7 min read

Top 10 Mobile App Security Threats and How to Protect Your Data

Carsten Lyngsoe : 30. May 2023

Mobile App Security

The ubiquity of mobile applications has made them part of our day-to-day lives, but with the increased use comes the risk of potential security threats. It is essential to be aware of these threats and take appropriate measures to safeguard your data and identity. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 mobile application security threats and how you (as an app developer or user) can protect yourself from them through mobile application protection.

1. Malware attacks

Malware is code that harms a device or mobile app, usually to access private information. It can be spread through links, downloads, or apps and cybercriminals target it as millions of people download and rely on mobile apps daily.

Mobile malware poses a significant threat to the security of our devices and personal information. Cybercriminals are constantly searching for ways to exploit mobile apps, which have become prime targets due to their widespread usage. In their quest to infect as many devices as possible, attackers employ various tactics. They may create apps embedded with malicious code, inject harmful code into legitimate apps, or even create convincing replicas of popular apps to deceive unsuspecting users. Understanding how cybercriminals spread malware through mobile apps is crucial in safeguarding our devices and personal data.

2. Unsafe third-party APIs

APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, enable seamless communication and data sharing between different apps. By integrating third-party APIs, mobile applications can enhance their functionality and provide additional services.

However, it's important to be aware that third-party APIs can pose significant security risks. Since they grant access to sensitive data, they become attractive targets for hackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities.

To safeguard your app and its users' data, it is crucial to prioritize the security of the third-party APIs you integrate. Conduct thorough assessments to ensure the APIs adhere to robust security standards. Verify that they have implemented secure authentication systems and employ encryption to protect data transmission. By taking these precautions, you can mitigate potential security risks and improve mobile app protection.

3. Weak encryption

Without proper encryption measures in place, your app's data becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access and potential exploitation by malicious actors. Encryption acts as a strong defense against data breaches, ensuring that even if an attacker manages to gain access to the data, it remains useless without the decryption key.

To ensure effective encryption for mobile app protection, several key practices should be followed. Firstly, select robust and well-established encryption algorithms, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), that offer a high level of security. It is important to stay updated with the latest encryption standards and best practices to mitigate emerging threats.

Additionally, secure protocols like HTTPS or Transport Layer Security (TLS) should be utilized for communication between the app and backend servers. These protocols establish an encrypted connection, protecting data during transmission and guarding against eavesdropping and tampering.

Proper encryption key management solutions are also crucial for maintaining the security of encrypted data. Encryption keys should be securely stored and managed, ensuring that they are not accessible to unauthorized parties. It is recommended to use secure key management software and practices to protect encryption keys from being compromised.

Furthermore, app developers should implement strong access controls to restrict access to encrypted data only to authorized users or entities. This includes enforcing proper user authentication mechanisms and implementing fine-grained authorization policies to control data access based on user roles and permissions.

Regular security assessments and audits should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of encryption implementation and to identify any vulnerabilities or weaknesses. This ensures that encryption is consistently applied and remains robust against evolving threats.

By prioritizing proper encryption practices, app developers can significantly enhance the security posture of their applications, protect sensitive user data, and mitigate the risk of data breaches.

4. Data leakage

Data leakage occurs when sensitive information is transferred without authorization, typically due to inadequate security measures in an app. For example, if a user enters personal details like credit card information or their Social Security number into an app with weak security, this data can be stolen and exploited for malicious purposes. This security threat often arises from poor coding practices, outdated software components, or insufficient encryption of stored data.

While mobile apps are designed to protect your data, a lack of proper security measures can lead to data leaks. Cybercriminals can easily breach your app's database and gain access to any sensitive information stored within. Additionally, data leakage can occur even when an app is no longer in use or has been deleted, as the data may still remain accessible. It is crucial to prioritize robust security measures to prevent data leakage and safeguard your sensitive information.

5. Insecure authentication

Authentication insecurity arises when an application does not enforce the use of robust passwords from its users. This lax security measure provides a simpler avenue for cybercriminals to infiltrate your application, as they are not faced with the challenge of decoding intricate passwords. While it may not be crucial to instate robust authentication procedures for all apps, it is imperative for those dealing with confidential information, like banking or social media applications, among others.

In instances where your application necessitates authentication, it's vital to establish a stringent password policy and consider employing two-factor authentication. These measures will aid in safeguarding your app from unauthorized access.

6. Rooting or jailbreaking

Rooting or jailbreaking refers to the procedure of acquiring superuser or root access to a device's operating system, fundamentally unlocking all constraints placed by the device manufacturer. While this action may seem appealing due to its ability to grant enhanced features and functionality, it harbors substantial security risks that cannot be understated.

When a device is rooted or jailbroken, its embedded security measures can be overridden, which could potentially pave the way for malicious software to operate on the device. Typically, devices have built-in safeguards to protect against such threats. However, with root access, these safety measures can be bypassed, allowing unauthorized and potentially harmful code to run unhindered on the device.

Moreover, rooting or jailbreaking also opens up the potential for unrestricted access to sensitive data stored within the device's memory. Under normal circumstances, this information is well-protected by the device's operating system. But with root access, a hacker could potentially access all data, including sensitive personal information, banking details, passwords, and more. This situation could potentially lead to grave privacy breaches or even identity theft.

