Developing Secure Mobile Applications: Tips and Best Practices

In today’s fast-paced digital world, creating a successful mobile application isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s also about making sure your app is secure and top notch. Cyber attackers are constantly on the lookout for vulnerabilities, and a single data breach can wreak havoc on your customer experience, tarnish your app’s reputation, and hit your finances hard.

But there’s no need to worry! By following these mobile app security best practices, you can safeguard both your users’ data and your company’s information. Here are the best security practices you should implement to minimize security risks when you opt for Mobile Application Development services and protect your app from potential breaches. 

Read More- Cross-Platform Mobile App Development: How to Choose the Right Framework for Your Project

1. Source Code Encryption: 

It is one of the most important & primary measures in mobile app security. It prevents the attackers from accessing and modifying your code and minimizes the risk of reverse engineering attacks or exploiting vulnerabilities in your code. The amount of bugs in security entering from the source code is estimated at 82% as per many studies. 

Since hackers cannot view the encrypted code, the chances of potential cyber threats are minimal. Moreover, as a best practice, sign your source code during development, which is used to verify the integrity and authenticity of the same.

2. Get a Code-Signing Certificate

The very essence of the code-signing certificate is to validate that your code is authentic. This certificate enables you to digitally sign your code with a private key while publishing a public key for verification by users. 

A code-signing certificate ensures that users know your app is real, comes from someone they can trust, and hasn’t been changed along the way. This is very instrumental in foiling malware spread by masquerading as real applications. It is noteworthy that certificates of this nature are mostly valid for one to three years, after which there is a need for continuous updation in order to maintain the credibility of an app.

3. Apply File-Level & Database Encryption

Many mobile apps locally store data. In this case, if the data wasn’t encrypted, then access to it by attackers cannot be prevented. Now, when you are encrypting this data, you are decreasing the risk of unauthorized access to sandbox environments. 

Use SQLite Database Encryption Modules or file-level encryption across platforms to implement mobile app data encryption. Use safe encryption to store sensitive data. Also, keep on updating the cryptographic techniques and always do penetration testing before the launch of the app so that it may have robust security measures,

4. Leverage a State-of-the-Art Cryptography Technique

Every Mobile App Development Company should always be updated with the latest security algorithms to keep the app safe from all kinds of attacks. Older versions of encryption are usually targeted, so using the latest adds to your security factor. Advanced Encryption Standard, popularly known as AES, comes with different encryption levels like 512 bits, 256 bits, and SHA-256 for hashing. Keeping your cryptographic techniques updated means that your app is strong against the evolving threats to security.

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5. Utilize Pen Testing

Provided the regularity of penetration testing, one can be able to detect and patch security concerns before they are exploited. In case your attackers gain access to sensitive data or intellectual property, it might mean the leaking of sensitive data. Your Mobile App Development Company should run comprehensive penetration tests regularly to disclose vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Ideally, this should be done by hiring experts at Quickway Infosystems, a penetration testing expert-of-choice firm, in ensuring security framework compliance and keeping your mobile app security at a world-class level. We have developed over 50+ apps for businesses of all types–see our portfolio.

6. Protect the Data in Transit

Because the data is being forwarded from a mobile device to server-side endpoints, there is a chance that attackers will intercept this data. Secure this data via methods including Transport Layer Security and Certificate Pinning. In the process, TLS encrypts this data with public-key cryptography for protection against unauthorized access. Certificate pinning confirms that the digital certificate matches with the domain name and thus fortifies protection against man-in-the-middle attacks. Based on your app’s needs and the sensitivity of the data it deals with, choose one of these methods to ensure safe data transmission. Or better yet, consult a Mobile App Development Company for the same.

7. Only Use the Authorized APIs

While you are consuming third-party services, you should ensure to use an API that is authorized by the platform itself, whether it’s Android or iOS. It would otherwise expose your data to hackers and the rejection from the App Store will be instant too. 

Follow guidelines on the platform in order to maintain high-level security using authorized APIs, which diminish the chances of unlawful access as well as possible breaches.

8. High-Level Authentication Provided

Integrate robust authentication methods within an app to avoid any unauthorized access. This would further include updating strong alphanumeric passwords from time to time, multi-factor authentication, or biometric authentication such as fingerprint and facial recognition-based authentication. Out-of-box authentication methods may need a review and upgrade from time to time, embracing any new security threats and continuing to safeguard its users efficiently.

9. Safeguard the Backend

Always encrypt data at rest in your backend system. This will ensure that even in case this component is compromised, the data remains safe from cyberthreats. 

• Ensure all APIs are compatible in order to block all unauthorized access to your app’s backend. 
• Integrate high-level authentication mechanisms to make sure sensitive information or functionality does not get exposed to unwanted eyes. But at the same time, also ensure that only authorized employees have access to critical information.

10. Be Careful with Third-Party Libraries

While one can save time by opting for third-party libraries, they do come with security risks. This could be mediated by using code from trusted sources and having control over the policy in the process of acquisition to avoid security bugs. For instance, the vulnerability in the communication functionality of Log4j lets attackers inject code into logs. It had passed unnoticed for years. The implementation of tamper detection, notifying the slightest change in code, and regularly auditing any third-party libraries against the security standard should be done.

11. Tamper Detection

Tamper detection will notify the originator about any alteration in your code. Active techniques ensure the code is rendered ineffective on modification. Common mechanisms include checksumming, digital signatures, and code obfuscation. These ensure that an intruder can’t easily play with your code. This, in turn, provides extra security and informs you about a vicious attack.

12. Minimum Storage of Sensitive Data

Try as much as possible not to store sensitive data to avoid endangering such information with unwanted exposure. If needed, do encrypted data containers or keychains instead of a local storage solution. Impose auto-delete features so that sensitive data is deleted once it’s no longer needed. By reducing the sorting of sensitive information, the chances of information disclosure in case of a security breach is minimized, ensuring that only necessary information is kept.

13. Continual Testing and Updating

Security is something that needs standardization on a continuous basis. Your mobile app development company should continuously test and update your application to evolve with emerging threats. Integrating complete mobile app testing solutions into the CI/CD process can speed up the whole process while automating tests to increase the pace of market readiness. By frequently updating and testing for security, you will make sure that your application stays safe from the threats that evolve over time and retain users’ trust.

Read More- Mobile App Development: Native vs. Hybrid vs. Web Apps

Takeaway

By diligently following these best practices, you can significantly enhance the security of your mobile application. This not only protects your users but also safeguards your company’s valuable data.

However, we do know that sometimes the security landscape of the mobile application might get a little complex to navigate. Thereafter, our IOS app development company comes into play. We specialize in rendering end-to-end mobile application development services in accordance with your requirements. Be it implementing robust security measures for your IOS app or running proper vulnerability assessments for your android app, we can cheerfully offer our expertise to create an outstanding mobile application.

Our android app development company India takes pride in the proactive approach to security, ensuring that your mobile applications are not only compliant with industry standards but also resilient against evolving threats. Partnering with us will ensure you that your app and data are truly in safe hands. Contact us for Mobile Application Development services today!