Mobile Security Landscape

Mobile apps handle sensitive user data and are increasingly targeted by attackers. Security isn't optional—it's essential for user trust and regulatory compliance.

Common mobile threats:

  • Data breaches and leaks
  • Insecure network communications
  • Reverse engineering
  • Improper authentication
  • Client-side injection attacks

Secure Data Storage

Protect data at rest:

  • Use platform-provided secure storage (Keychain, KeyStore)
  • Encrypt sensitive data before storage
  • Avoid storing sensitive data when possible
  • Clear data when no longer needed
  • Never hardcode secrets in your app
Treat any data stored on the device as potentially accessible to attackers.

Network Security

Protect data in transit:

  • Use HTTPS exclusively (no HTTP fallback)
  • Implement certificate pinning
  • Validate server certificates
  • Use TLS 1.3 when possible
  • Implement network security config (Android)

Authentication Best Practices

Secure user identity:

  • Use strong password policies
  • Implement multi-factor authentication
  • Use biometric authentication where appropriate
  • Store authentication tokens securely
  • Implement proper session management

Code Security

Write secure code:

  • Validate all user input
  • Avoid client-side only validation
  • Implement proper error handling
  • Use obfuscation to deter reverse engineering
  • Regularly update dependencies

OWASP Mobile Top 10

Familiarize yourself with common vulnerabilities:

  1. Improper Platform Usage
  2. Insecure Data Storage
  3. Insecure Communication
  4. Insecure Authentication
  5. Insufficient Cryptography
  6. Insecure Authorization
  7. Client Code Quality
  8. Code Tampering
  9. Reverse Engineering
  10. Extraneous Functionality

Security Testing

Test security continuously:

  • Perform static code analysis
  • Conduct dynamic testing
  • Run penetration tests
  • Use vulnerability scanners
  • Engage third-party security audits