Get the white paper on implementing best-practice security for high-risk apps.

7. Overprivileged apps

Overprivileged apps can be described as those applications which request more permissions than they strictly need to function. This issue arises when developers create apps that require an excessive number of permissions, potentially creating vulnerabilities that could be leveraged by malicious hackers. The problem is that these unneeded permissions can grant access to a broad range of sensitive data and system functions. These could then be manipulated or exploited by cybercriminals, leading to possible privacy breaches or even security threats.

For instance, a photo editing application may ask for permission to access the user's contact list. Given that this type of app typically only needs access to the device's storage to retrieve and save images, requesting access to contacts is a clear example of overprivilege. If granted, it could provide a window for potential misuse of personal data.

To protect yourself from the threats posed by overprivileged apps, it's crucial to pay close attention to the permissions an app is requesting during installation. It's advisable to only grant permissions that align with the app's core functionality. If a permission seems unnecessary or unrelated to the app's purpose, it's safer not to grant it.

This practice of limiting permissions not only enhances the security of your personal data but also helps maintain control over your device's resources and functionality. By doing so, you effectively put up a guard against potential exploitation by malicious actors who could take advantage of these extra, and often unnecessary, permissions.

8. Unsecured third-party components

Third-party components refer to segments of code that are sourced externally and incorporated into an application during its development. These components, while often valuable for their utility and time-saving benefits, can potentially bring about a multitude of security issues if they are not appropriately secured. For instance, a third-party component might have the ability to access confidential data or even pave the way for malicious software to operate on the device.

To mitigate these risks, it's crucial to consistently monitor and update all third-party components. Regular updates not only ensure that the components are operating at their best, but they also often include patches to any known security vulnerabilities. This practice helps ward off security breaches that could stem from outdated or compromised components.

Additionally, it is advisable to source third-party components only from reliable and trustworthy providers. These providers will have a strong reputation for maintaining secure, updated components, giving you the confidence that the parts you integrate into your app are safe. By following these strategies, you can better protect your app and your users from potential security risks that third-party components may introduce.

9 Unpatched vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities represent flaws or loopholes in a software code that could potentially enable hackers to infiltrate an app, gain access to confidential data, or seize control of its operations. When these vulnerabilities are identified but not yet addressed or patched by the developers, they are referred to as unpatched vulnerabilities. Mobile applications, particularly those built with intricate code, are often riddled with numerous such vulnerabilities, making them prime targets for exploitation by cybercriminals. Left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities could lead to more severe threats such as data breaches and malware attacks.

One of the most effective ways to safeguard your app from these threats is by staying vigilant about updates. Regularly updating your app with the most recent patches designed to address identified vulnerabilities is a crucial part of maintaining the security and integrity of your software. This practice significantly reduces the risk of exploitation by hackers, ensuring that your app remains secure, and your users' data is protected.

Ensuring secure communication between your application and its server is paramount. This means that any data transmitted or received must be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access or manipulation by potential hackers. Unfortunately, many apps overlook the necessity of correctly securing their network connections, which can result in data breaches and various other security risks.

To mitigate these risks, verify that your app utilizes secure protocols for data transmission and employs robust encryption methods to safeguard the data it sends and receives. By doing so, you significantly reduce the chances of data exposure, fortifying the app's overall security stance.

Keeping your mobile app data safe

Mobile app protection is a critical element in the entire lifecycle of mobile app development. The increasing dependence on mobile apps for a wide range of tasks, from personal communication to financial transactions, has made them prime targets for potential cyber threats. Consequently, understanding and mitigating the primary mobile app protection threats is not just a good practice but a necessity.

Being vigilant about security threats can help you swiftly identify and manage major mobile app threats. This proactive approach ensures the safety of your data and apps, reducing the chances of successful cyberattacks. But vigilance alone is not enough. Developing an in-depth understanding of the potential threats, their implications, and preventative measures is vital.

Some common security threats include data leakage, unsecured Wi-Fi connections, insecure storage, insufficient cryptography, and poor session handling. Familiarity with these threats allows for the design of countermeasures to prevent them.

Moreover, secure coding practices play an important role in reducing vulnerabilities that might be exploited by hackers. Following guidelines and best practices in coding, regularly updating and patching your app, using encryption for data at rest and in transit, and adopting strong user authentication measures are all important steps in securing your app.

Additionally, consider using security testing tools and methodologies to identify any vulnerabilities that may exist within the app. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments can highlight areas of weakness and enable you to address them promptly.

By dedicating sufficient time and resources to properly secure your mobile app, you significantly enhance its resilience against cyberattacks. This not only supports mobile app protection from cybercriminals and other malicious actors but also builds trust with your users, who can use your app with the confidence that their data is secure. In the long run, prioritizing mobile app security can lead to better user engagement, improved reputation, and ultimately, success in the digital marketplace.

Cryptomathic is an industry leader in mobile app protection, renowned for its innovative solutions that help businesses safeguard their applications. With years of experience in the field, Cryptomathic understands the complexities of mobile app security and delivers solutions that are designed to tackle a variety of cybersecurity challenges.

Read more about Cryptomathic's Mobile App Security Core or contact us to discuss your requirements