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Mobile devices are essential to our everyday lives. They allow us to access the internet, communicate with others, and store important documents in the cloud.  But mobile devices also collect data about their users and share that information with third parties. This can lead to privacy and even security issues if you’re not careful when developing your app. Android and iOS employ various security measures to protect user data. Yet, we spend increasing amounts of time using phones for personal and corporate purposes. It’s become even more crucial to strengthen mobile security measures further. In this article, we’ll discuss how to protect user data on both iOS and Android platforms, from first launch to enterprise. Mobile Devices, Data & Privacy Mobile devices constantly collect and share data, making personal privacy an issue. Mobile devices collect user information and location information, which can be shared with third parties for various purposes, including ad targeting. These third parties may use this data in ways you might not expect or approve of, such as selling it to other companies or using it for their own purposes without your knowledge.  The velocity at which data is changing hands keeps getting faster, and the winds of legislative change provide lessons for all companies on data responsibility. While some laws require companies to be transparent about collecting and using information on mobile devices (e.g., the GDPR), these laws don’t apply everywhere. They aren’t always applied the same across borders. As a product owner, ask yourself, “Is this necessary?” to help protect user data. Mobile devices are constantly collecting and sharing data, which can be used to track your location or share personal information. Data protection, security, and privacy are intertwined into the concept of data well-being. For your app to function properly, it may need access to sensitive information like the user’s location or contacts list. As such, the user must give explicit consent before any such data is accessed or shared. As an iOS developer (or any other type), you should always ask yourself: “Is this necessary?” If not—and if alternative methods are available—you should use those instead. Data is a precious resource—one of the most valuable assets to an organization that must be protected accordingly. With data sharing, less is more. Collecting only what you truly need will help protect your users’ privacy and security from potential hackers who might try stealing sensitive information from them through malware attacks on their mobile phone/tablet devices. Android & Apple: How They Handle Security Differently Ensuring the safety of our personal data and privacy is of utmost importance, and that’s where mobile security comes into play. When it comes to this, two of the biggest players in the market are Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. While iOS is renowned for its closed ecosystem and timely security updates, Android’s strength lies in its open nature. Let’s delve deeper into their respective security mechanisms and compare their attributes. Which is more secure—iOS or Android? In general, iOS is considered to be more secure than Android. This is due to several factors, including: Apple’s Closed Ecosystem: Apple has much more control over the hardware and software that goes into its devices, which makes it more difficult for hackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities. Apple’s Aggressive Security Patching: Apple quickly releases security patches for its devices, which helps keep users safe from known vulnerabilities. Android’s Fragmentation: The Android ecosystem is very fragmented, with many different manufacturers and carriers offering their own operating system versions. This makes it more difficult for Google to release security patches for all Android devices and gives hackers more targets to exploit. However, it is important to note that no operating system is 100% secure. There have been malware and hacking attacks on iOS and Android devices. Ultimately, the security of your device depends on both the operating system and the user’s behavior. Android and iOS devices employ various security measures to keep data safe. Both Android and iOS use strong encryption features to protect data. If a device is stolen, the data cannot be accessed without the encryption key. However, there are differences in encryption methods between the two platforms. Android employs device-specific keys that are unique to each device. This means there is no universal key for all Android devices. Google services like Gmail or Chrome may have separate keys associated with them. Both the device-specific key and the Google key are required to access data. In contrast, iOS uses a combination of device-specific keys and iCloud keys. Even if someone has a device, they still need the iCloud password to access the data. While both platforms have strong encryption features, encryption is not foolproof. It is essential to take additional security measures to keep data safe. Security Features on Android Devices By utilizing data encryption, data accessibility, and other security features, Android devices effectively safeguard data against unauthorized access: Data Encryption: Android’s encryption features have become increasingly sophisticated and robust. All Android devices are encrypted by default, and Android 12 introduces improvements such as enhanced file-based encryption, stronger encryption for sensitive data, and new security features for app developers. Data Accessibility: Android devices use a permission system to regulate app data access. Only apps with granted permissions can access specific data. App permissions can be managed in Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > App permissions. Malware: Google Play Protect scans apps for malware and other security threats and monitors devices for suspicious activity.  