Mobile App Security – It’s Time to Protect Your Application

2. Hardening

Once an organization has fixed known vulnerabilities in its mobile applications, it should also prepare for possible unknown vulnerabilities. Increasing security is crucial as cybercriminals often target mobile applications to steal sensitive data or insert harmful features.

Mobile application security solutions should include hardening measures to make these attacks harder. These measures, like code obfuscation, anti-tampering, and app integrity checks, make it harder for cybercriminals to break down or change the application. By taking these steps, an organization greatly lowers the chance of a successful attack.

3. App Protection

To handle the risks of known vulnerabilities, it’s important to strengthen mobile apps to avoid exploitation. However, there’s always a chance that attackers might exploit gaps in a mobile application.

For this reason, it is essential to include active protection for mobile apps on employee devices. A mobile runtime application self-protection (RASP) solution effectively guards mobile applications from new and zero-day attacks.

RASP defends against zero-day threats by closely observing a mobile application’s internal processes and runtime state. It checks the app’s inputs, outputs, and behavior to see how certain inputs influence its behavior.

If an attack occurs, the mobile application will behave unusually. RASP solutions look for these unusual behaviors to spot attacks. By noticing and reacting to these unusual behaviors, RASP can identify and stop new attacks that disrupt the application’s normal operation.

III. Mobile App Security Threats

Mobile applications associated with business brands are frequent targets for fraudsters. These attackers aim to exploit customers, their children, or businesses directly. Here are the potential impacts of a mobile malware attack on a user’s device:

1. Account Takeover

Malware can enable attackers to seize control of a user’s app account. This can lead to unauthorized transactions, data alteration, or account misuse, affecting both the user and the business’s reputation.

2. Stolen Login Credentials

Malware often seeks to capture usernames and passwords. Once obtained, these credentials can access sensitive personal and business accounts, leading to further breaches.

3. Stolen and Resold Credit Card Details

If malware captures credit card information, this data can be sold on dark web markets, leading to financial fraud against the affected individuals.

4. Unauthorized Access to Business Networks

Compromised mobile devices can be entry points to broader business networks. An attacker might use a breached mobile device to infiltrate business systems, potentially accessing confidential information or disrupting business operations.

5. Identity Theft

With access to personal data collected from mobile applications, attackers can impersonate victims. This can lead to unauthorized opening of accounts, credit applications, and other fraudulent activities under the victim’s name.

6. Malware Spread to Other Devices

Infected iOS or Android devices can act as conduits, spreading malware to connected devices. This can extend the impact of an attack from a single device to an entire network, compounding the potential damage.

7. SMS Message Spying

Malware can intercept SMS messages, scanning them for sensitive information such as One-Time Passwords (OTPs), banking details, or private communications. This interception compromises personal security and can facilitate further attacks or fraud.

IV. Mobile App Security Best Practices

Digital Security Training: Teach your team to spot and avoid security risks, recognize phishing, and apply cybersecurity methods. Regularly test their knowledge with unexpected phishing simulations through emails, texts, and other forms of communication. These should closely resemble real phishing attempts. Employees who click on a simulated threat should be automatically signed up for a data security training module. It’s important to remember that most mobile phishing attacks happen via SMS or social messaging rather than email.

Acceptable Use Policy: Write a clear acceptable use policy for mobile devices that access business data. This policy should forbid downloading apps from third-party stores and detail other security measures. Set up a process to evaluate and approve secure apps for company use.

Monitoring for Rogue Apps: Regularly check both official and unofficial app platforms for any unauthorized apps that use your organization’s name, logo, or messages. Quickly get in touch with the platform to have these rogue apps removed.

Conclusion

Effective mobile application security is vital for protecting personal data and corporate assets. Employing robust security protocols, rigorous testing, and advanced solutions like RASP and MARS is essential. For the ultimate in mobile app security, turn to TECHVIFY. Our expert services ensure your applications are secure and resilient against threats. Don’t wait—secure your mobile applications with TECHVIFY today and safeguard your digital assets. Contact us now!