The security of mobile applications focuses on mobile apps security postures on distinct platforms like Windows, Android, and iOS Phone. It includes applications that execute both on mobile phones as well as tablets.
Mobile applications play the vital part in the online presence of any businesses, and most of the companies rely entirely on mobile apps to connect with users around the globe. A lack of vetting can lead to the implementation of security feature, which can easily circumvent by attackers.
Major issues that affect mobile apps include:
- Storing sensitive data in ways that could be accessed by other applications on the user’s mobile.
- Improving poor authorization and authentication checks that could be bypassed by critical applications or users.
- Sensitive data transmission without encryption over the internet.
- Using vulnerable data encryption methods
These kinds of issues can exploit in several ways, for instance, malicious applications on the user device or by an attacker having access to the same Wi-Fi network as an end user.
Mobile Application Security Testing
In this digital world, security is the hot topic and with the rapid growth of mobile apps available, catering highly secure and correctly working mobile app is essential to achieve user retention. It is necessary to let mobile app users know about the information collected as well as how and why companies are managing it. Apps should only collect essential data.
Security Testing
The security testing of mobile applications can help to ensure that there exists no loophole in the software that causes loss of data. The sets of tests are meant to attack the apps to identify possible vulnerabilities and threats that would allow external systems or persons to access information stored on the mobile device.
Why is Security Testing Necessary?
Our devices consist of a significant amount of information. Information Leakage could lead to severe damage to the users as well as tools. One of the suggested solutions is to encrypt the data in the best possible way.
Challenges of Mobile Application Security Testing
Integrations with Other Apps
Probably, integration testing is performed by the users to check whether there exists interaction between apps. The primary thing to look out for here is the data, which moves from one app to other moves from one to another without leaking anywhere else. The perfect solution is to isolate and protect data.
Unsecured Communications
Most VoIP calling and messaging apps started to encrypt messages, though significant encryption of messages is just between users. The company providing these apps and still interested third parties can read them. End-to-end encryption is the best one. The best example of communication encryption and messaging is WhatsApp, although if it is not perfect.
Security Breaches Allowing Malware Installation
Particular types of breaches in the app or OS can cause malware install itself on devices. This software can easily embed in a downloadable file and can install itself if it finds a data breach. It can easily damage an OS, a device or create an information stream stored on the servers and mobile devices.
Utilization of Different Authentication Procedures
Procedures authentication is a good idea to add a layer of security to personal information, but there are two stable problems. Firstly, the data stored on the remote server, a login is required. Login credentials from desktop, Smartphone, or tablet that attached to a server for confirmation needs to be encrypted.
By authenticating through another service like Gmail or Facebook, the hacker might get complete access to that login credentials and get access to all the services that are connected.
Image: paladion
Test Hidden Parts of the Application
Vulnerabilities can be everywhere. If you write a vulnerable code without protecting some parameters, you are serving user’s information up to hackers on a silver platter.
SQL shortcodes for radio buttons, text buttons, drop-down menus, and other UI precoded elements can subject to injection attacks.
Hide POST parameters can leave a door open to post undesirable content to your web app including streaming incorrect information to your users.
A covered up GET parameter can give threatening aggressors a chance to assemble sensible and classified organization or individual data. There exist only a couple of instances of concealed extreme code ruptures that could consistently prompt information misfortune and data leakage.
There is no other option than to write test cases mainly aimed at finding hidden open doors. Using some code scanning tools helps you find vulnerabilities in the uncompelled code like Checkmarx or HP Fortify.
Security Requirements When Building a Mobile App
Despite the risks, several actions have to consider reducing risk. Building apps using the six security requirements are defined below. Your app might still not be bulletproof, but studying these guidelines helps you avoid many security breaches.
Confidentiality
An app should disclose information by no means to parties other than the intended recipient. Through end-to-end encryption and observing the requirement when moving around sensitive data can help to secure against information disclosure.
Integrity
While transferring information, protecting it from unauthorized parties refers to Integrity. The underlying technologies like confidentiality schemes can help avoid creating code vulnerabilities.
Authentication
It is to prove the user’s identity or the trustworthiness of the app installed on to the devices. This particular piece of code will inform systems of the authenticity of the app and the source.
Authorization
Users should perform proper approval and actions that will ensure that the users can precisely that and not request any information. When a user can perform an operation that is not for the user, it might be called a bug. The perfect bug example is Instagram.
Availability
When is the time to make information available for the requesters, precisely what they need and precisely when they need it? There needs to be a reliable and fast way to make resources available when authorized users require them.
Non-repudiation
This final security requirement may be the trickiest one to implement. It ensures that neither the receiver nor the sender can deny sending or receiving something. It is a trace that tracks information going from A to B and should not be modified. If it can be adjusted, then you have the security breach.
Conclusion
Security testing should be a priority at developing stage-equally important to features, design, and delivering it on time. It holds true for every app, whether it is online shopping, grocery list, or a banking app. The vulnerabilities can be avoided to limit if security practices observed, while loopholes can be found and closed through comprehensive, strategic, extensive automated and manual mobile testing.
Author Bio:
Prasanthi Korada loves pursuing excellence through writing and has a passion for technology. She has successfully managed several websites. She currently writes for mindmajix, a global training company that provides e-learning and professional certification training. She is based out of Kakinada and has an experience of 4 years in the field of content writing and blogging.
