How can you secure mobile app data during updates?

1 Back up your data

Before you update any mobile app, make sure you have a backup of your data in case something goes wrong. You can use your device's built-in backup feature, a cloud service, or an external storage device to create a copy of your app data. This way, you can restore your data if the update fails, corrupts, or deletes your data. You should also check the app's settings and permissions to see if you can choose what data to back up and how often.

4 Verify the source and integrity of the update

Not all app updates are legitimate. Some updates could be fake, malicious, or compromised by hackers who want to infect your device, steal your data, or gain access to your accounts. To prevent this, you should verify the source and integrity of the update before you install it. You should only download updates from trusted sources, such as the official app store, the app developer's website, or the app's update notification. You should also check the update's signature, checksum, or hash to make sure it matches the original and has not been tampered with.

5 Review the update's changelog and permissions

An app update could introduce new features, functionalities, or integrations that could affect your data security and privacy. For example, an update could add new ads, analytics, or third-party services that could collect, share, or use your data. To avoid unwanted surprises, you should review the update's changelog and permissions before you install it. The changelog is a document that summarizes the changes and improvements made by the update. The permissions are the access rights that the app requests from your device, such as your location, camera, contacts, or storage. You should read the changelog and permissions carefully and decide if you agree with them or not. You can also adjust the permissions in your device's settings or in the app's settings.

6 Test the app after the update

After you install the update, you should test the app to make sure it works properly and does not have any bugs, errors, or vulnerabilities that could affect your data security and privacy. You should check the app's performance, functionality, and compatibility with your device and other apps. You should also check the app's data usage, battery consumption, and network activity to see if there are any anomalies or suspicious behaviors. If you encounter any problems or issues, you should report them to the app developer, uninstall the update, or restore your backup.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?