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Mobile App Development Best Practices for Data Protection

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We have apps on our gadgets and smart devices that serve the utility of our daily life. If it contains breaches, it not only influences the app’s security but also influences the brand position. While developing an app, keep your app’s security on top. Your one silly mistake will make things easier for hackers. The apps contain crucial personal and business-related info. If it gets exposed across the network, you may have to bear the potential malware, phishing, and financial losses that will put your client relationship on the stack.

According to reports, 

  • Verizon Mobile Security Index has stated in its report that such mobile security breaches have triggered 46% of organizations.
  • 18% of mobile users have received phishing emails.
  • 9% of organizations are affected by mobile malware attacks.  
  • Cyber threats are not bullying organizations or companies; schools have also suffered from such events, and Malwarebytes research has stated that 45% of cybersecurity events are on Chromebooks and mobile phones.  

Businesses are adopting various best mobile app development services to get best practices and tricks to establish trust and engage users. It is a blog covering all the popular mobile app development best practices to protect the app from vulnerabilities and cyber risks.  

Effective Tricks and Practices to Keep the Data Protected on Your Devices  

Most people are not comfortable carrying two different devices, so they manage all their personal and professional stuff with one. If security breaches do not resolve at the right moment, they may cause potential risks. In this blog, we concluded some of the best mobile app development security practices you can consider during app design.

1. Cryptography Tools and Techniques 

The days have passed since MD5 and SHA1 were used to consider the cryptographic techniques to secure the application. Threats have been getting upgraded; thus, security algorithms and tools have evolved to manage the modern age of cyber threats.

  • AES with 512-bit encryption, SHA 256, and 256 encryptions can enable the security layer.  
  • Practising manual penetration techniques would be worthwhile for your organization.

2. High-level Authentication 

Reduce the risk of security breaches by adopting high-level authentication. Hackers may easily detect simple and frequently chosen passwords. It’s suggested to use strong passwords formed with a combination of alphanumeric keys and special characters and create a roadblock for hackers.

Set a trigger to update the passwords after a period. Additionally, you can encourage the users to adopt the two-factor or multi-factor authentication. Adapt all the high-level authentication mobile app development process with best practices to protect the apps.

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3. Secure APIs and authentication

When any app is ready to release in the market, it must face the radar of specific security measures. Coding sign certification is becoming popular to validate the app’s security requirements. It evaluates whether the app is genuine to download and serve the users. Further, it can hide the developer’s identity-related info associated with the app.  

Unauthorized and loosely structured APIs are like giving the gun to the hands of robbers.   

Hackers are always on the hunt for unsecured APIs for their awful acts. It is better to verify all the APIs and transport mechanisms for different platforms by specific security measures.  

4. Robust Source code   

Cyber attackers are efficient in designing clones of original apps for mischievous events. They can attach the spammy codes to these applications and then upload them to any third-party stores. If users cannot differentiate between the original and rogue apps, this will cause security threats.   

While designing a native application, integrate some security tools or triggers on the client side. It maintains the data integrity & security of an application. Whenever someone tries to temper the application source code, it will fire an event to inform about the recent activity. 

Malware and cyber attackers can attempt theft, tempering, and reverse engineering activities without accurate security measures.   

5. Secure Session Management  

Secure communications across networks to protect confidential data. When managing data privacy on mobile devices, tokens are much more effective than sessions. The token can easily get invoked to proceed with user requests and waived. While in session, the duration is more prolonged, which increases the chances of miserable attempts by an unauthorized person. Further, remote data removal or log-off helps keep the data secure. It is considered an efficient mobile app development best practice.  

6. Run Testing Cycles  

Testing has no end in the software development lifecycle. It is a necessity to avoid the occurrence of threats, loopholes, or security breaches. After each modification or new inclusion, a testing action is required. The app’s security is a deviating factor to the app’s success. If these are not considered the proper movement, it can boost the app’s lagging events. Consequently, it will drop off the download count and increase the bounce rate, affecting the success rate of your app and business organization.

