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      What is mobile app security?

      Mobile apps are increasingly becoming the main way users interact with businesses — yet mobile app security needs have been historically underserved. Threat protection for mobile applications is becoming increasingly important. We can help.

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      Why mobile application security matters

      Don’t let mobile application security be an afterthought. Too many app projects do not take mobile app security needs into consideration until the end of the software development lifecycle. In order to prevent data leakage, intellectual property theft and loss of revenue, mobile app security solutions need to be a focus at the outset and throughout the development lifecycle.

      95% of survey respondents report room for improvement in their security program or protocols.

      Source: Mobile Apps Aren’t Secure Enough, Despite Dev Teams’ Priorities

      Why mobile app security is needed

      Research shows that despite developer’s priorities, mobile apps still aren’t secure enough.

      0%
      of developers believe iOS and Android standard security isn’t sufficient.

      0%
      of developers still rely on operating system security.

      0%
      of developers reported room for improvement in their security protocols.
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      How to secure mobile apps

      For full coverage, mobile apps need multiple layers of protection. Best practices including data encryption, secure codes, user authentication, compliance and integrity, secure APIs, and secure containers will enhance your mobile app security.

      To prevent reverse engineering, security professionals obfuscate code — rendering it illegible without affecting functionality. Injecting runtime application self-protection (RASP) checks ensures apps can automatically detect tampering and respond accordingly, such as shutting down or blocking access. And layering these defenses make penetration successively more challenging, providing protection to your protections. Multi-layered protection ensures that each defense strategy reinforces the others, enhancing security.

      Deep dive into mobile app security

      Learn more about mobile app security, mobile app security threats, and best practices for exceeding mobile app security standards.

      Mobile app security defined
      App security types
      Security threats
      Best practices
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      Understanding mobile app security

      Mobile app security involves securing iOS and Android applications from attacks by threat actors as well as detecting potential vulnerabilities within the app during development and in real-time after release. Establishing iOS mobile app security and Android mobile app security are equally as important. Comprehensive mobile app security combines security tooling with AppSec best practices to harden the application against existing threats and prevent new risks that may arise.
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      Common types of mobile app security

      The most common types of mobile app security techniques are: 

      By combining multiple app security measures, app developers can reinforce their protections and prudently improve their mobile app security, even if one layer is compromised.
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      Examples of malicious actors and mobile app security threats

      Some common threats for mobile apps include: 

      • Reverse engineering

        gaining an understanding of the app’s inner workings.

      • Tampering

        modifying the app’s behavior during runtime.

      • Malware

        injecting malicious code into the mobile app to stage attacks against users.

      • Data theft

        stealing sensitive data that the app collects.

      Without proper mobile app security processes in place, mobile apps can easily fall victim to these threats, each of which has a direct impact on the app publisher’s reputation, revenue, and more.

       
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      Mobile application security best practices to protect your apps

      Several mobile app security best practices can help you avoid security threats:

      • Limit Data Input and Output
      • Allow Only Authorized Users
      • Test the Application
      • Update Regularly
      • Report Unexpected Behavior

      Implementing app hardening measures is critical for mobile app publishers. Best practices for mobile app security include integrating security measures early in the development process, implementing multiple layers of app protection, and monitoring for changes in the mobile threat landscape.

      Security for every stage of the software development lifecycle.

      Too often delayed to the end of the development lifecycle, security needs to be considered right from the start. As your app development progresses, testing, feedback and monitoring helps you to ensure the highest possible level of security.

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      Develop
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      Protect
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      Test
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      Monitor

      Develop

      Mobile app security is most effective when it’s considered from the outset of the development lifecycle, which includes early rounds of testing and refinement. Ultimately, engaging in secure software development practices identifies security risks early, when they’re quick and cheap to fix, rather than after deployment.

      Develop
      Mobile app security is most effective when it’s considered from the outset of the development lifecycle, which includes early rounds of testing and refinement. Ultimately, engaging in secure software development practices identifies security risks early, when they’re quick and cheap to fix, rather than after deployment.

      Protect

      Now that your app is implemented, it’s crucial that you incorporate defenses against reverse engineers in order to protect your intellectual property, prevent counterfeits and secure your data and your brand’s reputation. App shielding techniques like code hardening and runtime application self-protection (RASP) ensure that your mobile app can’t be easily reverse-engineered.

      Protect
      Now that your app is implemented, it’s crucial that you incorporate defenses against reverse engineers in order to protect your intellectual property, prevent counterfeits and secure your data and your brand’s reputation. App shielding techniques like code hardening and runtime application self-protection (RASP) ensure that your mobile app can’t be easily reverse-engineered.

