App security best practices: Best Security Controls for Your Mobile Apps

1. Source Code Encryption

 While developers are focused on the intuitiveness of an app, sadly, there is an unexpected rise in security breaches that we have seen more than ever before. Some of these documented security breaches have shaken up the cyber world. Today, the amount of critical information that we all comfortably share opens the door to opportunities for cybercriminals with the kind of relationship we have with our smartphones and mobile apps.

We need to know how bugs and vulnerabilities pave the way for attackers to break into applications, software, or accounts seamlessly for App security best practices.

When starting, most developers do not understand the code from a security standpoint. Therefore,   writing secure code includes using configuration parameters in one or more separate files instead of hard-coding values like URLs; file paths code shouldn’t just be able to carry out the intended work it is supposed to but also be able to fend off any malicious payload and attack scenarios.

2. Penetration Tests – Perform a Thorough QA & Security Check.

Do you know that some libraries can be insecure for your app?

Some vulnerabilities have gone undiscovered for several years. It is reported that GNU C library led attackers to crash a system due to a security flaw. The use of controlled internal repositories and exercise of policy controls during acquisition protect against the vulnerabilities in libraries.

Types of penetration tests include Internal/External Infrastructure Penetration Testing, Wireless Penetration Testing, Web Application Testing, Mobile Application Testing, and Configuration Review.

That is why it is very important to have measures to secure the Data-in-transit. Hiring a specialist for File-Level & Database Encryption becomes absolutely important for App security best practices. It is recommended that the best practice is to make Provisions for Data Security.

3. Use Authorized APIs only:

APIs that aren’t authorized is a great concern when it comes to App security best practices and serve as an open sea to attack. Suppose you are new to APIs and how they work. It grants easy access to give attackers a loophole through which they can get unwanted rights to use. That is why there is a dire need that APIs should be authorized centrally for maximum security. 

Unauthorized API calls indicate actions due to a script/vendor misconfiguration, human error, or a malicious actor probing for publicly exposed resources or testing the limits of compromised credentials. Take precautionary measures that users set up a metric filter and alarm for unauthorized API calls.

Did you know that caching authorization information locally helps programmers easily reuse that information when making API calls? But the sad thing is that it leads to experiencing unfortunate events, enabling and empowering attackers a loophole through which they can hijack privileges. Experts recommend that APIs be authorized centrally for maximum security.

4. High-level Authentication.

A multi-layered security system that verifies the identity of users for login or other transactions. By leveraging the approach called multi-factor authentication (MFA). It implies such codes created by mobile apps, answers to personal security questions, codes sent to an email address, fingerprints, etc. It ensures that users demand access to what they claim to be. Even if an attacker tries to seep into the system and tricks it, they must provide identities for further verification in another way.

5. Secure the Backend.

Securing the backend limits the attack surface and protects it really well. To put it simply, Never hard code your keys, as by doing this, you allow an easy way out and effortless means for attackers to steal them. In the future, experts have reportedly anticipated that in coming years, we will see everyone from organizations to consumers taking security as their bigger differentiator in the success of apps than usability.

How Can We Help You?

At Soft Stings, the team of developers employ the measures to build secure apps.

First of all, the developers are still kept responsible for making security decisions, including key layout and encryption granularity.

We strive to address these problems differently. Instead of focusing on the aesthetic appeal of the app, we ensure App security best practices; the attack surface is very small and contained within a well-controlled environment. From providing infrastructure to build complete end-to-end apps to taking your transaction security to the next level.

Ending notes

More than one technique can be implemented for protecting data stored within the database/application backend. Intuitively, it feels that understanding these approaches for App security best practices and having them aligned with the development team could lead to a decent level of security. Practically, we need to understand the threat model and penetration methods and consider security and mitigation of risk as part of application/infrastructure design, not a ‘feature’ or a ‘service.’

Book a consultation call with Soft Stings to know more about Android Network Security Configuration.

For more information about making your app more secure, visit other blogs where we discuss app security and protecting against security threats.