Mobile Application Security Tips that every developer should know

In 2021, living without technology and mobile apps might seem impossible. But, according to eMarketer, app usage has a 90% share in the total amount of time a person spends on a smartphone.

Today, the mobile app development industry is growing at a tremendous speed. According to Statista, its revenue will be $ 189 billion by 2020. By 2022, it will have about $ 260 billion in software revenue.

At the same time, getting involved in app development is a viable option for many companies. However, while the industry is full of potential and demand, it also has many challenges. The most important is the security of the application.

Why is application security important?

When creating software, it is essential to make sure that it is secure. After all, most apps collect confidential user data. Mobile processing of this data is necessary for the administrator to maintain its reputation as a reliable mobile app.

There was a time when mobile apps were not a big target for hackers. But they focused on linking weak operating systems. Over time, these vulnerabilities were fixed, and as a result, hackers changed their focus.

Because the network of apps is extensive, hackers can quickly identify weak links to access the system.

This poses a threat to the privacy of the customer. Not only that, but breaches of security can result in loss of reputation and credibility. It’s also a costly mistake because countries worldwide pay heavy fines to companies that don’t protect data.

While you may think that such violations are rare, various examples around us prove the opposite. For example, some of the recent achievements of large companies include:

British Airways: mobile translation ended for 380,000 customers. Their information, credit card number, expiration date and CVV code were supported. As a result, he was fined $ 230 million under GDPR law.

Under Armor: More than 150 million MyFitnessPal customer accounts were cut, resulting in a 3.8% drop in the company’s business value.

Timehop: The emails and names of more than 21 million users have been leaked due to data corruption.

Twitter: Hackers have targeted more than 130 accounts, some high-ranking people like Bill Gates, Barack Obama and Elon Musk. The hackers managed to recover the passwords of at least 45 users.

Zoom: The implementation of video conferencing became a staple during SOVID-19. More than 500,000 passwords were stolen and sold to criminal platforms for illegal websites.

To avoid disregard and financial loss, you must ensure that your app is not included in the annual data breach list. And therefore, it is necessary to solve all the major problems with the security of the app.

Major app security issues

Here are some key security issues you need to know and address when creating a mobile app.

Insecure data storage

One of the essential tools for app developers is its user data. However, while access to a lot of data has made it easier for marketing, the need for security has also increased.

For example, let’s say you develop a healthcare app that monitors user health data and provides it to physicians for timely work.

This means that you have collected your personal information about the user and their medical records. However, if this data is not deleted correctly, you are at risk of being hacked.

Starbucks learned this the hard way. Mobile apps are popular among consumers. At first, the customer only entered their password once and then paid for it over and over again, but not entered each time.

While this was convenient for users, in 2014, it was found that the software stored all of these password usages. This has caused people to distrust the app, and more than 3 million people have deleted it.

So how do you provide all the data for the app? You can do this if you save in a tablet and you do not allow any backup.

Use code written by hackers

If you’ve had a chance to read a guide for hackers on hacker software and websites, you’ll find a consistent method — generate code.

Various hackers work for a long time to create code that they hope certain software users will use to make the app.

Because many software developers don’t want to start all over again when creating software, they tend to collect pre-made source code from the Internet and modify it as required by their app.

Such easy software from third-party sources proves to be a gateway for hackers. And if you use them, you can easily read the security of your app. So, make sure you verify the codes you use from external sources or do your hard work.
This is especially important if there is sensitive information such as payment details, customer information, health information etc.

Problems with SSL

SSL issues continue to be one of the most frequent app security issues. This is usually because most software developers provide high-level SSL security. However, sometimes, their app is not appropriate.

There may be issues such as not verifying the SSL certificate or crashing the TrustManager. However, what many people don’t understand is not.

It is best to limit the login to the online mode of the app to close this loophole. Additionally, there is a multi-factor check system to make your application more secure. Finally, if your application is progressing with its offline feature, encrypt the data.

Improper session handling

As an app user, you may have come across the phrase “your session has expired, please log in again”. This is an example of how apps have avoided security issues caused by improper session handling.

If an online session lasts a long time, there is a valuable user who is no longer active.
Many e-commerce stores provide long sessions to ensure better shopping success. After all, if the consumer is not active during the extended session, a return can be provided for hackers to conceive and deliver data.

Caution, it is imperative to limit the duty of these sessions to avoid questions. Here, a balance must be struck between privacy and speed.

For example, do not ask for a second check every time. Instead, divert your thinking to good things in life, such as purchasing, ordering, and so on.

This is what the Amazon mobile app does. Although you can browse through the products for hours without re-logging in, you must log in again when placing your order.

Get quality on-board app developers

Now that you know what five security issues you need to avoid when hiring or collaborating with professional application developers. There are different nuances in application security that can only be solved by an experienced professional.

While some security issues need to be addressed in each app, industry issues need to be addressed.

Do not solve only the main problems of your app. Instead, think of these as actions that you must take regularly. This way, you will be able to offer a 100% secure app to consumers.