How to Build Secure Mobile Apps.pdf
- 1. How to Build Secure Mobile Apps Security should always be one of the main concerns of companies. This is especially true for businesses that have mobile applications. A data breach or hack can be extremely damaging to your company. Security breaches are not only costly, but they can also crush your reputation. To ensure the safety of your business and your customers, you need to take application security seriously. That is why I created this guide. First, I'll go through some of the most frequent mobile security problems and vulnerabilities. After that, I'll show you how to make safe mobile apps. Mobile App Security Threats The majority of businesses recognize the need of safeguarding their websites, databases, and cloud storage systems. But mobile app security is just as important, if not more so, than these other categories. Think about the scale of your mobile deployment. It can be installed on tens of thousands of mobile devices, maybe more. Mobile app security issues are bigger than you think. In fact, 70% of all online fraud can be traced back to mobile devices. One in five hacks comes from unauthorized mobile apps, and there is a high-risk mobile app installed on one in 36 mobile devices. Let's talk about some common app security threats and mobile app security vulnerabilities that you should be aware of. Recommended: How Much Does It Cost For Dating Mobile App Development Data Leakage According to a recent study, 85% of mobile apps have little or no security protection. Hackers and cybercriminals have realized this and have increased the frequency with which they attack mobile infrastructures.
- 2. When a user downloads an app, they usually give it permission to access other data on the device. Android apps development company in Kuwait So if a hacker can break into the application, they will gain access to sensitive data beyond the primary use case of the application. This could include digital wallets and passwords. If it's an internal app for employees, hackers can also get hold of sensitive corporate data. Malware and Spyware Mobile applications are susceptible to malware in the same way as computers are. Some devices are more susceptible to malware threats than others. According to a new study, Android devices are 47 times more likely than Apple devices to contain malware. This is because Androids are more compatible with third-party app stores than iOS. It is easier for an Android user to download apps from somewhere other than the Google Play Store. Nearly one in four people think it's safe to download third-party mobile apps as long as those apps don't access corporate data. This is something Android developers really need to be aware of. Once a malicious app has been installed on a user's device, it could also compromise the other apps on their device, even those downloaded from legitimate sources. Recommended: How Much Does It Cost To Make A Video Calling Mobile App? Compromised Passwords Our society has a big problem with passwords right now. Since so many different tools, accounts, and subscriptions require a password, people simply reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts. So if one account is compromised, hackers can run amok on other accounts as well. What if one of your developers or someone on your software development team had a compromised password? Could a hacker use that password to gain access to the application on the backend of your software? If so, that poses a huge risk to your organization's data and app users. Cybercriminals could use that access to implement malicious links or directly hack all users who have their apps installed. Outdated Operating Systems and Software Not keeping all your devices, software, and operating system up to date is a mobile security vulnerability.
- 3. As malware, ransomware, and other cyberattacks become more advanced, outdated software can't detect or prevent new attacks. But many software updates contain security patches. This is also true for mobile apps, mobile devices, and mobile security. Check out these charts from the Verizon Mobile Security Index Report: As you can see, the latest versions of Android contain fewer CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). Only a fraction of the latest versions of Android contains high-security vulnerabilities. Now let's look at Apple CVEs by iOS version: It is safe to say that this chart speaks for itself. If people use mobile devices that have not been updated to the latest operating system, they are significantly more susceptible to mobile security threats. Social Engineering and Phishing Social engineering is booming for mobile devices. Also known as phishing, this occurs when hackers send fake emails, text messages, or malicious advertisements in an effort to gain access to passwords or private information. We have all seen this before. You get an email from someone claiming to be Apple or another trusted company telling you to reset your password or update an expired credit card. Surprisingly, nearly 60% of people say they can't confidently identify social engineering attacks. Approximately 40% think it is smart to respond to these attacks. These numbers are alarming and pose a threat to developers and mobile apps. Recommended: How Much Does It Cost To Develop Online Shopping Apps in the USA Encryption Gaps
- 4. End-to-end encryption is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of mobile app security. All data that is transmitted from one point to another must be encrypted. Encryption is required whether data is transmitted from your users' mobile devices to your system, from your system to cloud storage, or from you to a third-party service. If these security measures are not taken seriously, hackers and cybercriminals can exploit holes in the data transfer and steal data while it is on the move. For example, let's say you have an internal messaging app for employees. If those messages aren't encrypted, someone could potentially access everything your staff says when they're chatting on mobile. This could put sensitive data and private company information in the wrong hands. 11 App Security Best Practices Now that you've seen some common mobile app security threats, it's time to talk about how to properly secure your app. The following security measures must be taken into account before, during, and after the software development process. This is how you build secure mobile apps: 1. Choose the Right Development Platform 90% of your security vulnerabilities are eliminated if you build an app on the right platform. Security measures are embedded into the leading app makers' systems. You can rest easy knowing your application is secure in the platform's security architecture. If you plan to code your app yourself with an in-house development team or a third-party development agency, your app's security might be a bit more vulnerable. Application code and sensitive data are at the mercy of your development team. Your app may be in danger if they follow inadequate app security best practices. With Hyena, your app is not only secure on the backend but also includes features to improve user security. You can take advantage of features like SSO and custom logging to add an extra layer of protection to your app when people use it. This helps prevent unauthorized users from using a compromised account to access the program. We have state-of-the-art firewalls, strong encryption, and data policies that are constantly monitored and updated. Developers can rest easy knowing that our platform is built on AWS and that we have redundancies across multiple servers and geographies to reduce the risk of data loss. Hyena is not only the most powerful no-code app builder for iOS and Android, it's also one of the safest ways to build an app. So when you're looking at and comparing different development options, be sure to prioritize application security.
