Everything You Need to Know About Mobile App Vulnerabilities

Mobile phones have become an indispensable component of our daily lives. According to reports, the number of smartphone users worldwide will continue to rise, reaching 6.8 billion by 2023. With a global population of slightly over eight billion people predicted by 2023, the smartphone saturation rate will be over 85%.

As people become more reliant on cell phones, security risks have escalated. Data breaches on networks, PCs, and mobile devices have become common. Businesses worldwide have lost millions to data loss due to mobile app vulnerabilities. Web and mobile app security has become essential to safeguarding confidential data from malicious hacking attempts. Top mobile development companies strive to counter these attacks through reliable and secure data protection techniques.

While technological advancements have brought the ease and simplicity of doing just anything on your mobile devices on the go, it has also resulted in the emergence of new security threats. To create an effective security strategy for mobile devices and applications, it’s critical to understand what causes a data breach on a mobile device. To dig deeper into the causes, we first have to understand the idea of data vulnerability and how loopholes in a mobile app can result in the loss of sensitive data.

What is a Mobile Threat?

A mobile threat is a virus or malware that affects your mobile applications. With rising intensity, such mobile device vulnerabilities might put your mobile systems at serious risk. In general, the more data that passes through mobile applications, the chances of cyberattacks and security compromises increase. For this reason, we cannot undermine the importance of mobile application security to avoid and mitigate mobile app threats.

Types of Mobile Threats

There are several security threats in the form of viruses and malware that can infect your mobile devices in the same way as it infects your computer. There are four main categories of mobile threats: application-based threats, web-based threats, network-based threats, and physical attacks.

Application-based threats

There are many security threats to the apps you download on your mobile device. They may pose as a normal utility app, a game, or just a fun app. Application-based threats involve all security-related threats that include the installation and setup of mobile apps that contain hidden algorithms to steal or exploit sensitive user data. All application-based threats belong to one of the following categories:

Malware: Malware is software that performs unsolicited actions on a mobile device and gains access to personal information on your phone. A person installs malware intentionally or by mistake through websites and app stores.

Adware: Adware is typically built to help companies advertise their products, but since its introduction, adware has been used by hackers for malicious purposes. Hackers use adware to steal the personal information of a user and prompt them to download and install other malware.

Spyware:As the name suggests, spyware is programs installed on your mobile devices to monitor your activity. It keeps logs to store all your input information, like the keys you hit on the touchscreen or button-pad. It also keeps track of your phone calls, messages, browser history, contacts, emails, and your current location. Hackers then use this information to commit cybercrimes.

VulnerableApplications: Many applications we download from the app store or web browser do not fulfill the essential security measures and pose a privacy threat to the user. They gather your location, contact list, and other personal information, including access to the gallery, camera, and even a mic. The major loopholes in the system result in compromised security and exposure of sensitive data to hackers.

Web-based Threats

Nearly all mobile applications work with internet connectivity, and the frequent access to the internet through mobile devices puts them at a higher risk of potential web-based threats. Here are some common mobile app threats related to web-based services:

Phishing Scams: Phishing scams are the most common mobile device security threats, and millions of mobile users worldwide have faced these threats during the last few years. In a phishing scam, a hacker sends you a link attached to an email, SMS, or messaging app used on social media platforms. When you click the link, the hacker tricks you into providing sensitive information like email account IDs, passwords, bank account numbers, and other personal information.

Automatic Downloads: Some malicious software automatically downloads itself when you click a link on a website or only visit its home page. Unless you have updated your mobile operating system or installed proper web security software on your mobile, this software will download and install them automatically on your mobile.

Network Threats

A mobile device is simultaneously connected to a local mobile phone network as well as the internet. Both these connections pose a threat if proper security measures are not taken. The hackers take advantage of any point of compromised security in your mobile OS and other untrusted mobile apps installed on your device. Cybercriminals exploit these security vulnerabilities to access your mobile device and install malware.

Another form of mobile network security threat is Wi-Fi sniffing. Data is intercepted as it travels between the device and the Wi-Fi access point. Many programs and online sites do not employ adequate security measures. This results in the transmission of unencrypted data across the network that can be easily accessed by someone who can intercept data as it passes.

What is Data Vulnerability?

A vulnerability is a flaw or defect in the code of a system or device. If cybercriminals exploit this flaw or security gap, it can jeopardize the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of data stored on your mobile device. Cybercriminals can run malicious codes, install malware, and even steal sensitive data after exploiting a vulnerability.

