logo
logo
Sign in

Best Strategies to Protect Mobile Apps from Reverse Engineering

avatar
Zeroblack
Best Strategies to Protect Mobile Apps from Reverse Engineering

The security of websites and smartphones has become a matter of concern in recent times. With the increase in the number of mobile apps, their security has become more important than ever before. Moreover, the rise of offensive cyber attacks makes it essential to incorporate appropriate security features within the apps for effective protection. SQL injection, memory corruption, and overflow are some of the security holes that give rise to security vulnerabilities.

 

When it comes to security threats of mobile apps, reverse engineering is a prominent one. Android apps are most vulnerable to this threat. In this article, you will get to know about reverse engineering and ways to protect mobile apps from this security threat.

 

A Brief on Reverse Engineering

In simple terms, reverse engineering refers to the process of obtaining the source code and other resources of mobile apps. The source code is usually obtained to develop a similar app. Competitors might leverage reverse engineering to view the special functionalities of the app and copy them. On the other hand, hackers make use of the technique to gain access to the premium app features.

 

Effective Strategies to Prevent Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering can result in the theft of several sensitive information and affect the reputation of businesses. Therefore, preventing the reverse engineering of mobile apps is vital. There are several ways to protect the apps from reverse engineering. Here are some of the best ways. Let's take a look!

 

  • Tamper Detection

One of the best ways to prevent reverse engineering of Android apps is to identify whether it has been tampered with or not. Tamper detection is quite simple and easy. All you need to do is check the identity used for signing up for the app. For instance, most mobile apps can only be accessed through the Play Store. If your app has not been downloaded through the Play Store, there is a risk of reverse engineering. So, you must check the installation source and then disable the program if you suspect any vulnerability.

 

  • Secure User Credentials

To prevent the reverse engineering of mobile apps, securing user credentials can be an excellent option. However, ensure that the securing user credentials are less. It will help in avoiding potential phishing attacks. Moreover, using authorization tokens is also recommended. Make sure that the username and password are not stored on the mobile device.

 

  • Use C/ C++

The choice of programming language also plays an important role in preventing security threats like reverse engineering. Choose C or C++ to write your important codes. Reverse engineering of apps written in C or C++ is quite time-consuming and challenging. As a result, it helps in avoiding reverse engineering and secures your mobile apps effectively.

 

Conclusion

The use of reverse engineering and attack surface enumeration techniques to exploit user data is on the rise. That is why Android and iOS security researchers focus on finding new ways to secure mobile apps. Now that you know the strategies to prevent reverse engineering of mobile apps, leverage them and secure your apps. For the best outcomes, it is ideal to collaborate with security experts and enhances the security of mobile apps.

collect
0
avatar
Zeroblack
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more