Secure mobile application development has never been such a burning issue as it is nowadays. As the abstraction level gets higher, developers care less and less about secure app development. They believe dev tools already have everything to save their apps from attacks. The thing is, they actually do not.
Let’s discover 6 secure mobile app development tips and find out how to select software development outsourcing company able to provide you with enough app security.
1. App Sandbox Technique: Wrap Your Code
App Sandbox technique implies putting your application into a container environment. This means you create an additional layer to isolate your code from external impact. This approach secures most of your app processes and ensures that critical data stays unaffected by external forces.
App Sandbox technique complements secure mobile application development and significantly reduces hacker chances.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication: Not This Time, Keylogger
Multi-factor authentication is a sign-in process requiring several identity verifications to proceed. Here’s how it works:
- The user enters login credentials;
- The system verifies login data;
- If successful, the system requires additional identity verification.
This is where it gets exciting. Multiple-factor authentication method requires users to provide two-factor data: knowledge and possession factors. Knowledge factor is often a login/password combination. Possession factor can be a mobile device ID, protection code sent via SMS, biometric methods like fingerprint or voice recognition.
This way Multi-factor authentication provides your secure mobile app development with additional data protection and makes sure that only authorized people obtain data access.
3. Data Flow Protection: Endpoints Authentication And Data Encryption
Data will always be one of the most vulnerable parts of any application. This is why you should take a closer look at your API-driven data flow. Two aspects need your attention the most: endpoint authentication and data encryption.
First things first, authorize every connection attempt to your API endpoints. The latter are often accessible without any special tunnel or VPN, so virtually anyone can try to get data. If you require requests authorization, unwanted queries will get rejected.
As far as data encryption is concerned, excellent secure mobile app development practice is to encrypt every bit of data flowing back and forth via your app to ensure data integrity and security. If you wish to create a unique encryption key for each user, you can additionally encrypt user ID or password and use it as a key.
4. Client-Side Code Obfuscation: Dare Them to Understand
Modern offline-UI approach – initially created for UX boost – implies that user device itself stores and executes the better part of interface elements and business logic. This creates another mobile app vulnerability. As long as this code is exposed to everyone, hackers can use this info to attack your system. This is where code obfuscation comes in handy.
The whole idea of code obfuscation is to perplex hackers by intentionally making your code hard to read and understand. You can do it manually or use existing tools for your programming language. Obfuscation is a powerful technique to get you one step closer to truly secure app development.
5. Least Privileges Rule
Least Privileges rule says you should always provide the least rights-list possible that is sufficient to perform the needed actions. For instance, if you want to allow editing 4 columns of the 5-column table, you should not let users edit the fifth one just for the “why not” reason.
The most crucial thing to bear in mind is you cannot say for sure where you leave a potential vulnerability. Make sure you only let users perform the actions you meant to allow.
6. Input Validation: Be Prepared For Malicious Code Injection
Input validation is essential to ensure secure mobile application development. Our experts at Gravum understand that modern content-driven apps heavily depend on the content community posts daily. Here’s where it becomes dangerous.
You see, there are countless ways to inject malicious code to your app and create a mess. For instance, your JS-driven application allows users to post messages. Let’s say it’s a forum. Hacker can send “Hello, guys <script>malicious code goes here</script>” and you’ll end up with an alien code injected into your page.
The idea is if you don’t validate user input and don’t remove such hacker tricks, your app won’t last for long. There is even an XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) game that shows how input validation absence can turn into a complete disaster. On balance, you should always validate user input data.
The Bottom Line
Secure mobile app development is a bumpy ride full of vulnerabilities to eliminate. However, once you master secure dev approaches, there will be no hackers to slow down your application success.
If you are looking for professional assistance in securing your software, contact our Gravum development specialists right away. Our software development outsourcing experts strive to implement cutting-edge security technologies. Opt for Gravum, choose a path of quality and secure mobile application development.
