Mobile Application Testing.

Mobile applications, or apps, are increasingly a part of everyday life. Often, apps are fundamental to business operations, and this is becoming the norm. App security is vital, and mobile application testing is something that all companies should partake. Mobile application testing is essentially a penetration test for your mobile app.

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Mobile apps play a huge part in our everyday life. Often, apps are fundamental to business operations, so app security is vital, and mobile application testing is something that all companies should partake. Mobile application testing is essentially a penetration test for your mobile app.

A security breach through a mobile app can devastate a company with bad publicity and the loss of their positive brand reputation. Companies can also suffer financial implications, including fines for non-compliance with UK regulations.

With mobile applications processing massive amounts of sensitive data, they have become an ideal target for cybercriminals, who are extremely aggressive in this space.

Mobile application testing will protect apps and devices against cyber-attacks and the rapidly increasing amount of malware. Operating systems like iOS and Android all fall within the scope of security testing.

A valid test looks for data leaks, authorisation errors, authentication errors, and improper session handling. Testing can also include a review of your company’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy.

Mobile application security risks

There are different types of cyber-attacks that mobile apps can be vulnerable to:

Financial fraud

this includes tampering with payment modules and capturing user logins during input

Mobile malware

can be used to steal smartphone credentials

Credential harvesting

can change authentication mechanisms to acquire user credentials

Circumventing security mechanisms

to disable, change, or remove security mechanisms

Man-in-the-middle attacks (MiTM)

intercept your or your client’s data as it moves from the app to the server

The results of in-app tampering can lead to criminals acquiring company keys and secrets, compromising mobile devices, app cloning or repackaging, and IP theft.

Mobile app cyber threat testing

Mobile app testing is the offensive action to take to prevent data from being compromised or stolen. It also prevents cybercriminals from penetrating wider parts of your network.

If your company is developing an app, then security tests should take place during app development, from initial inception through to beta testing.

Mobile app testing should also be conducted when third-party developers are creating an app for your company.

Testing covers:.

Native applications

these are apps created specifically for mobile devices running on Android, iOS, and other operating systems

Web and hybrid applications

these appear like native apps but work through a web browser and are written in HTML5, CSS, or JavaScripto.

In addition to regular app testing, your business should avoid apps that are distributed by third-party app stores and be careful not to rush apps to the market.

Testing methodology

The mobile app testing process begins with gathering information on the app’s design and architecture, including frameworks, platform mapping, and languages. The testing then simulates client-side, server-side, network-side, and Layer 7 attacks.

The comprehensive testing process will consider the scope of your company, the mobile app or apps to be tested, and the desired outcome. You will be provided with a proposal for the work and of any preparation required.

Evaluation and security testing takes place and is used to create a report of test findings. The report will also highlight remedial actions, and afterwards, a retest can be conducted.

Testing searches for:

  • Insecure data storage
  • Unintended data leakage
  • Poor server-side controls
  • Broken cryptography
  • Weak authentication and authorisation
  • Inadequate transport layer protection
  • Client-side injection
  • Improper session handling
  • API vulnerabilities
  • Poor binary protections
  • Security decision from untrusted inputs

The security company you work with should be CREST accredited and capable of highlighting vulnerabilities and offering critical remedial advice. OmniCyber works with companies using few or many apps and those testing their first apps through to those that have tested hundreds. Testing is tailored to your organisation, considering your goals and priorities. Contact OmniCyber to talk to one of our experts about your needs.

Why Omni

We use industry certified techniques and tools to help clients rapidly identify and rectify security gaps everywhere their people, products and customers interact with technology.

Some of the biggest brand globally trust our highly qualified and experienced team to ensure their systems and infrastructure are secure and compliant. 

Whilst our teams can be relied upon to provide excellence in a single engagement, Omni excel at helping our clients mitigate the risks of their changing threat landscape for the long term, through a bespoke delivery of compliance and security services.

PEN TESTING

Find out where you are vulnerable, before hackers do

Sometimes offence is the best defence against cyber criminals. That’s why we provide a detailed mix of IT security services like CREST certified penetration testing, social engineering, web application testing and more. We search for the security gaps and give you the streamlined recommendations you need to fill them fast.

MANAGED SECURITY

Prevention is the best medicine

The average cost of a data breach in 2019 came at the bargain price of US$3.92 million. Large enterprises have the resources to absorb a hit like this, but most businesses don’t. This is where Managed Security comes in. As your embedded cybersecurity team, we provide network monitoring and advanced threat detection to minimise your risk of business disruption.

COMPLIANCE

Safeguard data, protect your customers and yourself

Do you get butterflies when you hear the words GDPR, PCI DSS, IASME, PIPEDA, CCPA? Getting Compliance right is a big deal and gets more complicated day-by-day. We can help. Our Compliance team has all the knowledge and tools you need to integrate best practices for data privacy across your entire organization and keep you resilient in face of a data breach.