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Tips For Tackling Mobile Security Breach

App Development | Poonam | Updated: 2020-12-26

Tips For Tackling Mobile Security Breach

You never know which application on your mobile can pose a threat. As per multiple surveys conducted, it was concluded that people, worldwide, have installed high-risk apps. These apps serve as the gateway for hackers to invade mobile data security. Not just this, it was also found that 57% of online frauds in 2018-mid 2019 happened through 3rd-party apps.
Since the mobile user graph is on a consistent upsurge, there will come new apps to enhance the comfort level. With the emergence of more mobile applications, the risk of mobile security will certainly jiggle. Hence, mobile application developers in India and overseas, need to be extra cautious when it comes to the implementation of mobile security protocols.
Before creating the build of an application to keep it safe from security & cyber threats, it is mandatory to understand mobile threats. Below, we're telling about the major security lacunae and the practices to fix them permanently.

Top Mobile App Security Lacunae

Hackers can invade your data from applications easily because a majority of apps demand access to the microphone, camera, contact list, gallery, and location. Thus, it is important to note the weak links listed below.

  • Absence of Multifactor Authentication : The biggest blunder a person can make is to keep the same password for every user application. If a hacker hacks and interprets the password simultaneously, it will become a cakewalk to decrypt and breach the security of mobile. Hence, multifactor authentication shouldn't be ignored. Adding this feature in an application will enhance the protective shield prior to providing access.
  • Inadequate Encryption : Encryption is a process of swapping data into indecipherable code. It requires a secret key to decipher the code & read the message. Believe it or not, 12% of consumer apps and 15% of enterprise apps have a weak encryption code. If hacked, the data is available to the hacker in plain text. Mobile app developers must understand the staunch requirement of having strong encryption.
  • Reverse Engineering : Reverse engineering is another posing threat for mobile security breaches. When there's sufficient metadata in the app, it requires more debugging. Such apps, when hacked, give a crystal clear insight to the hacker about the functioning of the app. The reverse functioning of an app tells about its backend functionality, algorithms, and a lot more. Hence, if there are loopholes in reverse engineering, it can dig a treacherous pit for you.
  • Code Injection : Let's understand this by example. Most of the applications have login forms where a user enters the username and password. These details then communicate to the server end for granting/denying access. If the limit of special characters is not specified, it then paves a path for the hacker to invade the server data.
  • Data Security Loopholes : Another threat to application security is data safety loopholes. There are many applications that store mobile data insecurely in the form of cookies or in SQL databases. In case a hacker gains access to the database, modification of legitimate data or rooting a device becomes facile for him.

The Practices Ought To Be Implemented

The mobile security climate is heating every second. Mobile applications are exploited on a huge scale which means loss of customer faith. Here's a list of practices that will surely prevent the mobile application security breach.

  • Server-end Authentication

A multi-layer authentication factor plays a key role in eliminating different security threats. You can gain access to server-side data only after authentication is verified. In case the data is being stored on the client end, one must be considerate while granting access. Experts recommend using apt credentials to grant safe access.

  • Integrating Cryptographic Algorithms

Cyber attacks on websites and mobile applications can be prevented by incorporating cryptographic algorithms. Breaking such algorithms is not every hacker's cup of tea. Another key rule to prevent hacking is to avoid saving passwords. Never use the security protocols or algorithms are widely discouraged.

  • Input Validation Checks

In order to prevent hackers from introducing malicious injections to the information extract code, developers must ensure that the system validates any feedback that has been given to it. For example, if the application allows the user to add an image, the extension of the image should be of a proven image format, specifically approved by the application. This way, no hacker can add spyware to it by supporting it as an image.

  • Curated Security Models

Mobile app developers in India, and the world, must build a well-informed security plan to ensure effective and safe functionality of the system. It will help them to grasp the source of the problem, as well as many other problems related to it. Models will further enable them to build methods to resolve these issues. A threat model expects to be allowed to understand how various operating systems and other functionalities operate by transmitting and storing information.

  • Perplexing Codes

It is the method of security of applications by the implementation of a code of encryption algorithms. It helps developers to build a script that is hard for hackers to grasp. It includes encrypting the entire code, deleting the metadata to avoid regression testing, and renaming classes and functions so as to deceive the hacker from its very outset.

Mic Drop

While it's important to start thinking about protection from the outset, it's likely to be a problem across your company's lifetime. Creating a secure mobile app includes cooperation between application developers, security researchers, marketers, and C-level executives. Safety protocols for internal password intensity and the appropriate use of analytical monitoring pixels, for example, are tactics that involve buy-in from the entire team.

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