Two-Factor Authentication: Android two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to Android devices and accounts by requiring a code from users’ phones and their passwords when logging in. Android users can enable Android 2FA in Settings > Security > 2-step verification. Find My: Find My Device helps locate lost or stolen devices and allows data erasure, if necessary. Dedicated Storage: Trusty is a dedicated secure subsystem on Android devices that securely stores sensitive data like fingerprint and face scan data. This data is encrypted and can only be accessed by authorized apps with the correct credentials. Security Updates: Google regularly releases security updates for Android, addressing potential vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit. It is important to install these updates promptly. Furthermore, Google’s latest Android operating system introduces new default app security features. Since Android 7.0 Nougat (released in 2016) automatically encrypts all Android devices. The data on the device is protected by a strong encryption key accessible only with the device passcode, PIN, or pattern. Android 12, the latest version, introduces additional security features, including: Enhanced Encryption: Android 12 encrypts files with unique keys, making it harder for attackers to access data even with compromised device encryption keys. Stronger encryption algorithms protect sensitive data like biometric authentication and app credentials. New Security Features for App Developers: Android 12 provides new APIs for developers to implement secure encryption practices. Security Features on iOS Devices iOS devices use a variety of security features to keep your data safe, including: Data Encryption: Using a strong encryption algorithm, iOS devices encrypt all user data by default. This means that if someone were to steal your device or gain unauthorized access to the data, they would not be able to read it without the encryption key. Your device passcode, PIN, or pattern protects the encryption key. Data Accessibility: iOS devices use a permission system to control which apps can access data. This means that apps can only access data you have permitted. You can control app permissions using Settings > Privacy & Security > App Permissions. Malware: Apple does not have a built-in malware scanner for iOS. Instead, Apple relies on several other security features to protect iOS devices, such as: Sandbox: iOS uses a sandbox system to isolate apps from each other and the system. This prevents malicious apps from accessing other apps or system files. Code Signing: All apps on the App Store are code-signed by Apple. This means that Apple has verified the developer’s identity, and the app has not been tampered with. Automatic Security Updates: iOS devices automatically receive security updates from Apple. This helps to keep iOS devices up to date with the latest security patches. Two-Factor Authentication: 2FA is a security feature that adds an extra layer of protection to your account by requiring you to enter a code from your phone and your password when logging in. You can enable 2FA for your Apple ID by going to Settings > Your Name > Password & Security. Find My: Find My is a service that can help you to locate your lost or stolen device. It can also help you erase your device’s data if necessary. Dedicated Storage: Secure Enclave is a dedicated chip that securely stores sensitive data like fingerprint and face scan data. This encrypted data can only be accessed with the iOS user’s passcode, PIN, or pattern. Security Updates: Apple releases security updates for iOS regularly. These updates patch security vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. It is important to install security updates as soon as they are available. Furthermore, the latest iOS release, iOS 16, introduces several new security features and enhancements that help to protect users from a wide range of threats. Some of these features are, notably: Lockdown Mode: Lockdown Mode is a new mode that provides an extreme level of security for users who face targeted threats to their digital security. When Lockdown Mode is enabled, certain features and functionality are limited to help protect users from targeted attacks. For example, most messaging attachments other than images are blocked, and incoming FaceTime calls from unknown callers are prevented. Enhanced Privacy Controls: iOS 16 includes several new privacy controls, such as the ability to choose which apps are allowed to access your location and the ability to see which apps have accessed your clipboard in the past hour. Regarding apps and mobile devices, it’s clear that security is on everyone’s mind. With great convenience comes great responsibility. It’s important to approach security thoughtfully to navigate the digital landscape. Taking Security Further As a developer, you can go beyond what the OS offers by investing in security from the ground up. Taking the right precautions when developing mobile apps can help ensure user data is safe. The first step is to use a secure coding language and development environment. You can also implement specific security measures such as encryption, 2FA, and biometrics authentication. Securing Your First App The first step to ensuring your user data is safe is a secure coding language and development environment. There are many ways that hackers can get access to your app’s code, so it’s important that you use secure coding practices at every step of the process. If you are launching an app for the first time, the most important security things for you to know and implement are: Start with a security-first mindset. Keep security in mind throughout development, from design to implementation to testing. Don’t underestimate the importance of security testing. Hire a security professional to test your app before you release it. Be transparent with your users about how you are protecting their data. Publish a privacy policy and explain to your users how you are using their data. Be responsive to security vulnerabilities. If a security vulnerability is discovered in your app, fix it immediately and release a patch. