Modern people are dependent on their mobile phones and the apps they are using. According to statistics, users have on average 40 apps installed on their mobile devices. Experts expect that this number will keep growing in the coming years.
Excessive dependence on mobile apps raises many concerns, and security is one of them. Every app, whether it relates to social media, shopping, food delivery, fitness, or banking, collects and stores sensitive data and personal information of the users. And it’s crucially important for developers to ensure that this data will not be accessed or used by unauthorized parties and will not be lost in case of app/device failure.
Today, we will discuss steps that mobile app developers should take to protect users and safeguard data privacy.
Follow General Guidelines
The first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with development guidelines designed by iOS and Android. It’s a quick way to learn more about app security best practices and apply them to your project.
Here are a few key aspects you should consider when designing a secure app:
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Minimize the number of requested permissions. Relinquish the chosen permissions in case if you don’t need them any longer.
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Make sure to provide users with a comprehensive explanation of why do you request their permission. Clarify how their data will be used and stored.
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Disable Inter Process Communication (IPC). You can enable it then and only then when it’s essential for your app’s smooth work and when it’s not associated with sensitive information importing or exporting.
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Use keychain services wisely. Store passwords and cryptographic keys in a secure way on behalf of the app users.
Keep Data Storage Secure
Developers can’t prevent mobile phone loss or theft. But they can make it hard to impossible for third parties, including criminals and hackers, to access sensitive data stored in the mobile application. Even if malefactors get physical possession of the device, they will not be able to read private messages, log into the banking account or perform any other actions using the app.
To prevent unauthorized access, you, as a mobile app developer, should do the following:
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Disable sharing of sensitive data (third-party libraries, IPC)
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Opt for private data storage spaces (publicly accessible storage places are not safe enough to use for this purpose).
Enforce Secure Communication
All the data you transfer between your app and other apps and websites should be effectively safeguarded. To achieve the best results, you should do the following:
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Leverage certificate pinning to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM).
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Enable an encrypted communication channel between the app and network services to secure data transmission.
Manage Cryptography Properly
Cryptography has a wide application in the field of mobile development: from database encryption to high-level authentication. To ensure app security, it’s important to:
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Select trustworthy cryptography methods and libraries
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Follow the national cryptography policies and operate within security guidelines
Keep Learning New Techniques
Do you want to learn more on the topic? Check the following guides to find more tips:
Mobile app security is a trending topic. So the more knowledge you obtain in this field, the more you excel in your career.