To reduce an application’s security concerns, developers must ensure their mobile applications can withstand rigorous security testing. It applies to programs that work on tablets and mobile devices alike. It entails evaluating programs for security flaws in the settings of the platforms they intend to operate on, the development frameworks they utilize, and the anticipated user base (e.g., employees vs. end users). Many companies rely on mobile apps to engage with people, and mobile apps are an essential component of a business’s online presence. Here, we will look at what is Security Mobile application testing and how it is performed.
What Is Security Testing for Mobile Applications?
The technique of examining a mobile application for potential vulnerabilities using hacker-style testing is known as mobile application security testing.
There are two ways to evaluate the security of mobile applications. One at the beginning of the development process, one while it continues, and a second at the finish, an application is in its final build.
Mobile applications for various platforms, including iOS and Android, are subjected to security assessment. To be well-prepared for iOS or Android application security testing, one might utilize or create a mobile application security testing checklist.
Categories of Mobile Apps
Generally speaking, there are three categories of mobile apps:
Web Apps
These HTML-built applications function similarly to regular web applications and are accessible from a mobile device.
Native apps
These programs got created natively for the device utilizing the characteristics of the OS and can only be used with that OS.
Hybrid apps
These utilize both web and native features to their most potential while yet having a native appearance and feel.
Types of Security Tests
We will look at a few different kinds of mobile app security checks in this section:
Vulnerability assessment
This technique searches the ecosystem of an app for vulnerable points that might be exploited during an attack using automated tools. Software dependencies are a common place where known vulnerabilities get searched for by vulnerability scanners.
By comparing an app’s vulnerabilities to a database of widely used vulnerabilities and associated traits, vulnerability scanning can also identify easily overlooked flaws in the program. When a match is found, the quality assurance (QA) team or developers get notified.
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing imitates assaults to evaluate an app’s security and spot flaws. The difference between this and vulnerability scanning is that human input, in this example, from an ethical hacker is used. Access an app and see where attackers may profit and employ various approaches.
The risks found by penetration testing are actual, as opposed to vulnerability screening, which might produce false positives. Usually, the information from these tests might give further specifics regarding where the gap is.
Risk assessment
To determine each risk in the event of a cyber attack, risk assessment entails cataloging all elements and users in an app’s ecosystem. It aids in enforcing controls on specific company assets, such as if a member of the IT staff decides to assist in or launch an assault.
Posture assessment
A posture assessment determines the security level of an app at the moment, helping the developers pinpoint areas that need to be improved. It can provide information on what data might be compromised during an attack, how it would affect operations, how long it will take to recover, and what safeguards to put in place.
Steps for Testing Mobile Application Security
Note: You can use playwright unit test for building a framework
Mobile application testing services are essential to identifying and addressing flaws in mobile apps. The following are the processes for testing the security of mobile applications:
Scope of Testing:
Define the testing’s parameters, consider the kind of mobile app, the platform it will run on, the types of security threats it faces, and any legal or regulatory criteria that must be satisfied.
Set up the testing environment:
Create a testing environment including the mobile devices, operating systems, network settings, and other relevant tools and applications.
Perform a threat modeling exercise:
A method for determining and assessing the possible security hazards to the mobile application is threat modeling. It aids in locating the application’s possible attack surfaces, entry points, and other security flaws.
Conducting a vulnerability assessment:
The mobile application is scanned during a vulnerability assessment to find any known security flaws. Several automated technologies made expressly for mobile application security testing may get used to do this.
Perform penetration testing:
A simulated assault on the mobile application is used in penetration testing to find vulnerabilities that might not be detected in a vulnerability assessment. This manual testing must get carried out by a qualified tester who can replicate various mobile application threats.
Analyze the results:
After the test has got finished, it is crucial to evaluate and understand the results. It is essential to assess the discovered vulnerabilities and establish their severity and effect to prioritize them for remedy.
Fix the vulnerabilities:
As a result of the testing, the vulnerabilities in the mobile application need to be fixed. It can require configuring the network, upgrading the software, or making changes to the mobile device’s settings.
Re-test the application:
The mobile application should get re-tested once the vulnerabilities have been patched to ensure they have been addressed and that the application is safe.
Compile the results:
A report should include the testing results, the vulnerabilities discovered, their seriousness, the remedial steps taken, and any recommendations for future security testing.