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your first app is secure and that your users have a positive experience. For enterprise-level data protection, add an extra layer of control. In addition to the above measures, large enterprise apps may also need to consider the following: Implement two-factor authentication for all of your apps. 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your apps by requiring users to enter a code from their phone in addition to their password when logging in. Use biometrics to authenticate users. Biometrics, such as fingerprints and face scans, are a secure way to authenticate users. Use a threat modeling process to identify and mitigate security risks. Threat modeling is a process that helps you to identify and assess potential security threats to your app. Once you have identified the threats, you can implement mitigation strategies to reduce the risk. Implement role-based access control. Role-based access control (RBAC) is a system that controls which users have access to which resources in your app. This helps to prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data or performing unauthorized actions. Implement a zero-trust security model. A zero-trust security model assumes no user or device can be trusted by default. This approach can help protect your app from unauthorized access, even if an attacker can compromise a user’s account or device. In addition to the above measures, large enterprise apps may need to comply with various regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. These regulations often have specific security requirements that must be met. It is important to educate your employees about security best practices. Security awareness and training will help reduce the risk of human error, a major cause of security breaches. Treat security as a competitive advantage. Mobile app security has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes. With the increasing number of data breaches and cyberattacks targeting mobile apps, users are more discerning than ever about the apps they download and use. Businesses that take mobile app security seriously can gain a significant competitive advantage. Many users need to be made aware of the security features available in mobile apps. Businesses can gain a competitive advantage by highlighting their app’s security features in marketing materials and app store listings. You can also innovate using security to your advantage. Taking mobile app security seriously can increase customer trust, loyalty, and market share. Focus on Security: Case Study For example, security is paramount in the rapidly evolving real estate industry. Buyers, sellers, and agents must be confident that their personal and financial information is safe and secure. inHere understands this and has made mobile app security a top priority. Industry experts have recognized this focus on mobile app security. inHere was nominated as an honorable mention for the Fast Company Security category of the prestigious Innovation by Design Awards. inHere’s focus on mobile app security has helped the company to build a reputation as a trusted and innovative platform for real estate transactions. This reputation has given inHere a competitive advantage in the market. Mobile Device Security Affects Everyone If you take the right precautions when developing mobile apps, you can ensure user data is safe. Personal privacy has become a pressing issue with the advent of mobile devices. With so much data being collected and shared by these devices, developers must be aware of the security and privacy concerns of creating iOS or Android apps. By following best practices when developing your app and keeping up with current trends in mobile technology, you can ensure that users will have peace of mind when using your product.

App maintenance is not about fixing what’s broken. It’s about continuous improvement and staying relevant in a fiercely competitive market. Learn more about why you should prioritize app maintenance, what types of app maintenance you can expect, and best practices to keep your app in stellar shape. App maintenance is the propelling force that ensures your app remains at the pinnacle of performance, security, and user satisfaction—and, more importantly, continues building trust in the company’s brand and mission. Mobile app updates aren’t just necessary to keep your app at the top of your customer’s favorites list. In today’s dynamic digital landscape, app maintenance is not an option. It’s a necessity for sustaining long-term success. Regular and strategic updates help you achieve a range of success-ranking factors: Improved app store ranking. Reduced costs and increased ROI. Enhanced user experience and retention. Your app benefits from continued trust from a loyal customer base. The Benefits of Consistent Mobile App Maintenance Improved App Store Ranking Frequent updates signal app stores that your application is alive and well-maintained. This can positively impact your app’s ranking within the store, making it more discoverable to potential users. Both Apple and Google have not disclosed the exact details of their search ranking algorithms for app stores. However, it’s generally accepted that the following factors are considered in app store ranking calculations: Average rating. Rating and review volume. Download and install counts. Uninstalls. App usage statistics. Growth trends. Keyword density on the app’s landing page. For example, one statistic noted a median app rating of 4.7 among the top 100 free apps. Many of these factors, like ratings, can be improved with regular app maintenance. Cost Efficiency An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While app maintenance can be costly, it is far less expensive than the potential fallout from a severe failure or a damaging security breach. As Google noted, privacy or security is one of the top factors when deciding whether to install an app. Regular maintenance can prevent expensive incidents and save money in the long run. Return on Investment