According to statistics that measured from the third quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2018, there were more than 1,400 new mobile iOS applications released daily through the Apple App Store. During this same timeframe, the Google Play Store added more than 6,100 android apps per day.
Judging from these figures alone, it’s not difficult to ascertain that the app development industry is booming. From tools that play music at the touch of a button to resources to help you cook better, order your groceries more quickly or turn you into a household DIY expert, there are myriad apps for every skill set and interest level.
As such, it comes as no surprise that the development sphere is likewise booming. In fact, the market size for this industry is currently nearing $80 billion and is expected to reach $100 billion by 2022. Yet, with so much growth surrounding this sector alongside the influx of customer demand, there can be an impetus to move an app from idea inception to retail platform in a matter of days, eschewing the levels of security and testing normally put into practice for a resource of this caliber.
When this occurs, there can be major holes in the solution, leaving it vulnerable to a hacker attack and user compromise. To this end, even the most expedited app development process must have in place key steps to ensure it is as robust and user-friendly as possible while also remaining lock-tight in terms of security and data safeguarding. Below, we are outlining a few measures that every developer cannot afford to skip.
Leveraging HTTPS Protocol
In short, HTTPS is an acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. Web users might be used to seeing the typical HTTP in front of their browser URL. Yet, the addition of that simple S is critical. Sites and applications that are developed within this protocol are more secure than their counterparts and thus less vulnerable to hacker attack. Any web resource that requires customers to input their personal information, from their name and address to their credit card number, should do so within HTTPS.
Securing both internet transfers as well as computer networks, HTTPS works by encrypting the communication protocol with Transport Layer Security (TLS). This is a process that seasoned developers might know more closely by its predecessor, Secure Socket Layer (SSL). When activated, TLS works to encrypt data as it’s transferred between a specific application and a broader server. This means, for instance, that your credit card number isn’t sent over verbatim. Rather, it’s transmitted as a code that is jumbled up and thereby illegible.
But, why bother with this extra step of encryption? Why not leave the communication protocol as it is? The answer lies in how traditional HTTP protocols deliver data.
Put simply, this unencrypted process is invalidated. As such, there is nothing stopping someone with malintent from peeping in on the data as it travels across the web or between networks. When this happens, the hacker can actually intercept the information and change it for his or her own benefit. Other times, the hacker can work to stop communication altogether, disabling a user from accessing an application and vice versa.
Conversely, when TLS is deployed, it engages a public key certification known as X.509, key encryption and a two-way symmetric key algorithm to keep data as private and confidential as possible. The encryption key is necessary for the decryption process, wherein the encrypted code is turned back into legible data.
Before information is sent, this protocol verifies the server identity. Then, it encrypts and protects all data before sending it over. This process helps to ensure that communications are kept consistent and that data integrity is protected throughout the development process.
Regardless of whether the data is being currently utilized, it is always protected through HTTPS. As such, developers commonly use it to help encrypt and protect information in fields as far-reaching as databases to emails, from hard drives to individual files.
Cleaning and Clearing the Cache
Especially in the app development realm, data stored should be data protected. As such, a cache can be a vulnerable location for information to sit for any period of time. In short, this is a component of either hardware or software that serves as a holding ground for data. When this data is stored in a cache, it is available locally, meaning it’s simpler and quicker to retrieve. Anyone who has ever had difficulty accessing a web page then opts to view the cached version instead, can attest to the speed at which this information is accessible, as it is essentially akin to viewing a duplicate of the existing data, or a snapshot of a previously saved version.
In the case of mobile apps, their caches store information that needs to be readily accessible in the future. For instance, an app might store your login information or your username so you don’t have to type it in every time you want to use the resource. As such, a user’s smartphone, over time, becomes a sort of holding ground for myriad cached information, keeping this data at arm’s reach in case particular websites or apps are accessed again.
Periodically, it’s in a user’s best interest to clear his or her cache. Not only will this free up valuable space on your smart device, but it will also help ensure that your confidential information, including your passwords, are eliminated from the threat of interception. This is especially important for those who frequently access Android apps, as they tend to store up vast quantities of information in device caches. As this data sits, it can become corrupted, which not only threatens user security but can also cause frustratingly slow loading times and other site and application malfunctions.
Making Code Obscure
One best practice for app developers to follow is that of obfuscating the code in a particular project. This simply means to make it unclear or even unintelligible, making it difficult or nearly impossible for hackers to comprehend. You might perform this step to make the purpose behind your code convoluted. Or, you may be safeguarding specific values within the code that you need to keep confidential.
Whatever your reason for performing this step, the good news is that there are app maker resources available to help automate this process as well as the entire development journey, though it is indeed possible to perform it by hand. By using a tool known in the industry as an obfuscator, developers can transform ordinary, straightforward source code into a version that essentially works the same but appears much different to the outside eye.
Depending on the scale of the project and its level of security, developers can follow different methods. They might choose to manipulate and obfuscate the entire source code or even just a portion of it. They can also opt to leave all the metadata intact or remove it partially, and can also rename their class and variable labels to names that are devoid of meaning and clarity. While data extraction is an important part of this process, note that there are many instances where a code’s obfuscation is enhanced by adding unnecessary and illegible lines to an app’s binary.
Maintaining Mobile App Security Around Every Corner
Both developers and the customers they serve maintain that data security and integrity is top of mind when downloading a new solution to their smart device. The most robust safeguarding practices cannot begin the second the user clicks buy. Instead, they must originate at the drawing board and should be maintained through every turn and by every stakeholder throughout the development process.
By keeping the safety and protection of their audience at the forefront, successful developers can take steps to ensure any data they capture is kept as confidential and secure as possible. Through processes including HTTPS encryption, cache cleansing and purposeful code manipulation, both parties behind the keyboard can do their part to make sure their favorite apps are kept free of hacker attack. The crux of the matter lies in not taking any chances and investing the time into such proactive measures. A few extra steps here and there can add up to a major change and for an industry that shows no sign of slowing down, that forward momentum is both necessary and non-negotiable.