7. Complete Data Encryption  

Protecting every single data unit associated with your mobile app design is crucial. Encryption converts simple plain text to cipher text and makes it unable to be understood by an unauthorized person.
Even if the data gets transmitted to cyber attackers’ court, they will be miserable. You may have noticed when someone tries to access your account or file a mail forwarded to your device for permission. Most of the applications are based on a client-server model.   

Accessing the SSL or VPN would help reduce the risk of data theft events. Adopting the least privileged principle can also save your application from malicious threats. It is a very effective mobile app development security best practice during sensitive data transfer, limiting access for some users.

8. File-level & Database Encryption

It is a by default memory management to keep all unstructured data in the device’s local storage. To manage the drawbacks of such memory locations, access security provisions for file-level and database-level storage.

9. Third-party Libraries

Third-party library integration enhances the functionality of an application. It enables the interaction and data transfer to be more accessible across heterogeneous systems. However, these libraries can contain bugs or spammy code. Be cautious before heading on the development path; invest some time in testing such libraries.

Many libraries are available on the market, giving hackers direct access to attempt malicious and dangerous attacks. Your negligence can put the application in a vulnerable state.

Control internal repositories and policy control practices and manage vulnerabilities to occur.

10. Secure Containers

It is common practice to store the application’s data in the device/system’s local memory. But if you prefer the same approach to managing sensitive data, you invite hackers to perform malicious attacks. To minimize the misuse of sensitive/ confidential information, use encrypted data containers with auto-delete features.

It is evident that malicious activities are increasing enormously, and the app’s security is a matter of concern in front of the developer’s community. It’s suggested to isolate the security keys from local data centres. Hybrid data storage, auto-deletion features, and advanced encryption security protocols can manage the security concerns for your mobile application.

Final Words:

Many small and big companies and enterprises are developing mobile apps to accelerate employee productivity, sales, and client communication. Businesses know that if they want to soar the heights, a secure and fast app is necessary. 

These apps usually have sophisticated and convenient solutions to manage data transfer; thus, it is essential to be attentive to the app’s security. Mobile apps are always the target of hackers, so before diving into any development practices, consider the checklist of secure mobile app development best practices covered in this blog. At QuokkaLabs, we focus on bug-free, hassle-free, intuitive, and innovative rapid app development.

People Also Ask:

Q1: What are 4 design areas to build a successful mobile app?

Focus on product strategy, architecture, UX/ UI design and marketing. These 4 are the pillars that elevate the development of mobile apps. Optimize app load time, integrating security measures and other default add-ons; appealing aesthetics will drive more engagement, reaping success. Additionally, an in-app communication tool will deliver the best user support.

Q2: What are the three typical stages in the life cycle of an application?

Requirement gathering & analysis is the first phase of application development. After that, design, coding and testing are three typical stages in the application lifecycle. They all get integrated and thus need equal focus from the developer.

Q3: What are the best-suggested security measures to implement in a mobile application? 

Download the app and the latest updated version from authorized app stores only. Further, keep a strong password combination. If you have logged in to another device that does not belong to you, immediately log out if you no longer want to work on it. 

Q4: What factors raise the security concerns for an app? 

Below, we have listed the most common risk factors influencing app security.  

  • Inconsistent API design, 
  • Lose security   
  • Data breaches  
  • Memory leaks  
  • Less-secured data transmission  
  • Weak server-side source controllers 
  • Inconsistency and unclear source code 

Q5: What are the 5 main features to fix app security vulnerabilities?

Developers can easily maintain security from source code. Further, there are 5features and essential ways to resolve the security risks and unauthorized access. These are Logging, Authentication, Encryption, Authorization, and application security testing. 

Q6: Can we remove the security lock from apps?  

Yes, it is simple to remove the security lock from apps. If it screen locks, navigate to the previous screen and look on the top, where you will find the screen lock. In general, you need to tap on the setting, locate Security and Fingerprint and manage the changes for smart safety.  

Q7: What should we do to reduce the network attacks? 

Install antivirus on your PC, enable firewall, auto-lock features, check timely login activity, credential prompts and other network security policies that can safeguard the app and devices. 

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