5 Steps You Should Take to Enhance Mobile App Security

Posted by Emily Woods on September 20th, 2019

Mobile apps have been the greatest thing since sliced bread. Almost all aspects of our lives have been massively influenced by vigorous mobile app development practices. But sadly, our dependency on mobile apps also made it easier for hackers to trace our sensitive data. 

While we presume everything is safe and secure, hackers penetrate your data through minor flaws in the apps that developers failed to notice. Many app developers are unaware of these pre-existing and possible security issues in the apps. This article will show you how you can avoid those mistakes using some important tips. So give it a read.

Check your design to ensure that the user data is secured

Developers need to adhere to security standards right from the beginning stages of mobile app development. Many apps require users to fill in important credentials to access the apps. So the developers need to make sure this sensitive data is stored in a secure place rather than the device itself 

One of the popular methods to avoid this situation is to store the data on the server-side. That way all the data stays hidden. It’s also a good practice to create a stripped-down version of your app. That way we can ensure that only a few information is stored in the vulnerable areas. 

Secure the App source code

The codes used in app development won’t always perfect. There can still be minor errors and bugs in the code even after the app is delivered. If the developers fail to pay attention to these issues, it will be easier for hackers to manipulate user’s data. 

So the complete source code also needs to be protected right from the early stages of app development. This prevents code privacy and reverse engineering. The app maintenance is also an important stage. The code should be agile enough for developers to detect and fix inevitable bugs immediately. This is why it’s always wise to opt for a reliable mobile app development company to build your apps

Consider Modern App Authentication Methods

Login IDs and passwords are the two main pillars of traditional mobile app login systems. And these are the gateways of the most vulnerable information of the users. So app developers need to ensure these data are fully protected. We should always find ways to ensure the authenticity of the users who type these data into the app. 

Whenever the login takes place, double-check if it is the right user. Send email and SMS notifications when login activities are detected. Methods like OTP and security questions are effective ways to ensure user authentication. Besides these, consider modern app authentication methods like fingerprint, voice and face recognition validation as well. Because security never becomes excessive.

Use Authorized Apis And Secure Backend Connections

The API used for app development should adhere to all security standards. Only pick APIs that require elaborate security measures. Also, check if the libraries are malware-free when you download them from third party sites.

The communication between the apps and the servers and cloud should be secure as well. The connections should be installed with SSL or TLS certificates to prevent any unauthorized access.

Implement Multiple App Testing Practices

Mobile app development is not nearly over once the app is developed. The app also should be thoroughly tested across all platform repeatedly. App testing is one of the best techniques to ensure the quality, usability and security of the apps in both Android app development and iOS app development.

The app may contain a few minor security vulnerabilities, bugs, and errors. And we need to fix these issues before we release the apps to the app stores. Beta testing and penetration tests are some of the reliable testing practices out there. Threat modeling is another effective method to identify and fix security vulnerabilities in the app. It should be practiced with each update to fix possible bugs and security issues.

Wrap Up

The apps are supposed to make the user experience better. If the apps are secure enough, you are putting the lives of users at great risk. Considering the latest data theft reports, mobile app security should be always the biggest priority for all mobile app developers. We hope this article will guide you in that direction.