Mobile apps give you on-the-go access to banking services, email, the internet, games, and more. They’re a must-have for any smartphone owner. However, they’re also attractive targets for hackers seeking to steal sensitive information and intellectual property (IP), and to spy on users.
To protect businesses and consumers from mobile app hacks, some developers incorporate app shielding. This security method employs a combination of techniques to prevent cybercriminals from unauthorized access to apps. Organizations that develop mobile apps can use app shielding as part of their cybersecurity strategy.
App shielding is a cybersecurity defense that protects mobile apps from specific threats, including data theft, reverse engineering, and code tampering. It’s commonly used in apps with unique IP or that require heavy data protection, such as banking apps and healthcare portals.
Unlike other cybersecurity methods that focus solely on app defense, app shielding actively prevents apps from being compromised. It achieves this by employing static and dynamic protection mechanisms, including code obfuscation, encryption, and runtime application self-protection (RASP).
Several cybersecurity methods are used to protect mobile apps from attacks, including in-app protection, application hardening, and app shielding. Each method accomplishes the same goal (securing code), but they use slightly different techniques. Here’s a quick look at how they differ.
| In-App Protection | Application Hardening | App Shielding | |
| Defends Against | • Tampering • Reverse engineering • Malware injection • Unauthorized access | • Tampering • Reverse engineering • Unauthorized access | • Tampering • Reverse engineering • Malware injection • Unauthorized access |
| Security Techniques | • Obfuscation • Anti-debugging • Root detection • Tamper detection | • Vulnerability assessments • Access controls • Patch management | • Obfuscation • Cryptographic checks • Anti-tampering measures • Runtime integrity checks |
In-app protection uses built-in security tools to deter specific threats. Methods like code obfuscation make it challenging for would-be hackers to read or understand an app’s code, while root detection alerts app developers when someone bypasses their security protocols.
Application hardening uses a range of techniques to safeguard an app’s code and protect against unauthorized intrusions.
App shielding is the most comprehensive strategy for protecting apps. It incorporates multiple techniques to prevent unauthorized intrusions, secure customer data, and deter code injections and tampering.
App shielding protects organizations and app users from cybersecurity threats. When implemented correctly, it reassures users that an app is safe to use. App shielding can also help mobile app developers comply with cybersecurity regulations, such as NIS2 and DORA.
App shielding defends apps against specific cyber threats, including:
App shielding is a DevSecOps strategy where defenses are built into an app from the very beginning of the development process. Instead of operating as a separate parameter, app shielding becomes a part of the app itself.
Some users may jailbreak or root their devices before downloading an app, increasing the risk of malware. App shielding insulates the app from malware that may lurk elsewhere on the device without interrupting app usage.
App shielding goes beyond perimeter safeguards to protect the app from multilayer dangers, including code injection and overlay attacks. It shields the app from threats generated using emulators, debuggers, and similar tools.
Some apps, especially those used in healthcare, banking, and e-commerce, are subject to strict regulations. These laws require apps to integrate security features to protect user data. App shielding techniques can help organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements.
Many apps handle critical user data, including credit card details and personal identifiers. Such data is attractive to hackers who may use it for fraudulent purposes. If they get access to it in a successful breach, the impact can be devastating for customers and businesses.
App shielding uses encryption to encode sensitive data and prevent its unauthorized dissemination. It also provides a secure communication channel for data transfer. This helps safeguard data and protect business assets.
Customers are wary of sharing their personal information with unknown entities. An app with a reputation for weak security practices will likely see less engagement than one with a strong reputation for security. By integrating app shielding, developers can inspire trust among app users.
App shielding uses structural and dynamic protection mechanisms. Structural defenses protect the app at the code level, while dynamic protection provides real-time security safeguards when the app is in use.
Structural, or static, protection is a code-level integration used to defend apps. Techniques commonly deployed include:
Structural protection excels in guarding against reverse engineering and data theft attempts. It makes the app less attractive to hackers looking for easy targets.
