Any kind of breach can cancel months of work on your mobile application. Hackers can steal user information and spread malware. Even worse, this can undermine trust between you and your customers. Apps are even blocked from stores in certain cases following a security breach.
Luckily, you can alleviate such risks by taking high-quality security practices from the start. Here are the most important measures to protect your app.
Start with secure coding
Imagine your app code as the basement of a house. When it is weak, then all other things will be put in jeopardy. Avoid poorly written or old code. This is a good source of loopholes for hackers.
To stay ahead of the game, adhere to secure coding guidelines from the outset. In addition, obfuscate your code. This will deter hackers. Also, maintain dependencies to address known vulnerabilities.
Encrypt sensitive data
There is a high likelihood that your app is handling sensitive data. It could be:
- Passwords
- Payment information
- Personal identifiers.
When you store or transmit this information without encryption, you are inviting hackers to access it.
Put in place robust encryption mechanisms like AES-256 to store and TLS to transmit. In case data is compromised, no one can decipher it.
Enhance authorization and access
Hackers can sneak in through weak authentication, which is among the easiest to implement. So, motivate users to use strong passwords. But do not stop at that.
Make it possible to use multi-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of protection. In cases of apps with sensitive activities, biometrics such as facial recognition can also be used to boost protection.
Periodic mobile application security testing
Even highly cautious developers might overlook vulnerabilities. This is why regular mobile application security testing is important. You can identify vulnerabilities before hackers do by:
- Conducting penetration tests
- Scanning vulnerabilities
- Reviewing the code.
The test must be an ongoing process. Not a one-time event before launching. Simulation tools that mimic real-world attacks will help you know how your app will perform under stress.
If you lack internal knowledge, you will need to seek the services of security testing experts. The investment may be cheaper than the consequences of a breach.
Protect the backend and APIs
A majority of the apps are linked to servers and APIs, which may be an ideal target for hackers. Do this:
- Apply safe API gateways
- Reduce the exposure of data
- Apply stringent authentication measures.
Always check all inputs. Attackers use unprotected access points to inject malicious code.
Educate your users
Regardless of the quality of defenses that your app might have, users may still expose themselves to danger. Give basic instructions about the safe use, such as not using public Wi-Fi to carry out sensitive transactions or ensuring their devices are updated. Short tutorials or in-app messages can go a long way in increasing awareness.
Final thoughts
Securing your application against hackers is not a one-time activity. It is a continuous effort. You can significantly reduce your vulnerability by making sure that:
- Code is secure
- Data is encrypted
- Authentication is enhanced
- Regular testing is in place.
All that, in addition to backend security and training of users, will ensure that your app will not only run well, but it will also gain the trust of the people using it.