SQL injection, buffer overflows, cross-site scripting (XSS), and open-source exploitation are some malicious methods to seek known vulnerabilities and security holes in mobile applications.

Types of Mobile Application Vulnerabilities

As mentioned earlier, vulnerabilities are the loopholes or weaknesses in a mobile application that pose a security risk to mobile devices. Hackers are always in search of a point of compromised security inside a mobile application which they use as a back door entry to the system. Following are some major types of mobile application vulnerabilities that you need to know for android and iOS app development and how you can manage these weaknesses:

Binary Protection

Binary protection protects a device from modification in device code and behavior. Many people jailbreak or root their devices to install local features in a mobile device. Rooting or jailbreaking a device compromises its original data protection and encryption programs provided by the manufacturer. Once a device is compromised, any type of software, including malware, can be installed.

For fool-proof security of mobile devices, we always recommend users avoid jailbreaking and keep the original security parameters and behavior of the mobile device intact.

Insufficient Encryption Techniques

Many mobile applications fail to protect when it is transported over the network. This happens as a result of failed or missing encryption techniques during authentication procedures and transmission of data over the internet. The encryption mechanism, usually TLS, must be used for all authenticated connections. Data encryption adds a layer of security to the data packets transmitted over the internet through Wi-Fi or physical transmission lines. TLS is particularly important when transmitting sensitive data such as bank accounts or credit card information. Applications that do not employ encryption techniques or use weak encryption algorithms fall prey to cyberattacks and Wi-Fi sniffing.

Data Exposure and Leakage

Data exposure or leakage happens when an application reveals sensitive data on the client or server-side during an active session. There may be multiple points in the system where sensitive data is exposed. Some websites use session keys, passwords, user IDs, and other sensitive information in their URLs, which exposes this data, and cybercriminals can easily decipher this information to hack into your mobile device. Hackers may also exploit this information to target certain mobile apps and network security or steal user information.

To avoid data exposure, it is always advisable not to use users’ personal information in website URLs and use intelligent algorithms to track a user’s session IDs in web-based applications.

Inadequate User Authentication

In this type of data vulnerability, an application fails to execute proper user authentication to verify if the user is executing a function or accessing data as per their privileges. In such security loopholes, hackers successfully attempt to gain access to software features of a specific user. The authorization process usually monitors the user rights and access privileges of all users, services, applications, and outside connections. When a user logs in to a mobile application, it does not necessarily indicate that they have complete access to all features and functions of the software. The absence of an adequate authorization process allows users or hackers to gain full access to the mobile application, including the information and added features of the mobile app.

Top mobile development companies can minimize these weaknesses through the proper implementation of user authentication procedures. Web design and development include the integration of adequate security mechanisms to monitor user authentication so that users are only allowed to use features of a mobile or internet app according to their set rights and privileges.

Mobile App Source Code Vulnerability

We’re all aware that bugs and vulnerabilities in the application source code are the first points of entry for hackers. When an attacker enters into the source code of a mobile app, they can easily alter the source code, reverse engineer your mobile app, or create a copy of your program. In many instances, a mobile app developer does not notice any changes in the mobile app behavior; however, the hacker has already damaged the source code integrity of your mobile app.

To counter a source code security compromise, always keep and backup of your source code and keep it for maintenance purposes. You can also consider code signing certificates. This certificate ensures the source code’s integrity and security and monitors any changes made to the code.

Long Session Timeouts

If your mobile app is set to a longer session timeout period, it stays active even when you are not running the application. In such a case, the sensitive session ID information, user identification, and password remain accessible to hackers till the time session expires. Sufficient session ID tracking enables mobile apps to detect when the user stops internet activity or terminates the application. Always keep adequate session timeout periods and use proper methods to terminate sessions when a user remains idle for a long time or closes the mobile application.

Easy Passwords Resulting in Successful Brute-Force Attacks

Easy passwords or repetition of passwords for more than one account increases the mobile app vulnerability and make you more susceptible to brute-force attacks. Such a type of vulnerability is the easiest to counter. Always ensure a strong password that includes alphabets, numbers, and special characters. Mobile apps also use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for increased user security over the internet.

Choose Among the Top Mobile Development Companies to Ensure Mobile App Security

Mobile application security is the top priority of many web application and android app development companies. Designing and implementing a state-of-the-art application with minimum or no back door entry points is the only way to keep the data and system secure from cyberattacks. Xpeer lists the top iOS and Android development companies that provide fool-proof website and mobile app development. Whether you’re seeking custom web development, eCommerce web development, or web design and development from the best custom software development companies, there is no better place to look for the best IT companies than Xpeer.

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