- 5. Recommended: Cost to develop on-demand An Education App like Byju's 2. Application Security Testing Whether you're developing an app on your own or with a team of developers, app security testing should be done regularly. You should test applications during the development process and also after the application has been released. Surprisingly, 40% of companies do not scan application codes for security vulnerabilities. The same study found that organizations test fewer than half of the apps they build. 33% of those companies never test apps to make sure they're secure. Not all security flaws are obvious. Android app development companies Bangalore Mobile testing is one of the most effective methods for identifying potential flaws. So why don't companies test their apps? One of the main reasons has to do with lack of planning and poor budgeting. In fact, half of the companies have no budget for mobile app security. Security should be part of your application maintenance process. So make sure you plan accordingly for this. This is not only important to prevent attacks and malware. But you must ensure that your application security evolves to support regulatory changes. I am referring to things like GDPR, CCPA, ADA, HIPAA, PCI, and other data security standards. Check out our guide to the five hidden software costs to anticipate after launch for more information. Application security and testing is definitely important aspect of this. 3. Put Yourself in the Shoes of an Attacker You must think like a malicious person when developing safe mobile apps. Ask yourself the questions a hacker or cybercriminal would ask when looking at your app. 1. How can they hack your app? 2. What vulnerabilities are easily exploitable? 3. Do you have weak points or gaps in the security of your application? Ask yourself these questions regularly. You can do this during the build process, but you can also continue after the app has started. Penetration testing (also known as penetration testing) is a great way to implement this strategy. This entails using ethical hacking techniques against your own program. Basically, you have a team member trying to penetrate your application security like a stranger. If that person can break through your security barriers, it's a problem that needs to be resolved quickly. Recommended: How Much Does It Cost To Make A voice recording Mobile App? 4. Keep Software Up to Date
- 6. As mentioned above, not updating your software means you won't be able to combat the latest mobile threats, malware, and malicious code. Make sure you keep your operating system up to date and force your computer to do the same. This is one of the simplest mobile app security policies you can implement internally. Updating your software can help protect sensitive data and close outdated security holes. This is another reason why using the right app builder or choosing the right development partner is so important. If you're building an app with Hyena, you won't have to worry about software updates on the backend. We will automatically update your app to support the latest versions of Android and iOS. 5. Include User Authentication Adding login credentials to your app is a great way to provide an extra layer of security to your users. If your software contains critical information, user credentials assist prevent illegal account access. Let's say you have in-app purchases enabled. You would not like an unauthorized party to access the user's payment information, billing address or other data. You can go one step further with multi-factor authentication, 2FA, single sign-on, and more. User authentication for your app is simple to set up using Hyena. The platform supports everything from custom registrations to OAuth, SSO, and social logins. Instead of forcing app users to create a new username and password for your app, they can simply log in with their existing social credentials. This is a simple method of user authentication. This removes friction and improves the user experience without compromising application security. It also prevents unauthorized users from accessing the app if they get their hands on lost or stolen devices. Recommended: Development cost of AI mobile apps 6. Prioritize Data Encryption We talked about data encryption earlier when we discussed common mobile app security threats. So it's no surprise that we've included it in our list of mobile app security recommended practices. You must have security tools to protect data. When that data is encrypted, though, your app's security is enhanced.
