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Mobile application penetration testing tools

Why Mobile Application Penetration Testing is Crucial for Your Business
mobile app security, Penetration Testing

Why Mobile Application Penetration Testing is Crucial for Your Business

Mobile application penetration testing helps businesses find and fix security flaws that hackers could exploit for their gain. Did you know, that in December 2022 alone, the number of global mobile app cyberattacks was approx. 2.2 million? This number keeps fluctuating, but millions of cyberattacks on mobile apps continue to happen regularly. With technological advancement, attackers are developing new techniques to hack a mobile app and steal valuable information. This is why mobile application penetration testing and cybersecurity are now a must for all things digital, especially for mobile apps, since they store sensitive user data and often handle transactions. This blog is going to discuss mobile app penetration testing, what it is, and how it is the secret weapon to keep the apps safe from cyber threats. What is Mobile Application Penetration Testing? Penetration Testing in Mobile Applications is conducted to analyze the security of mobile apps and their resilience against cyberattacks. The Google Play and Apple Store combined have nearly 6 million apps. To protect these apps from getting hacked, app manufacturers need regular security testing, in this case, penetration testing. In pen tests, the testers, also referred to as “ethical hackers” simulate real-world attacks on the mobile app to identify security vulnerabilities. They even suggest methods to fix the found vulnerabilities. They examine the app’s code, network communications, and server interactions to identify weak points. Penetration testers use various tools and techniques to break into the app just like a hacker would and conduct the tests. They check for security issues like code, network communications, and server interactions to identify weak points. The main goal of mobile app penetration testing is to ensure the app is secure and to protect user data from breaches. Key Benefits of Mobile Application Penetration Testing Penetration testing not only enhances the security of the apps but also indirectly increases revenue. There are plenty of benefits to conducting mobile application security testing, such as: 1. Identify Vulnerabilities Early Penetration testing helps detect security flaws in mobile apps, such as coding errors, insecure data storage, and weak authentication mechanisms. This allows developers to address these specific issues before hackers exploit them. 2. Enhance App Security By simulating real-world attacks, mobile penetration testing reveals the app’s security weaknesses. Developers can then implement the necessary security measures, making the app strong enough to prevent real hacking attempts. 3. Protect User Data Mobile apps usually store sensitive user information like personal details, credit card info, and login credentials. mobile application penetration testing services help keep this data secure and ensure it is protected from unauthorized access and breaches. 4. Compliance With Regulations Many industries, such as healthcare and finance require apps to comply with strict data protection standards. Penetration testing ensures the app meets regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Explore more about compliance here!  5. Improve User Trust Users are more likely to trust apps that offer security. with regular mobile app penetration testing and addressing vulnerabilities, app manufacturers can assure users that their data is safe. As a result, it enhances user trust and retention. 6. Reduce Cost By identifying and remediating security issues early through mobile application security testing, you can prevent costly data breaches. Additionally, you can minimize potential financial and reputational damage, and save money in the long run. OS-Specific Mobile Application Penetration Testing There are basically two main operating systems (OS) that rule the mobile app industry i.e. Android and iOS. Each has its own specific set of security rules and requires niche testing. Android Penetration Testing iOS Penetration Testing How to do Security Testing for Mobile Applications? Mobile application security testing or penetration testing is usually done by third-party service providers with expert “ethical hackers”. It is usually conducted in eight critical steps, such as: Would you like to see a real mobile app pen test report? Click on the link below and download it immediately.   Latest Penetration Testing Report Download Challenges in Mobile Apps Penetration Testing Due to the increasing number of mobile-OS-browser combinations, there are several challenges for testers to be on top of their game. Some common mobile application penetration testing challenges include: 1. Device Fragmentation Different mobile devices have different screen sizes, OS, and hardware configurations. This diversity makes it challenging to ensure that the app runs securely across all possible devices and requires extensive testing on multiple platforms. 2. Updated Device Models Every other year a new model of a mobile device is released, each with updated software and hardware features. As penetration testers, it is challenging to keep up with these updates and also adapt their testing strategies to potential new vulnerabilities. Vulnerability Assessment plays an important role in identifying and addressing these evolving threats. 3. Testing Mobile App on Staging Staging environments are usually different from production environments, leading to multiple security issues. It can be challenging to ensure that the app behaves equally in both environments. Also, the vulnerabilities found in the staging might not relate to real-world conditions accurately. 4. Mobile Network Bandwidth Issues Mobile apps operate on various networks, such as 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi. It is crucial to test the apps under different bandwidth conditions to identify network-related vulnerabilities. Additionally, it can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. 5. Real User Condition Testing Simulating real user conditions, such as different network speeds, battery levels, and background app activity is very challenging. However, it is also important to accurately replicate these conditions during testing to uncover vulnerabilities that users might encounter in their daily use. 6. Different Types of Applications Mobile apps come in various types, such as native apps, web apps, and hybrid apps. Each type has unique security challenges and requires different testing methodologies. Penetration testers must be experts in testing the security of all these applications to ensure total coverage. 7. Geolocation App Scenarios Apps that use geolocation features, such as Google Maps, need to be tested for scenarios that involve data manipulation and spoofing. It is challenging to ensure the app’s security against these threats as simulating different geolocation scenarios is a time-consuming and tedious task. Tools for Mobile Application Penetration Testing Mobile application penetration testing is a combination of automated tools

