Why Mobile Security is Different
Mobile apps run on devices you don't control, connected to networks you can't trust, used by people who may not follow security best practices. Enterprise mobile apps that handle sensitive data need defense in depth.
OWASP Mobile Top 10 Addressed
1. Improper Platform Usage — Use platform security features (Keychain on iOS, Keystore on Android) instead of rolling your own crypto.
2. Insecure Data Storage — Never store sensitive data in SharedPreferences/UserDefaults. Use encrypted databases (SQLCipher) for local data.
3. Insecure Communication — Enforce TLS 1.2+ with certificate pinning. Reject self-signed certificates in production builds.
4. Insecure Authentication — Implement biometric authentication + session tokens. Never store passwords locally.
5. Insufficient Cryptography — Use AES-256 for symmetric encryption, RSA-2048+ for asymmetric. Never hardcode encryption keys.
6. Insecure Authorization — Validate all authorization server-side. Never trust client-side role checks.
7. Client Code Quality — Enable ProGuard/R8 for Android, bitcode for iOS. Implement jailbreak/root detection.
8. Code Tampering — Implement runtime integrity checks. Detect debugging and instrumentation attempts.
9. Reverse Engineering — Obfuscate code, strip debug symbols, and avoid storing secrets in the app binary.
10. Extraneous Functionality — Remove all test endpoints, debug logs, and staging configurations from production builds.
Additional Enterprise Requirements
- MDM (Mobile Device Management) integration
- Remote wipe capability for lost/stolen devices
- App-level VPN for secure corporate network access
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
Conclusion
Mobile security is a continuous process, not a one-time audit. Build security into your development lifecycle with automated SAST tools, regular penetration testing, and security-focused code reviews.
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