- 7. Let's say someone can get sensitive user data or app data. If the data is encrypted, they will be unable to access it without the encryption key. 7. Apply Strict In-House Security Standards You should also consider security controls for your application development team. Your app is only as secure as its weakest link. You can implement mobile device management policies or use MDM software to enforce internal security policies. For example, you don't want your developers, designers, or any member of your app team working on the app from an unsecured device. Something simple like working remotely or writing code on unsecured public WiFi could threaten the security of your app. Even if you're using a secure app builder, you want to make sure anyone who has access to the app on the backend is taking steps to prevent a breach. If someone on your team is using weak passwords like qwerty or password to access your app, anyone could hack into your account and make changes to your app without your knowledge. Apply the principle of least privilege to your application team. Android app development company in Dubai This means that all members of your team should only have access to the parts of your application that are strictly necessary for their job or task. I found an excellent graphic from Heimdal Security that shows the POLP in practice: In this example, a programmer would have access to write the application's code, since it is directly related to the application's work. They wouldn't need to access a payroll database, though. Not all team members working on your app need to have admin privileges or access to make live changes. Recommended: Cost to develop on-demand a Financial App 8. Educate Your Team on Mobile Security Creating and enforcing internal policies is only one aspect of internal security. You should also educate your team on app security best practices and the importance of mobile security. Explain why using the same password for many accounts is dangerous. Explain why people should update the software on their personal computers. Show them useful statistics, studies, infographics, and resources on mobile security. You can send them this blog that you are reading right now!
- 8. If you make it clear to your team that you are taking this seriously, they will follow suit. But if you have a messy approach and aren't enforcing these application security best practices, you can't expect your team to care. You can even consult with your internal security team about a plan for employee education. 9. Eliminate Unnecessary Permissions What type of permissions are you trying to access from mobile users? Try not to collect sensitive data or anything that is not necessary for the direct purpose of your application. Does your app really need to access someone's camera, pictures, or contacts? If not, then don't order it. The more permissions you collect, the more risk you are putting on your business. Each additional permission or connection introduces additional vulnerabilities. Android app development companies in oman So use a zero-trust approach when you're building secure mobile apps. If the permission isn't related to the key features of the app, don't bother with it. 10. Be Careful With Third-Party Code Many Android apps, iPhone apps, and apps available on official app stores have a similar code. Therefore, it is not uncommon for developers to take shortcuts and take code from third-party sources. Sometimes you can find prewritten code available for free. Other times they are on paid platforms. But you can't assume that code you're taking from a third-party source is safe. Hackers take advantage of these code-sharing platforms as a way to inject malicious code into the software. If you are simply copying and pasting someone else's open source code into your application, you could be unknowingly opening the door to new security vulnerabilities. That's another reason why it's much better to build an app with Hyena. You won't have to write a single line of code, so you can rest assured that everything is safe. Recommended: How much does an app like Airbnb cost in 2022 11. Stay Informed on the Latest Mobile Trends Your mobile app does not exist in a vacuum. You need to stay on top of and see what is happening in the mobile app industry. Are there new emerging threats? Have there been any high-profile data leaks? How do hackers exploit mobile data breaches? I'm not saying you have to do this every day. But find a reliable source for mobile information and trends, and check it out at least once a month.
- 9. Mobile App Security Checklist Here's a quick cheat sheet for you to refer to while building a secure mobile app: ● Find a secure platform for app development ● Encrypt your data ● Keep all software up to date ● Run application security tests ● Create an internal policy for mobile security ● Educate your team on the best practices for application security. ● Don't ask permission for data you don't need ● Limit the exposure of your data ● Avoid unsafe code from untrusted sources or third-party libraries ● Follow mobile security trends ● Implement a strong password policy ● Authenticate users All of these app security tips and best practices will help you create an app that is safe and secure. Recommended: How much does it cost to develop an app like uber Final Thoughts on App Security If you are coding the app from the beginning with the traditional development team, your security vulnerabilities will be significantly increased. There are many factors that need to be protected and taken into account. A safer alternative is to use a no-code app builder like Hyena, to build the app. Not only is it faster, easier, and cheaper than traditional development, but it also almost reduces your application security issues.
- 10. You do not have to worry about applying advanced mobile security policies to the app. Hyena manages everything in the backend. All you have to do is apply basic password protection to your account and be careful to who you grant administrative privileges on your computer. Hyena has built-in security, user authentication, and automated upgrades, among other features. Hyena has built-in security, user authentication, and automated upgrades, among other features. This is probably all you need to create a secure mobile app from scratch. The Hyena app includes security cover for DIY apps, enterprise apps, business apps, in-house employee apps, and more. If you decide to code your own app, that's fine too. Maintaining security aspects is a bit of a difficult task. But your life will be easier if you follow the tips and best practices described in this guide. Read more: How Much Does IT Cost to Develop YouTube Mobile App