Dynamic protection utilizes real-time security features to safeguard active applications from attacks. It’s highly effective against tampering and code injection threats. Some of the techniques used in dynamic protection include:
Combining structural and dynamic protections in app shielding offers robust protection against common security threats. It’s a complete security solution for app developers and organizations.
App shielding isn’t a single security protection. It comprises multiple security strategies that work in tandem to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities.
Hackers may try to access an app’s codebase to steal its IP or leverage its weaknesses. Code obfuscation makes it harder to do so by rendering the codebase unreadable. Techniques used in code obfuscation include:
Code obfuscation slows down hackers by making code and data unintelligible to read. However, it’s not a complete solution. To provide comprehensive protection, developers integrate additional techniques.
Hackers may attempt to steal or misuse the data stored in an app. Whitebox cryptography prevents this from happening by hiding the app’s stored encryption keys. It creates a special cryptographic architecture to mask algorithms and unique app data. Even if the original app’s algorithms are readily available, a hacker may still be unable to locate encryption keys due to whitebox cryptography.
Hackers may attempt to modify an app’s code to steal data or compromise its functionality. Anti-tampering tools prevent this from happening. These tools detect and block attempts to change apps. A few anti-tampering measures include:
Anti-tampering techniques are challenging to bypass, making them an effective deterrent against hackers.
Structural techniques protect apps at the code level, but RASP elevates protection while the apps are running. It scans the app for odd behavior that could indicate a potential attack and responds in real time. For example, if a hacker attempts to inject false code into the app, RASP can intercept the attack and block it.
RASP is particularly useful for mobile apps and software running in cloud environments. It successfully thwarts real-time attacks, so hackers can’t exploit vulnerabilities.
Encryption converts sensitive data into unreadable text so that it can’t be interpreted by unauthorized parties. To view encrypted data, a party must have access to the app’s decryption key.
Integrity checking is similar to checksum verification. It stores a secret value in the app’s algorithm, which is calculated when the app opens. The value acts as the app’s signature. If any changes are made to the code (even simple ones, such as changing a single character), the secret value and the calculated value won’t match, which signals potential app tampering.
If an integrity check fails, app administrators receive an alert, and the app may be disabled.
Runtime protection scans for suspicious activity when an app is running. It detects abnormal behaviors that may put the app and its user data at risk. Runtime protection can prevent app tampering and alterations.
App shielding uses secure protocols, such as HTTPS, to ensure data access and transmission are secure. The HTTPS protocol encrypts data transferred between a client and a server, reducing the risk of unauthorized interception.
Apps may include environment checks that survey the platform and the device on which they run. These environment checks can determine whether a device is rooted or jailbroken, and then apply appropriate security protocols.
In practice, app shielding techniques work together to safeguard apps from intrusion. Here’s a look at how organizations integrate them.
Payment apps rely on white-box cryptography to secure encryption keys during a financial transaction. Even if a hacker has access to the app’s underlying code, they would find it challenging to remove the encryption key and steal the user’s payment details.
Streaming service apps use anti-tampering techniques to prevent hackers from copying or downloading content. The anti-tampering tools detect when a user attempts to modify the app to bypass its security controls.
Health-oriented apps use code obfuscation to render their codebases unreadable to potential hackers. Anyone who tries to reverse engineer the app would find a soupy mess that is nearly impossible to decipher. Code obfuscation can help organizations adhere to data security and compliance regulations.
PreEmptive is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for mobile apps. Our advanced tools prevent hackers from accessing sensitive user data and intellectual property. They also help you comply with requirements and build trust with your user base.
We offer a range of tools designed to deter threats, including:
Over 5,000 organizations worldwide trust PreEmptive for mobile app security across industries such as finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and government. Protect your sensitive data from hackers. Sign up for a free trial today, and see how easy it is to integrate app shielding into your development process.