Mobile app development services is no more a child’s play. Shielding the confidentiality of app users is one of the biggest challenges for developers due to countless security risks. Android is the most extensively used mobile platform today, and this makes mobile app development platform of Google, more exposed to cyber-attacks and hacks. Despite Google’s solaces, Android privacy intimidations still exist. And the question rises – how actual are these weaknesses, and how much prospective of harm they have? Is Android OS a safe play for enterprise mobility solutions?
Here’s an insight to the top security threats that android app developers should address, and which frequently come as a challenge for mobile application development.
1. Malicious Malware or Software
Around 95 percent of Android devices are at a risk of being exaggerated by some kind of malicious or malware software? It means, the devices are at risk of being chopped without the user being aware of it. Android is Open Source, and therefore it leaves the Operating System at a threat of above 75,000 known security fears. This mobile testing services say that some of the most common Android malicious and malware software are Andr/Generic-S, Andr/PJApps-C, Andr/BatterD-A, Andr/BBridge-A, and Andr/DrSheep-A. These malicious apps or malware aim at sending personally recognisable information to a server to hack personal accounts, display ads on the phone, or may comprise some kind of illegal act.
2. Probable Risks of Google Play Store
Android being an Open Source Operating System, a no walled garden, puts the users at risk of security cracks when things are not accomplished correctly. Google Play Store itself is well-thought-out as one of the main sources of impending threats. As per the experts, Google Play is not a well-policed environment and there is increased risk of apps that contain malicious software and malware or social engineering that connects to malware. When users download mobile apps from Google Play, they often don’t pay attention to the extent of permission an app should have on their device. They just accept the permission during download, and this puts them at higher security risks.
3. Granting App Permissions
Sometimes, app developers do not have pure understanding as to what permissions a mobile application actually needs. This results into irrelevant and overzealous authorisation requests. At the same time, there’s a trend that app users simply tap the Accept button for whatever permission an app demands. This is one of the major security threats, and this is true for all Operating Systems. An app should request only for minimalist approvals to function optimally. At the same time, users should also not automatically grant permissions to apps whose functions seem irrelevant to need such access.
4. Android Fragmentation Risks
One of the largest disadvantages of Android is that it suffers with problem of fragmentation. Fragmentation means that there exist multiple versions of Android, even on latest devices. However, some devices are never upgraded to the latest Android versions as and when Google releases a new version. Pointless to say, Android devices that are not updated are more susceptible to risks due to former Operating System programming errors. They will also not have the newest security updates.
Now this is a giant challenge for Android app development. Fragmentation creates distinctive user experience on different devices, and this is often a greater risk. It is tough to take suitable safety actions or instruct the users about probable weaknesses because the experience is not the same on each device. Thus, there would be no lone security solution that will flawlessly fit all of Android’s distinctions.
5. Malicious Software or Malware for Mobile Application Development
Android’s security flaws exist all over the place – in the OS itself, in mobile apps that are downloaded or that are built-in the device by default, and in implements that are coming from different sources except Android platform. These exposures in mobile application development pose severe security threats.
6. Customized Operating Systems
Another major security risk confronted by Android platform is initiated due to the choice of modifying the operating system. Often, device manufacturers alter the OS to make it function optimally on their device. On the other hand, users also vary the OS, integrating customization layers or launchers. This tends to source security gaps.
7. Mobile App Downloads Outside Google Play
While Google Play has its share of security breaches, the risk of being affected by malicious software or hacked upsurges significantly when users download apps from unknown sources other than the official Play Store. Being Open Source, building an Android app is free. So, anyone can build a malicious app and upload it on the Internet. Often users download apps from unsanctioned sites to avoid expenses. However, this can consequence in downloading a malicious app that has been altered to robotically install a virus on Android devices.
How to Construct a Protected Environment for Android Apps Development?
If your organization or business is planning a launch of Android apps, you have to develop a strategy to defend your users from security threats. For this, it is not only essential to know about potential security vulnerabilities and risks, but also emerging with a trust model that helps determine which users you can trust with which app or data and under what scenario. It is also vital to hire an Android app developer from an expert mobile application development company India, who has knowledge of the latest security threats and can build an app that can live such risks.
If you are planning to use an app, it would be a good practice to use third-party app reputation service that values a wide range of apps and allocates a risk score. Based on this, you can set policies.
