A Complete Checklist To Build a Secure Mobile App

In the age of technology, having a mobile device in hand is necessary. Mobile devices are more widely used today than desktops or laptops.

Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. It holds a lot of sensitive information, including financial and personal data.

Apps abound on smartphones, right? Yes. Additionally, the number of startups seeking to create an app for their company is rising. Users are now concerned about the security of applications as the app market is flourishing.

Every business depends on the relationship of trust between the client and the business. The trust is weakened if the security is compromised.

You will surely lose the consumers' confidence if the app is hacked, and it is quite challenging to regain it. The development of cybercrime is parallel to that of technology.

Because of the numerous security concerns in the online world, app security is essential. Similarly, several workplace systems exchange sensitive data that hackers continuously seek.

More than 75% of mobile applications, according to a recent report, fail fundamental security checks. As a result, app security is a must rather than a luxury.

Every app should adhere to an app security checklist from when the first line of code is written. Even one break-in will allow the incorrect people to obtain a lot of personal data about the individual.

So let's go over the mobile security checklist to keep your app secure for you and your users.

Table of Contents

• What is application security?
• Effects of compromised mobile security
• Security risks for android and iOS apps Mobile app security checklist

What is Application Security?

By implementing the greatest security procedures, app security practices protect mobile apps from viruses and hackers.

Mobile security is now required.

Before going online, every app should adhere to a security checklist. Because when an app is hacked, it allows prospective fraudsters access to financial information, current location, and more, in addition to personal information.

Effects of Compromised Mobile Security

The findings from the study by IBM showed that:

• The majority of large businesses—about 40%—do not scan their code for mobile security. Allowing a large number of hackers access to the program.
• 50% of the businesses creating mobile applications need more money for app security.
• 33 percent of businesses never security test their applications.

According to a survey conducted in 2014, hackers obtained nearly 1 billion pieces of personal information.

And the use of malware is growing. If your app security mechanism is poor or nonexistent, hackers may be able to access the following:

1. Customer information

Allowing access to any website's login information. Moreover, revealing the consumers' present location to hackers.

2. Financial information

Credit or debit card information is accessible to hackers. The software is highly risky for money transactions, particularly when no one-time password is required.

3. IP theft

Hackers receive the original app's source code for making an app clone that is not authorized. The likelihood of the program being copied increases as it gains in popularity.

4. Revenue loss

Paid subscriptions serve as many applications' main source of income. A shoddy security system would provide hackers access to premium services, resulting in revenue loss, especially in OTT and gambling applications.

5. Loss of brand confidence

Because they trust the brand, they give their email address and other personal or financial information. Loss of brand confidence or trust is inevitable if they are hacked. Regaining trust is difficult, and you may occasionally lose to rivals.

Security Risks for Android and iOS Apps

Antiviruses are not built into mobile applications. Mobile apps are intended to give consumers greater, more streamlined functionality.

Antivirus software cannot protect programs with bad coding. Both the creation of iOS and Android apps have several risks. Check out the techniques for risk management in software development.

Security risks in Android apps

• Reverse engineering
• Insecure platform usage
• Ignoring updates
• Using rooted devices

Security risks in iOS apps

• Jailbreak
• User authentication using Touch ID
• Insecure data storage in the apps

Other common security risks

• Lack of encryption
• Malicious code injection
• Binary planting
• Mobile botnets

Mobile App Security Checklist

Making sure the app is risk-free, and the given personal data is secure is the most crucial component of mobile app security. To be sure of this, the creation of mobile apps must start with several security assessments.

Regardless of the development process's effectiveness, there will always be faults or errors in the coding. This makes it simple for hackers to enter and obtain the information they're after. A major concern is how to protect your mobile application.

Let's examine the finest mobile app security checklist below to ensure enhanced mobile security.

1. Secure the source code

The primary component while programming an app is the source code. Many app developers now frequently employ open-source code.

Because hackers may quickly construct clone apps using the reverse engineering approach with online tools, open-source code is riskier.

Therefore, protecting the code is more crucial.

We can obfuscate the codebase using tools like Pro-guard. By converting the class, method, and attribute names into meaningless letters or characters, a piece of code is said to be obfuscated.

2. Secure mobile communications

There are several opportunities to be hacked when the data is sent from the user side to the app. The hacker can conduct a man-in-the-middle assault through cellular and WiFi networks. While communicating, data security is crucial.

Encryption of communication data is used together with VPN tunnels, SSL, TLS, and HTTPS communication to protect data while it is in transit.

3. Use cryptography effectively

One of the most crucial components of app security is cryptography. However, incorrect cryptography implementation would weaken mobile security as a whole.

You should utilize the most recent APIs while employing cryptography to provide the best security possible. A growing number of common cryptographic algorithms, including MD5, MD4, and SHA1, are revealed to be vulnerable. A judicious choice of cryptography tool will increase the cyber security of your software.

Only release a program by manually testing the cryptography.

4. Penetration Testing

One efficient method to identify vulnerabilities from a hacker's perspective is penetration testing. By doing that, we can identify the vulnerability that the attacker could exploit.

Testing for penetration involves:

• Checking password policies,
• Unencrypted data,
• Permission to third-party apps,
• No password expiry protocol, and more.

To ensure there is no way for hackers to access the data, penetration testing should be done regularly.

5. Enforce Strong Authentication

The cornerstone of cyber security is the use of robust authentication. Using high-level authentication may lessen the chance of password guessing and unwanted access.

By using a captcha, a secret code sent through SMS, and the password itself, multi-factor authentication helps to mitigate security concerns. Enhanced app security will result from stronger authentication.

Additionally, you may advise the user to change their password within a year or every six months. We may utilize biometric authentication methods like Touch id and retina scan for high-security apps in addition to passwords for further protection.

You may also implement a location- or time-based login for further app security.

6. Avoid the Usage of Personal Devices

Many firms permit staff to utilize personal devices for coding and testing to save on the expense of purchasing gear. This causes several code and data leaks. This is how a lot of malware spreads from one device to another.

To prevent this, businesses could offer a device that does not allow the installation of any other apps, or they could install a firewall, antivirus, and anti-spam software on their employees' devices.

7. Prevent Data Leaks

Users are free to install whatever personal apps they choose without putting their secure data in danger. Separating corporate applications from personal apps is crucial for this. Additionally, you may avoid data breaches by:

• Avoiding copy and paste features.
• Block-taking screenshots.
• Watermarking sensitive files.
• Prevent the saving of confidential files on their phone.

8. Be Careful while Using Third Party Libraries

By accelerating the app release, using third-party libraries is incredibly beneficial for the development process. However, it also leaves a lot of space for danger in terms of mobile security.

So reducing the number of third-party libraries used will lower the danger of hacking. Before including the library in your project, test it out as well.

9. Avoid Saving Passwords

For user convenience, several applications save the passwords on the user's smartphone so that the user won't have to input the passwords each time they log in.

By granting access to all the data in the app, stored passwords might cause many problems and difficulties during cellphone theft.

Developers should refrain from keeping passwords on mobile devices to prevent this. If the customer's mobile device is lost or other circumstances arise, the credentials can be saved in the app server so they can log in from the web server.

The final verdict

Security for mobile apps is unquestionably a top issue. Remember to follow the mobile security checklist whether you are planning to build an app or are already operating a software company with an app to ensure app security for both users and the app.

Mobile security is now well-known among users. Your app's growth will be improved if it offers the appropriate security. To improve app security, build apps with strong security components and test them often.