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Best Practices to Ensure High Security in Your Mobile Apps

The mobile revolution is at its peak today! Myriad mobile apps are being uploaded on the Google Play and App Store daily and the mobile application development market is expanding across the globe like never before. Yet, it is shocking to know that almost 75% of the apps fail in the basic security test. Well, security is one of the most crucial factors in the app which is often taken for granted.

This article will provide you a glimpse of the essential security measures to be taken during and after the mobile application development process is completed. Before we dive deeper into the article, let’s run through the top security lapses that could occur due to time constraints while building mobile apps

Common Security lapses in the Mobile Application Development Process

Leaving the cache unchecked and not utilizing a cache cleaning cycle
Applying weak or no encryption algorithms at all
Accidentally picking up a code written by hackers
Not using a reliable data storage system
Ignoring the Binary protection
Not securing the transport layer
Neglecting the server-side security
Not testing the mobile app thoroughly
Best Practices for Assuring Top-level Security in the Mobile Apps

Secured app code:

It is a primary and essential step to spend time on encrypting the code and thoroughly testing it for vulnerabilities during the development process. The mobile app developers should thoroughly review the code from security aspect before launching the app. It is essential to ensure security coding for the detection of jailbreaks, debugger detection control, checksum controls, etc.

Strong Authentication:

Weak authentication leads to several data breaches; hence, it is imperative to apply high-level authentication in the apps. Ensure that your app allows only strong passwords for this. Also, use two-factor authentication in the apps. Biometric authentication like fingerprints or retina scans is also being used nowadays in a host of apps to make it more secured.

Data Encryption:

Along with encrypting the code, all the data that is exchanged over the app must be well encrypted. In case the data is stolen, the hackers should not be able to access the data unless the security key is available. Different data encryption algorithms can be used like Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), RSA technique, Triple data integration standard, etc.

Security of Servers and Network Connections:

All the servers and networks accessed by mobile apps are the foremost target of hackers. To ensure their security, the use of an HTTPS connection is advised. APIs have to be verified thoroughly to avoid spying of data which is transferred from the client to servers . Also, the mobile apps must be scanned using the automated scanners from time-to-time. Extended security can be provided through encrypted connections or VPN (a virtual private network).

Safeguarding the Binary Files:

Ignoring the binary protection can enable hackers to induce malware in apps, can cause severe data thefts, etc. and ultimately lead to revenue losses in the long term. So, binary hardening procedures should be applied to protect the binary files against security threats. Different hardening techniques like Buffer overflow protection, Binary Stirring, etc can be used to combat this threat.

Having Secured API:

API is an integral part of Mobile app development which makes it all the more important to focus on securing them. Authorization, authentication, and identification are the vital security measures that create a robust and secured API. An API gateway can be integrated to increase the security of mobile apps. For secure communication between APIs, different authentications like OAuth and OAuth2 can be used.

Code Signing Certificates:

These certificates facilitate making the mobile code more secured. It is the process of digitally signing the scripts and executables by the certificate authority. It is for authentication of the author and ensuring that the code has not been modified or tampered by anyone else since the certificate was signed. For every mobile app developer or publisher, a Code Signing Certificate is a must.

Exhaustive Testing and Updating the Apps:

Rigorous Security testing before launching the apps and also after it is launched is advisable to avoid security loopholes in the apps. Thus, potential security issues can be identified proactively and worked upon. Also, updating the apps at regular intervals helps to remove the bugs that arise in the apps after launching.

Wrap-up:

An unprotected mobile app can pose a threat to the entire system. On the other hand, a secured app can be highly reliable and lucrative. Ultimately, mobile app security should not be taken for granted as hackers and fraudsters are continually looking for opportunities to hack critical data and destroy the security of the apps. So, to develop a robust, powerful, and flawless mobile app with top-level security, all the factors mentioned in this article should be considered and applied accordingly.

If you are looking for a reliable technology partner, or you want to upgrade the security of your ongoing projects, contact Biz4Solutions now!

Biz4Solutions is an established mobile app development company, based in Texas. The company has a team of experts and experienced technical nerds who develop highly secure, user-centric, and robust mobile apps.

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5 Reasons Why Sending Money Online the Most Efficient Way to Transfer Funds

Let’s say that your son or daughter is backpacking abroad for a year. They have saved up for this trip for the last year, and insist that they have enough to keep them safe, fed and sheltered. But 7 months into their trip, they have run out of money for one reason or another (excessive pub-crawling with other young backpackers, theft, unforeseen expenses, and more). What to do, what to do?