Apps don’t pay for themselves…although many business owners wish they did! A well-maintained app results in faster speed and happier users. Consequently, happy users return for more. This cycle increases the return on your app development investment in the long term. Enhanced User Experience Regular updates based on user feedback and industry trends help refine the app’s features and functionalities. Your app should regularly improve features or add new ones to keep your users interested, especially in a digital world where hundreds of other apps, websites, and media compete for their attention. Improved User Retention Have you ever downloaded an app, opened it once, and never again? How many unused apps are wasting away in cloud storage because you didn’t use them? Both instances are bad news for the future of your app. In fact, one report suggested that half of apps are unstalled within 30 days after download. A well-maintained app regularly introduces new features, keeps bugs at bay, and adapts to the changing environment. App updates assure users of your commitment to their needs, inevitably encouraging user retention. How To Approach Mobile App Updates Launching a mobile app is a massive lift for any team. Developing an app takes months of planning, writing, designing, coding, app testing and monitoring, and iterating. After your teams start to dream in code, the last thing you’ll want to do after your launch is to start it all over again. In reality, application maintenance should start right after launch if not happening concurrently. Technology moves quickly. Bad agents try to burst through the most secure firewalls. Human attention spans are shrinking, from 12.5 seconds 15 years ago to 9 seconds today. (If you were wondering, that’s the same attention span as a goldfish.) Once your app is live or even beforehand, it’s time to start planning for app updates and enhancements. Key Considerations: Frequency, Team, & Cost Ultimately, an app’s success or failure can depend on how well you manage its maintenance. Understandably, there are key considerations to keep in mind here. Here are some factors to consider. Frequency In terms of frequency, you’ll want to map out a plan. App maintenance frequency defines when you’ll conduct updates and adjustments as time passes. Consider: What objectives would you like to achieve with the specific frequency of maintenance on your application? Do you want your app to be consistently available for users? Will you include new features or improved functionality? Do you anticipate changes in technology that would cause issues with performance? Frequency can range from every week to once a quarter, depending on how your team answers these questions. Team When should you hire an app development partner? It’s a question that concerns the operations and bandwidth of your internal team, who may have the desire but not the time. Trusting a well-suited, experienced partner helps you stay ahead of user demands and new technology. Your ultimate goal with a capable partner is to develop features that add value users love, and they can bring new perspectives to your app maintenance. Budget It’s best to build application performance optimization costs before your initial launch. This initial planning helps prevent unforeseen expenses, ensuring smooth operation and continuous updates. Other Best Practices for App Updates In addition to budget allocation and preemptive measures, your team should follow various other best practices to ensure effective and comprehensive app maintenance. These practices uniquely enhance your app’s functionality, stability, and user experience. Be Responsive to User Feedback Users are the lifeblood of any application. Their feedback helps identify areas for improvement and potential new features. It’s vital to be responsive to their input, as their satisfaction directly impacts your app’s success. Eliminate Bugs ASAP Bugs can undermine an app’s reliability and user experience, leading to negative reviews and decreased user retention. Addressing bugs as soon as they arise can maintain the integrity of your app and keep users satisfied. Keep Tabs on Key Performance Metrics Monitoring essential performance metrics such as load time, crash rate, session length, etc., enables you to assess your app’s functioning and identify issues that need immediate attention. Leverage New OS & Device Updates to Your Advantage Each new operating system (OS) update or device launch presents opportunities to enhance your app. By staying abreast of these updates, you can leverage them to improve your app’s performance and user experience. Add Features & Refresh Content Regularly Regularly updating your app with new features and content keeps users engaged and encourages repeat usage. It demonstrates your commitment to meeting user expectations and evolving with the market. Keep the Design Fresh Users appreciate an app that looks and feels modern. Regularly refreshing your app’s design can enhance its appeal, improve user experience, and reflect your brand’s evolution. Market Your Update Announce your updates through marketing channels to highlight new features or improvements. Effective marketing can increase user engagement and attract new users to your app. Sustaining Success: Why App Maintenance is Crucial for Long-Term Digital Product Management In today’s dynamic digital landscape, app maintenance is not an option but a necessity for sustaining long-term success. It is the propelling force that ensures your app remains at the pinnacle of performance, security, and user satisfaction. To help extend your team further and get the most out of your app maintenance efforts, we can assist in facilitating app maintenance work as a full-stack development team in conjunction with your organization. With our expertise at your fingertips, you can rest assured your product has all the necessary steps to maximize your mobile application’s value. Be sure to look at our development work to see how we’ve helped hundreds of other businesses make the most of their mobile app.