      Test

      You wouldn’t release your app without testing its functionality; nor should you without testing its security. Pentesting, or penetration testing, is often performed by third-party experts to attempt to identify security gaps in your app and gain insight into its internal logic, just as a threat actor would. A complement to pentesting is AppSweep, Guardsquare's automated mobile application security testing (MAST) tool.

      Test
      You wouldn’t release your app without testing its functionality; nor should you without testing its security. Pentesting, or penetration testing, is often performed by third-party experts to attempt to identify security gaps in your app and gain insight into its internal logic, just as a threat actor would. A complement to pentesting is AppSweep, Guardsquare's automated mobile application security testing (MAST) tool.

      Monitor

      You’ve obfuscated your code to prevent static analysis and attacks, and you’ve implemented RASP for runtime defense; now it’s time to monitor your app and adapt your security configuration to maximize protection. What are threat actors’ preferred attack vectors? How can you evolve to improve your defenses? Real-time threat monitoring can provide the answers.

      Monitor
      You’ve obfuscated your code to prevent static analysis and attacks, and you’ve implemented RASP for runtime defense; now it’s time to monitor your app and adapt your security configuration to maximize protection. What are threat actors’ preferred attack vectors? How can you evolve to improve your defenses? Real-time threat monitoring can provide the answers.

      Mobile App Security with Guardsquare

      Protect
      Test
      Monitor
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      Application hardening

      DexGuard and iXGuard provide comprehensive mobile application security using dozens of code obfuscation, encryption, and RASP techniques. These app hardening measures are applied differently with each new build, resetting the clock on malicious actors. Moreover, this multi-layered approach provides stronger protection against both static and dynamic attacks against Android and iOS apps.

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      Mobile application security testing

      AppSweep is a MAST solution that helps developers find and fix security vulnerabilities in their Android app’s code and dependencies. This developer-friendly tool integrates directly into the DevOps toolchain, enabling development teams to detect issues early and often.

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      Real-time threat monitoring

      ThreatCast is a threat monitoring solution that provides real-time visibility for Android and iOS apps. Actionable insights into the mobile threat landscape enable development teams to continuously improve their security implementations to stay ahead of threat actors.

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      Mobile App Security FAQs

      Mobile app security refers to the strategies, technologies, and best practices used to protect applications from cyber threats such as hacking, reverse engineering, and malware attacks. With mobile threats evolving rapidly, security is essential to prevent data breaches, protect intellectual property, and ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). Guardsquare provides advanced code hardening, runtime application self-protection (RASP), and threat monitoring to safeguard apps from real-world attacks.

      A secure mobile app typically has:

      • Code obfuscation and encryption: Prevents reverse engineering attacks.
      • Minimal permissions: Requests only necessary access.
      • RASP protection: Detects and responds to real-time threats.
      • Security certifications: Complies with standards like OWASP Mobile Top 10.

      Guardsquare’s DexGuard, and iXGuard provide code protection, runtime security, and in-depth threat detection, ensuring that mobile apps remain secure against advanced threats.

      To ensure robust mobile app protection, follow these key strategies:

      • Code obfuscation & encryption: Make source code unreadable to attackers using DexGuard (Android) and iXGuard (iOS).
      • Runtime application self-protection (RASP): Detect and block real-time threats.
      • Secure API communication.
      • Tamper detection & anti-debugging: Prevent unauthorized modifications.
      • Continuous security monitoring: Implement Guardsquare’s ThreatCast for real-time insights.

      Common mobile security threats include:

      • Reverse engineering: Attackers decompile apps to extract sensitive information.
      • Code injection & malware: Exploiting app vulnerabilities to execute malicious code.
      • Unauthorized repackaging: Hackers clone apps to distribute malicious versions.
      • Rooting & jailbreaking attacks: Exploiting device vulnerabilities to bypass security controls.

      Guardsquare solutions help mitigate these risks by providing multi-layered, adaptive and customized mobile app protection, ensuring that apps remain secure against evolving threats.

      To identify security weaknesses, developers should:

      • Perform static & dynamic security analysis: Use tools like Guardsquare’s AppSweep to scan for vulnerabilities.
      • Monitor runtime threats: Deploy ThreatCast to track real-world attack attempts.
      • Conduct penetration testing: Simulate attacks to uncover hidden flaws.
      • Review permissions & dependencies: Ensure third-party libraries don’t introduce risks.
      • Implement secure coding practices: Follow OWASP Mobile Security best practices.

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      Reports & Whitepapers android ios

      REPORT: Mobile Apps Aren’t Secure Enough, Despite Dev Teams’ Priorities

      What’s causing misalignment between app developers’ security intentions and actions?

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      Reports & Whitepapers android ios

      Incorporating Mobile App Security into the Development Lifecycle Without Friction

      See how and where to seamlessly integrate security throughout the entire development lifecycle

      Learn more

      Discover how Guardsquare provides industry-leading protection for mobile apps.

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