5 Must-Have Security Features for Native Apps

Native apps are built compatible with a platform or operating system, such as iOS or Android. While unrestricted access to all device functionalities (camera, GPS, and push notifications) makes native apps attractive for users, it also poses significant risks.

Cyber attacks increased by 30% between January 2023 and 2024 and amount to 13 attacks per second. This shows that our reliance on mobile technology is rising, and so is the sophistication of cyber threats. 

Mobile app security must be the focus of the entire application development lifecycle, not an afterthought. This can be done only if native Android or iOS app development guarantees rich, feature-packed applications that leverage the full potential of the hardware and ensure built-in security features to make the products less vulnerable to threats.

Alt text: “Each stage of app development is crucial, and any fault can expose app users to multiple vulnerabilities; the link between each stage and subsequent threats is mentioned”

You probably want to develop an app, are cautiously in the process of developing one, or have just faced an attack. You might also be a user who cares about security and privacy. Whoever you are, you will find these 5 effective strategies and protocols useful.

1. Secure User Authentication

To ensure the data security of users, developers must put together a proper plan, including robust authentication techniques to guarantee safety during app login:

Password

Make it mandatory for users to create complex passwords that consist of 12 or more characters. Avoid using information that can be guessed easily, such as names or birthdates.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) 

As the name suggests, users are granted access based on two forms of identification. Typically, this involves:

– Something that only you know about — a password or PIN.

– Something only you can access — a physical device like a smartphone that receives a one-time code or generates it through an authentication app.

The method is as follows:

1. The user enters a username and password.
2. After submitting their password, users will receive a one-time code via SMS or an authenticator app.
3. Users enter this code, and the login process is completed.

Attackers would need both the password and physical access to the user’s device, so the process is getting much more complicated for them.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): 

Beyond 2FA, consider implementing MFA, which enhances security by adding another layer that makes it harder to penetrate. Three types of multi-factor authentication are:

2. Data Encryption

According to a 2024 survey of cybersecurity professionals, 43 percent of respondents worldwide considered data protection as their biggest application security concern.

Even today, users are skeptical about using mobile apps that handle personal details, financial data, and health records, making, data encryption vital. A data breach can potentially lead to identity/funds being stolen or damage to reputation. Hence, developers must protect data at rest, in transit, and in use.

Two prominent encryption standards are given below:

3. Secure API Communication

In 2023, T-Mobile experienced a major data breach affecting 37 million customers, where personal and account information was accessed via an API attack. 

Most mobile apps don’t work in isolation. Take fintech or tourism apps, for example — they are part of a bigger ecosystem of many services and platforms. They integrate multiple APIs, continually receiving and sending out confidential data. It is vital to adopt integrated security. Otherwise, criminals could easily intercept the data transmission stream and illegally access the app.

The core of secure data transmission via APIs is the implementation of HTTPS and TLS (Transport Layer Security). 

Key steps for implementation:

1. Get an SSL/TLS Certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) to authenticate your server and install the certificate.
2. Enable HTTPS in your web server settings.
3. Use Strong Cipher Suites.
4. Implement Mutual TLS (mTLS) for added security (require both client and server authentication).
5. Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security to safeguard connections and prevent SSL stripping attacks.

4. Code Obfuscation and Integrity Checks

Developers can combine these techniques to create robust defenses against reverse engineering and unauthorized access, protecting intellectual property and sensitive data within their applications. 

It makes the source code difficult to understand but functional, hence securing software from reverse engineering. It involves transforming the code into a more complex and less readable form, thereby complicating the efforts of potential attackers to analyze or manipulate it. 

Code obfuscation is particularly effective for languages that produce intermediate-level instructions, such as Java and .NET languages (C#, VB.NET, etc.). 

Integrity checks help prevent tampering by malicious software. They are essential for real-time data protection, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of data within systems. They work by generating a unique identification code, such as a checksum or hash, for data in its original state. This code is periodically re-generated and compared to the original. If the values match, the data is considered intact. If discrepancies arise, it indicates potential tampering or corruption, prompting further investigation.

Overall, combining code obfuscation with robust integrity checks creates a layered security approach that enhances the resilience of applications against reverse engineering and tampering threats.

5. Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response(TDIR)

Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response (TDIR) focuses on identifying potential threats, investigating incidents, and effectively responding to mitigate risks. This approach is essential for organizations to protect their digital assets and maintain operational integrity in a complex cyber landscape.

The threat detection process typically includes:

• Monitoring network activity 
• Anomaly detection
• Threat comparison 

Threat investigation involves analyzing detected threats or incidents to understand their nature, origin, and impact. This phase examines security alerts to determine their validity.

Incident response includes locating and containing the issue, minimizing harm, and restoring hacked systems. Security analysts perform user and traffic behavior analysis or use data correlation, for example, to pinpoint the source of the threat and the extent of the damage.

Threat response encompasses actions taken to mitigate the effects of a detected threat. This phase focuses on threat containment, removing it from the environment, and recovering from any damage caused.

Security Tools

Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity is an ongoing process, not a one-time task, hence being vigilant at all times is necessary. Staying informed about emerging threats and best practices in security is essential for developers to adapt their applications accordingly. This includes regular code reviews, penetration testing, and implementing advanced security features like binary protections and code obfuscation. 

The overall security posture of iOS/Android native apps can be greatly improved if developers make these five essential security strategies a priority.