Are you worried about your code’s security? Well, you have all the rights to be, considering that a whopping 75 percent of Android apps fail basic security tests.
If you’re feeling disturbed by that statistic, don’t fret. It’s natural to feel uneasy when considering the possibility of online attacks against your Android code.
There are several steps you can take to protect your Android code from such threats and this guide explores the key ones in detail. From guarding against code injection to HTTPS encryption, we will show you exactly how to secure your app to protect it from cyber threats. Read on!
How to Secure App from Hackers?
To begin with, Android app security is the process of implementing security measures to protect your app from malicious attacks or unauthorized access. Basically, the primary focus is to stop hackers from accessing sensitive user or app data they may abuse. With that in mind, here are three things you can do to secure Android app from hackers.
1. Build a Bulletproof Authentication System
To have a bulletproof authentication system, the first thing you will want to do is implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). 2FA is particularly recommended when building websites or apps that require users to log in.
It is an extra layer of security designed to force the user (when logging in from a strange or new device) to provide a unique code and password to access the app or website. 2FA makes it difficult for unauthorized users to break into accounts—even if they already have the passwords.
You may also want to use AES Encryption for key exchanges to ensure that your users’/customers’ data are securely transmitted to the server whenever they log into your app. (AES) encryption is an industry-standard encryption method considered unbreakable.
Another option for building a bulletproof authentication system is implementing token-based security. This involves issuing unique tokens for every user session. The token must be presented with every request, so even if malicious characters view live data streams, they won’t be able to use the information they accessed to launch attacks since the token will be needed.
Also Read: How To Secure Android Phone?
2. Secure Client-Side Storage for Your Android App
Every piece of data you’re storing on client devices is out of your control. And, they’re all vulnerable to attacks. To minimize the risks of such data being compromised and secure Android apps from hackers, here are key recommendations for securing client-side data:
- Keep Client-Side Data Footprint Small: To minimize the risks of data breaches, build apps with the smallest local data footprint that’s feasible to get the job done. You do not want to store too much data as this only increases your apps’ appeal to hackers. Also, make sure every client-side data you hold remains encrypted at all times.
- Eliminate Storage of Sensitive Data: Storing sensitive data like contact lists, message logs, or any usage history on the client side is a major security risk. They can reveal crucial details that put your app at risk of being compromised. So, the safest bet is to avoid storing any data that could pose a problem if it lands in the wrong hands.
- Test Your App for Memory Leaks: Memory leaks can expose critical data to attackers. That’s why testing your app for vulnerabilities that might reveal sensitive information is important. You may want to use tools like the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) to find any memory leaks in your app’s memory usage before attackers can use them against you.
Also Read: Best Android Antivirus Apps
3. Protect Your App’s Data Transfer Layer and Guard against Code Injection
Let’s face it; it isn’t easy to navigate the world of Android security. This is especially true if you’re a junior developer. And one of the primary concerns when it comes to keeping Android apps safe is protecting the app’s transport layer.
One thing is for sure; hackers will always attempt to intercept data shared between the app and the server’s backend. They can do this through an attack technique known as eavesdropping.
When correctly executed, intercepted data can reveal an awful lot about your Android app. In worst-case scenarios, the hackers may even use the data they’ve stolen to gain malicious access to your server-side data.
You do not need to fret though as you can stop them in their tracks with strong encryption techniques like SSL encryption, also known as HTTPS encryption that are easy to deploy if you already have an SSL certificate. Use SSL certificate and keep your app secure from outsider threats. You should also consider threat modeling to evaluate if you have taken enough steps to protect your app’s traffic.
If you’re dealing with sensitive data, building a VPN-type solution directly into the app can provide an additional layer of security. And to ensure that hackers do not exploit user input fields and use them for code injection, always validate user input and scan every uploaded file to ensure authenticity. You can build your own text validation tool or use a pre-built one like JMimeMagic that is capable of handling several different file types.
Also Read: Best Android VPN Apps & How To Use A VPN On Android?
It’s a Wrap!
The security of your Android app is not just a core component of your overall app development strategy. It is also for your reputation. So, it makes absolute sense to want to take the necessary steps to protect your app and the user base. And, the recommendations we’ve shared in this guide are not just theoretical.
Instead, they’ve been tested and proven in the Android app security space. So, take action now, and put them into practice.
Harjeet is a professional blogger who loves to write blogs about Android & iOS-related topics. She dedicated her 2+ years in the technology field, tackling all kinds of issues, errors and other problems. Currently, she is contributing to Android Data Recovery Blogs to guide users to solve several Android-related issues or any other problems. Before working for Android Data Recovery, she freelanced for various sites. Apart from writing, Harjeet is a music lover and fond of reading books.