Security Risks that can be Avoided in Android App Development
Every mobile app developer today is worried about potential security risks and there is a lot of importance being placed on security testing given the incidents of malware that are being reported across the world. When you are dealing with sensitive user information, it is imperative to have strict security measures in place. Planning your app’s security requires you to be abreast with the latest trends, stay connected to trends and learn about possible vulnerabilities and how to safeguard your app from potential damage. We’ve put together a list of security risks that you can avoid in your android app development; read on to learn more.
#1: App permissions
Understanding the permissions, you require and asking only for them in your app is quite important. Often, app developers put in a lot of permissions and this makes it tiresome for the user and is a major security issue too! Why ask for information that you are not going to use? When you store irrelevant information, you may not even plan for its security and this is a huge vulnerability! Minimize the permissions required to ensure security and provide for a smooth user experience.
#2: Customization of OS
Android is an open source OS and most device manufacturers tend to customize it to ensure optimum performance for their devices. In most cases this brings in huge security gaps and there are always delays between the time Google releases patches or fixes for a specific version of the OS and the time the manufacturer takes to adapt these security fixes or changes into their customized OS. This leaves a significant window for threats and vulnerabilities. As an Android developer, you should allow for this aspect when planning your app’s security.
#3: Downloads outside the play store
Users generally tend to download your app from outside the Play Store to avoid payment and this causes potential risks. In such cases, malware attacks and other spyware that are designed to steal information and compromise security can be installed while they install your app from such sites. This is a potential security risk that you will have to account for. Although you may not be able to do much about a user downloading it from somewhere else, being aware of such a risk will help you plan and encourage your users to stay away from 3rd party app stores.
#4: Planning for security breaches
Physical security too needs to be planned when you are developing your app and planning to store a lot of user data. Ensuring that your local sessions time out and asking users to type in passwords periodically of they are not in use and reminding them to change passcodes frequently will help in protecting information. Also, ensuring that you have mechanisms to handle cases where user accounts are hacked or stolen because of loss of their physical devices is a good step towards ensuring security.
#5: Working on security fixes post launch
You are not done once you launch your app. Post launch support isn’t just about fixing your app’s bugs or enhancing the user experience, you should also stay abreast of security threats around the world and protect your app from them from time to time. Releasing timely patches to deal with potential threats ensures a positive user experience and protects your app from malicious attacks.
#6: Encryption issues
Algorithms are constantly changing whether they are search algorithms or encryption ones. The longer they are in vogue, the more likely that they are to be cracked. In such cases, ensuring that your encryption is standard and safe not to mention strong is very important. When you deal with sensitive information, it is a must to have solid encryption in place and we recommend revisiting your encryption and security measures every now and then to ensure protection.
#7: Protection against malware
Well, Android is OS and is open to attacks from various sources. Google has been constantly working on security and ensuring that malware stays away from its Play Store and devices and, yet it isn’t fully secure (no system can ever be a 100% secure!). In fact, Google’s Play Store itself is one of the risks or malware as it isn’t quite as well-policed when it comes to app permissions. Keeping this in mind and ensuring that no third-party app steals your app’s information or breaches its security is important to ensure complete protection.