A Deep Dive into Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Mobile App Pentesting

A Deep Dive into Mobile Application Penetration Testing – Reviewed

Mobile applications and services are critical components of our daily life, both at home and at work. As a result, they are attractive targets for hostile actors looking for sensitive information. Cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022 compared to the previous year, while the number of new mobile malware types increased by 54% in 2019. A test report indicates that 84% of applications could not determine if their source code had been tainted with malicious code, leaving them open to a wide range of assaults. Only 15.7% of programs had any type of repackaging detection in place, making them the exception rather than the rule. With these, we know how vulnerable a mobile can be to cyberattacks, and how it can impact the privacy of individuals. In this blog, we will dive into the dept of mobile application penetration testing as it secures the application with robust techniques. Keep reading and learning! What is Mobile Application Penetration Testing? Penetration testing for mobile applications is used to identify security flaws in mobile applications to defend them from attack. The Apple App Store and Google Play both have approximately 6 million mobile apps. Organizations require tested mobile security across all app components. Decades of experience, exceptional customer service, flexible scheduling, and lightning-fast return time are all prerequisites for successful mobile app pen testing. These important components enable a threat-based approach, extensive testing with numerous analysis kinds, and support in resolving and validating any issues uncovered. What are the Perks of Performing Pen Testing for Mobile Applications? Mobile app security testing is an ongoing activity that benefits both the app development company and the app user. We’ll look at the top benefits of mobile security testing here: 1. Avoid Future Assaults Running your app through a simulated assault is the greatest approach to assess its security strength. With an expert-level pen test, you can foresee potential future scenarios and prevent risks, as well as discover and fix code problems before hackers exploit them. Conducting frequent mobile pen testing will aid in the long-term safety and longevity of your app. 2. Prevent Monetary Loss A data breach may cause considerable financial harm to a company in a variety of ways. If hackers get your personal information, they may demand payment in the form of ransomware. This may be prevented if the mobile app is subject to vulnerability and penetration testing before release. As a result, investing in security is better than falling victim to hackers or attacks. 3. Increased ROI on IT investments It is critical first to protect the asset to ensure data security. Mobile app pen testing searches and addresses underlying dangers in the asset. With timely vulnerability assessments, an organization may prioritize which vulnerabilities to target first depending on the damage they might do to a system. This may also assist a company in gaining new clients and consumers. What Should You Test in a Mobile Application? Below are the things a penetration testing company checks to secure a mobile application: 1. Authorization and Authentication: Examine the techniques for authenticating users, such as password security, biometrics, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Verify that users can only access the areas of the app that they are permitted to by testing role-based access control. Investigate how sessions are maintained and secured, searching for flaws such as session fixation, hijacking, and timeout difficulties. 2. Data Protection: Examine how sensitive data is stored on the device and communicated to backend systems. Avoid, insecure data storage, such as plaintext storage or inadequate encryption. Look for input validation flaws that might lead to data injection attacks such as SQL injection or remote code execution. Examine the program to ensure that it does not mistakenly reveal sensitive information to unauthorized users via logs, error messages, or other unintended routes. 3. Communication and Networking: Use proper encryption methods (e.g., TLS/SSL) to ensure that data is delivered securely between the mobile app and the server. Examine APIs for common web vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and unsecured API endpoints. Examine your network for potential network-based attacks such as DNS spoofing, network spy, and unsecured Wi-Fi connections. How Does QualySec Technologies Perform Mobile Application Penetration Testing? Pre-Assessment The testing team specifies the scope and objectives of the penetration test during the pre-assessment phase. They collaborate with the app’s owner or developer to understand the app’s goals, functions, and possible dangers. This step involves preparation and logistics, such as defining the testing environment, establishing rules of engagement, and getting any necessary approvals and credentials to execute the test. Information Gathering The testing company advocates taking a simplified method to begin the mobile app penetration testing procedure. Begin by using the supplied link to submit an inquiry, which will put you in touch with knowledgeable cybersecurity specialists. They will walk you through the process of completing a pre-assessment questionnaire, which covers both technical and non-technical elements of your desired mobile application. Testers arrange a virtual presentation meeting to explain the evaluation approach, tools, timing, and expected expenses. Following that, they set up the signing of a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) and service agreement to ensure strict data protection. Once all necessary information has been gathered, the penetration testing will begin, ensuring the security of your mobile app. Penetration Testing The testing team actively seeks to attack vulnerabilities and security flaws in the mobile app during the penetration testing process. This phase consists of a series of simulated assaults and evaluations to detect flaws. Testers can rate the app’s authentication procedures, data storage, data transport, session management, and connection with external services. Source code analysis, dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, manual testing, and automation testing are all common penetration testing methodologies a tester uses. Analysis Each finding’s severity is assessed individually, and those with higher ratings have a greater technical and commercial effect with fewer dependencies. 1. Likelihood Determination:  The assessment team rates the likelihood of exploitation for each vulnerability based on the following factors: The prospective danger source’s motive and capabilities

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Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

COO & Cybersecurity Expert

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Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

COO & Cybersecurity Expert