Now your child really needs your help, and they need it fast. You might consider a bank wire, or sending a check in the mail (not recommended). But have you considered sending money online? Compared to a wire, you may be wondering if sending money online is as efficient, and rightly so as you child might need cash in the next day or two to pay for a roof over their head, food to eat or a pair of shoes (as their current pair is literally full of holes).

Sending money online is definitely the way to go, but if you are still not convinced, consider these points:

It’s instant. Sending money online only takes a second. You can add a credit card to your account, or add funds by bank account. Then you can send it to your child’s ewallet account, and the money will be in their possession in a moment. They can withdraw the amount to their credit card or to their bank account, and pay for their needs, whatever they may be.

It’s free. Doesn’t cost you a penny to open an account and send money to someone else. This is a big perk as sending a bank wire can cost a lot. However, there may be a fee of the receiving end of this transaction, so make sure to include a little extra. If you want to know more about the fees, check the website of the ewallet platform you are using.

It’s secure. Many remittance platforms use SSL encryption and employ a security team that monitors transactions and online behaviour around-the-clock. You can rest assured that your personal and payment information, and that of your child’s are completely safe at all times.

It’s easy to do. Sending money online with a payment platform is simple, and requires little thinking. That is, if the platform is well-designed. You can figure out quite quickly if it is by how long it takes you to sign up. If you have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to sign up, you might want to keep looking until you find one that is easier to use.

It’s convenient. Sending money online with a payment platform can be done anywhere, anytime. You don’t have to go to the bank or any other place where bank wires are offered. You can send money to your child at home, in your office, in your car, in line at the grocery store, on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

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Costly Mistakes Your Credit Card Company Wants You to Make

Credit card mistakes are extremely common, regardless of whether they are due to carelessness, financial problems, or confusion. While the fallout to the borrower can be costly, there are a variety of mistakes in which your credit card company won’t actually mind you make. By failing to use your credit card responsibly, your credit card company can actually profit from your mistakes. Identifying these potential problems can help you to avoid them in the future.

Making Only the Minimum Payment

Making only the minimum payment on your debt is a mistake that is typically not a concern to most credit cards. To help your credit, it is important that you are paying at least the minimum payment, but doing so is not likely to get your debt paid off. Your interest rate will likely cause your debt to grow, and in some cases your outstanding balance will continue to grow despite consistently paying the minimum required amount.

New rules established by the Credit CARD Act of 2009 make it easier for you to determine how long it will take you to pay off your credit card debt by simply making the minimum payment. For example, if you have a credit card with a 14% interest rate and a balance of $5,000, only making the minimum payment of $100 will take you over 20 years to pay off the debt. You will also pay over $6,000 in interest. By simply increasing your monthly payment to $150, your debt could be paid off in as little as four years, and the amount of interest you pay will be less than $1,400. Checking your credit score after you repay this debt you will also be more likely to see a positive credit history than you would if you simply paid the minimum required payment.

Missing a Payment

Another one of the major credit card mistakes you can make that your lender won’t mind is to miss a payment. This error can be extremely profitable if the borrower catches back up and eventually corrects their mistake. Interest is incurred during this time, and the card issuer is also likely to issue a late fee which is usually around $30. Some credit card companies will also increase the interest rate on the cardholder’s account, and this can make any future balances more expensive to the borrower and more profitable for the lender.

You should also note that missing a payment is quite different from defaulting on your payment or refusing to pay. This type of delinquency is known as non-default. Most major credit card companies note that 2-10% of their borrowers are situated in that stage of delinquency. By utilizing credit monitoring services, you can keep up-to-date with how this mistake is affecting your credits core.

Ignoring Your Monthly Billing Statement

Whether your monthly billing statement is sent to you via mail or you access it online, it is important to ensure that you view it. Mistakes can happen, so it is important that your review your monthly statement to make sure that no charges have been placed on it in error. If unfamiliar charges suddenly appear on your bill, this can be a sign of identity theft, so it is important to contact your lender right away to report any discrepancies.

Lenders don’t mind when borrowers neglect to read their statements. Reading through your bill can help you to understand how long you will need to pay off your debt. Credit card companies, who are in the business of making money off of the interest you pay on your outstanding balances, aren’t concerned if you miss this step. The numbers outlined on your bill could provide you with a wakeup call to increase the amount you are paying each month in order to get your debt paid off.

Certain credit card mistakes can be costly to you as the borrower, but they can result in a profit for the lending company. By identifying these mistakes, you can work to avoid them when using your credit card in the future.

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