costs to have strong customer trust towards their application. Apart from this, the development process must be secure, and attention must be paid to safe in-transit communication by encrypting the data for high security.

3. Guarantee Code Authenticity through Code Signing Certificates:

Users today opt for mobile app security that offers them complete protection in the online world. There are several special certificates available in the market that can be utilized to ensure code authenticity and that it comes from a trusted publisher. Cost-effective, cheap code signing certificate helps you win the user trust by vouching for the code integrity and testifying that any third party hasn’t altered the code. High profile security is ensured by relying on the certificate and binds the business’s identity with that of a public key and is digitally signed as well. One can buy the same as per their requirements and research well before purchasing the same for even better results.

4. Prepare against the attacks:

While talking about mobile applications, there is a need for experts related to android applications to be more vigilant. As the android platforms are open source and easier to access the source code, they can also be modified very easily. Additionally, there is a need to understand the android environment carefully and have all the required knowledge to guard the application and defense against reverse engineering. Only this way the expert from the organization can protect the application in case of an attack.

5. Distant wiping of data and enabling the lock:

There is an urgent need to work on the user-level policies by modifying them as per the need. It will only accentuate the security. This must be a practice within the organization that the device must lock after a failed number of attempts at the passwords. One must not be allowed to access the data after a limited number of attempts, and the data should be wiped off automatically. This will highly ensure security, enabling the user a safe overall experience. This has a role of a strong password in it as well.

Strong password protection is essential, and thus the password must be composed of alphabets, numbers, and special characters for the protection in abundance. One must ensure that these passwords are changed frequently. The password must not be a mere date of birth, name, and other standard details that are easy to guess. This measure will protect you from cyber attackers to a great extent.

6. Limiting external data use:

As the user data shared by the app visitors is sensitive and needs to be protected at all costs, it is the need of the hour to restrict the external use of data. Sometimes the data is copied to different spots in the device only; it is essential that it must be removed post-use automatically. All these small measures can contribute to a substantial amount of security. While a user of a particular application is no longer using that app, it must be within the user policy to wipe the data off for that user. This can be a great measure to protect the data from the cyber attackers who steal the information by looking at these little opportunities to harm the organization’s reputation.

7. Limiting the cache for greater security:

Most of the applications store cache data to provide a seamless user experience. Sensitive user information is part of this cache data and must not reach the hackers by any means. There are efficient cache managers these days being utilized by multi-dollar organizations to keep themselves secure; these can now be utilized by small to medium-size firms. This enables the wiping of the cache data, strengthening the overall security.

8. Strong validation and authentication system:

It is not too difficult for hackers to modify the existing data. It is cardinal to the mobile app security to be revised as per the needs. Experts can play a significant role for the same by developing systems in the organization that can make the validation of the users strong by not degrading the user experience. Layers of security must be there to make it impossible for the attackers to get into your system at all.

9. Perform penetration tests:

If you want to look for a clear picture of the security levels in the organization, we suggest you behave as a penetrator for a while and try to crack in. This will eventually give you an idea about the improvements you can make to do better in the future. Consider the attackers a hundred times resourceful as you are and prepare accordingly. This will allow the organization members to prepare themselves as per the protocols. They will recognize their responsibilities and play an influential role in their capabilities in case of an attack.

Conclusion

Security is everybody’s priority these days. When it comes to mobile applications, users look for the most secure one and offers them an incomparable user experience. As the users share a lot of sensitive information with the organization, it is the responsibility of the mobile application to offer them good and reliable security to function correctly. Therefore, the experts and developers should take firm steps to safeguard their applications. 

By having a protected source code, special SSL certificate, and data files, you can ensure high security for the users. In these competitive times, it is seen that the apps offering maximum security are downloaded more and then do better in the long run. There are chances of less friction with such applications, and therefore the users encourage the use of these apps in general.