Android has over 70% of the OS market share worldwide, making it a huge target for malicious actors. To counter the ever-increasing number of cyber threats, Java developers have to take a multipronged approach to application security. DashO protects Java and Android apps against reverse engineering with one solution. If you haven’t tried DashO yet, here are the top 10 reasons you should:
DashO obfuscates code more thoroughly than other methods by using strong renaming techniques. These techniques change the names of classes, methods, and variables in the source code to meaningless, unprintable, or extremely complex characters, making the code difficult to read and understand.
DashO’s strong renaming also destroys the semantic relationships between names, so attackers can’t use them to infer functionality or discover hidden vulnerabilities. It uses the same name for different methods or variables — a method called overloading. Overloading increases confusion by making different functions or variables look the same, so prying eyes can’t use relationships to reverse engineer code.
Control flow obfuscation changes how a program is executed without changing its end behavior or output. DashO restructures the code’s flow of control so that it’s more complex and less intuitive. This layer of obfuscation protects the code against reverse engineering by hiding how different parts of the program interact and execute. DashO can obfuscate control flow by adding redundant code, reordering blocks, inserting redundant conditional statements, and breaking up straightforward sequences into multiple, disjointed paths.
Even the most secure codebase contains strings of sensitive information, such as APIs, passwords, and database connection details. DashO uses string encryption to convert these readable strings into a format neither humans nor automated tools can understand. String encryption protects code from reverse engineering and runtime inspection.
During the build or compile time, specific strings in the source code are encrypted using a cryptographic algorithm such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) or DES (Data Encryption Standard). DashO runs a decryption routine that decrypts the encrypted strings back into their original form at runtime. The strings are only decrypted when they’re needed, so they’re less exposed.
One of DashO’s biggest benefits is its OS-specific protections. DashO uses a specialized technique to protect an Android application’s resources from unauthorized access and tampering. When the development team builds the app, it encrypts resources such as images, XML files, and multimedia files using a cryptographic algorithm.
The encrypted resources are packaged within the application, including a decryption mechanism. They are decrypted at runtime, just before they are needed. Using this technique, DashO keeps resources encrypted in the app’s APK file, making it harder for attackers to extract or tamper with them.
DashO’s tamper detection identifies and responds to unauthorized modifications or tampering attempts, including changes to the application’s code, resources, or runtime environment that could compromise it. During the build process, DashO includes checks that compare the application’s current state or its environment against a known good state. A discrepancy can indicate potential tampering.
These tamper checks — such as checksums, digital signatures, and runtime checks — are integrated into the application’s runtime. The app continually monitors for signs of tampering while it is running.
When tampering is detected, DashO allows developers to set custom responses that are tailored to how severe the threat is. Reactions might include shutting down the application or alerting the user.
Android Root Detection and Android Emulator Detection are two more examples of DashO’s specialization. These features protect Android apps from security risks associated with rooted devices and emulators. They detect when an application is running in an environment that’s likely to be used for malicious purposes such as debugging, tampering, or bypassing application security mechanisms.
DashO protects intellectual property through multiple obfuscation and encryption methods. In addition, it can integrate licensing checks into the application so that only authorized users can use the software. This helps prevent piracy and keeps unauthorized people from using proprietary software beyond its intended licensing agreements. In many industries and use cases, developers have to comply with strict regulations regarding data and intellectual property protection. DashO helps businesses comply with these regulations so they can avoid legal consequences.
When third-party software intercepts or alters the execution of an application’s functions, it’s called code hooking. It can be exploited for malicious activities, such as bypassing security checks or modifying application behavior.
DashO’s runtime checks can detect hooking frameworks or abnormal modifications to the application’s method calls. It verifies the integrity of method pointers and monitors for unexpected changes in control flow. These anomalies in the application’s runtime environment suggest hooking activity.
When a hooking attempt is detected, DashO allows developers to define specific actions to be taken in response. They can choose to log the incident for later review or take more drastic measures, such as terminating the application or disabling certain functionalities.
Staying on top of the massive codebases associated with most enterprise-level applications can be cumbersome and never-ending. DashO’s incremental obfuscation makes this job easier and more efficient in environments where continuous integration and frequent updates are common.
With incremental obfuscation, developers only need to obfuscate the parts of the application that have changed since the last build rather than re-obfuscating the entire application with every modification. Taking a targeted approach to obfuscation significantly reduces build times without sacrificing security.
The cybersecurity regulatory landscape is changing and expanding rapidly. While the US doesn’t have an overarching regulation equivalent to the EU’s GDPR, the splintered nature of its regulations makes compliance even more challenging.
DashO is a proactive defense that can be configured to support compliance auditing by logging security events such as tampering, debugging, or other unauthorized activities. These capabilities can help you comply with many types of requirements.
DashO offers multiple layers of security with professional-grade protection. It makes it harder for hackers to reverse engineer your code and protect your intellectual property and data. If you need more reasons to try DashO, reach out for a free trial today.