8 Important Steps to Secure Your Mobile App
INTRODUCTION It is important for your apps need to be secured as there are hackers who are waiting for a chance to steal valuable user information such as credit card and bank details. You may be well aware of what hackers can do to a software application. They steal data, create duplicate stuff and can even take hold of personal assets including money. There are 8 ways in which you can secure your app.
1. Secure the Source Code It is possible that the app is exposed to vulnerabilities at the development stage. ~Protect your app with encryption ~Scan the source code for vulnerabilities ~App code should be easy to update and rebuild ~It should be portable between devices and OSes ~Be aware of file size, running time, memory, data and battery when securing the app. ~Do not rely on app store approval; it may or may not be accurate.
2. Have Security Measures to Protect Data and Deny Unauthorized Access Verify Application Programming Interface (API) to prevent transfer of sensitive data in wrong hands. ~Create encrypted containers to store data safely. ~Data encryption and encrypted connections through virtual private network is extra secure.
3. Identifications, Authentication, and Authorization ~The authentication and authorization technology of API add an extra layer of security. ~Ensure that the APIs used in the app allow access only to the most important parts of your application. ~Installing OAuth2 in the server let the user permissions to collect credentials between client and end user. ~OpenID Connect will allow the user to use the same credentials that have been used once for multiple domains, with one ID.
4. Activate a Good Mobile Encryption Policy ~Use file-level encryption. ~Align the codes of application as the passwords and data are not directly saved in the device. ~They have to be stored, make sure that they are encrypted.
5. Implement a Strong API Security Strategy ~Follow the security measures for a well-built API security i.e. identifications, authentication and authorization. ~Ensuring API is very important.
6. Test, Test and Test Again ~Never get tired of testing. ~Test the data security problems and session managements. ~Penetration testing helps to solve the weakness of system. ~Emulators will explain the performance of an app in any device or OS under a stimulated environment.
7. Alert User Developers and testers can't always be a user's protectors. In that case, ~Include sufficient pointers if any kind of vulnerability detected. ~Warn the users to download only from authorized sites.
8. With BYOD Policy, be Alert and Use Some Extra Precaution Some companies allow employees to use their own devices and this open network system will lead to more security threats. ~Activate a virtual private network system for more secure connection. ~Protect devices with anti-virus, firewall and anti- spam. ~Only allow authorized devices. ~Block transactions from rooted and jail breaking devices.
CONCLUSION By following these 8 steps diligently, your mobile app can be secured in general. But no app can be 100% secure, and this means constant monitoring and timely testing with bug fixing is the best way to enure maximum safety of your app.
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