The moment when the world is going ga-ga over the apps that are directly challenging our cybersecurity, it frightens me to the core when I think about how the faulty mobile app development techniques are creating a clear passage for the same. The fact that more than 90 percent of the mobile or web applications are suffering from a feeble security approach, is not only noxious but also frightening. Yes, you read it correctly, more than 90 percent of apps have some kind of loop hole that can be exploited by any malicious brood.
Do you want to know the reason behind it?
Well, security threats are so popular because of the weak approach followed while creating a mobile application. Effete authentication and the complete access control measures related to its development are the fuel that drives the security of a mobile app towards its destruction. Rising questions and allegations about some of the leading firms and some popular apps, are paving the way to dive a little deeper into this issue.
Almost 70 percent of the companies that are present on the Financial Times 500 list are also present on the dark web. Isn't it shocking? Such statistics prove why it is absolutely necessary and crucial to focus on creating a seamless mobile app, and especially its security part.
If security is non-negotiable, then why it is ignored so often?
The reason behind this is in order to enhance the user experience and its functionalities, this part is often ignored by development companies. And because of this unhealthy practice, the security suffers a huge setback.
What is the possible way out of this harmful situation?
After making you understand the importance of a strong security structure of an app, I want to draw your attention towards the ways in which hackers and other similar groups are not going to be able to attack your app. So the trick behind a fully secured app is a structured approach. And moreover, security is not something developers should worry about after the completion of the process, it is something that should be kept in mind right from the beginning. It should walk hand-in-hand with the rest of the structures that are must for the development of a mobile app.
Before jumping on to the protective measures, let us first understand the issues we sporadically suffer from. Take a look...
Issues like poor authorization, improper handling of sessions, unintended data leakage, broken cryptography, if neglected, can give nightmares to any mobile app developer. One of the most common issues, among them is data leakage due to the storage of the application's data in various locations that are completely insecure. For example, storing data in a location, where it is going to be easily accessible by other applications.
This issue is very common in apps that are designed for e-commerce businesses.
So how can we cut through these issues?
Since nothing in this world is impossible, enhancing the security level of any app is not at all a tough nut to crack, provided an accurate approach is followed. So with the right set of strategies, it is easy to secure the mobile app from all the above-mentioned security threats. Do you want to know more about such strategies? Keep reading further and enlighten yourself with all the strategies required to achieve the same.
1. Improving The Security Of The Network Connection
Mobile app development security is directly proportional to the network connection. It means that its an important part of the complete process, and hence cannot be ignored. In a bid to resist from the unauthorized access, the cloud servers, and the servers that are accessible by API's, need to be secured. Dedicated and certified professionals in this area can help to find the vulnerabilities and offer multiple solutions in order to get rid of them.
Ever heard of containerization? It is a process that involves creating an app with the help of its dependencies, libraries, and configuration files, in order to run in a bug-free manner, and that too in multiple computing environments. It is one of the methods that can be adopted for improving security. Through in this process, developers can store each and every document in an encrypted container.
2. Be Extra Careful With The APIs
API or application programming interface is the way through which mobile apps are easily able to interact with each other. And these APIs are prone to attacks by infiltrators, so it is a must for the development company to secure them. It can be done by including the use of authorized APIs in the application code. In order to change or modify the platform, every app must have an API key. An API key is a way to build a safe and secure API.
Placing an API gateway is one of the steps that programmers follow to strengthen security. Adding a firewall and reviewing the code is also a great option to avoid attacks by hackers.
3. Encrypting The Local Data
If you are thinking that the data stored on the mobile devices is secured, then you are completely mistaken. And that is why it is a must to encrypt the data that is locally stored. But with this, developers must ensure that encryption does not affect the user experience. Users can get on-device encryption, with the help of the latest version of Android OS.
The use of Ciphered Local Plugin is highly recommended for encrypting the local storage database. Other modules like SQLite can also be used for encrypting mobile databases.
Next comes the at-rest data. For this developers may use file-level encryption. This method is used to protect data by file-in-file basis. The Applications need to be created in such a way, that does not allow the users' sensitive data to be stored on a device. For example credit card information, passwords or much more.
Last but not least...
4. Create A List Of All The Possible Threats
It is not favorable to jump in a field to make changes without knowing all the details about it. Therefore, the developer needs to be aware of all the security threats and the risks, even before testing the application. This practice reaps a lot of benefits. For example, it gives you a clear picture and makes the entire process a lot easier. Take a look at the list of some common weak spots given below;
Application of all the above-mentioned techniques can guarantee the security of any application. But this doesn't mean that these are the only steps. It is a must to stay up-to-date about the latest threats, and the latest tools and techniques to provide 100 percent security of an application. And if you want to create a seamless app, then look for a flourishing mobile app development company in India, that can help you to guide your app towards complete perfection.
