How does code tampering affect app security?
As a business owner, if you are planning to launch an app or you already have an app, it is highly likely that your topmost concern must be ensuring that your app is secure to use. After all, users are unlikely to download an app that is not secure. The safety of sensitive user information, as well as your company’s image, relies quite heavily on your app. Your app acts as an extension of your brand. If you cannot provide a secure user experience then users are unlikely to engage with your company at all. However, many companies make the mistake of treating the security of their app as an afterthought. Mobile app security should be your topmost priority.
The Risks of Code Tampering
Even during the developmental stages of
your app, you should take into account the security risks that may arise once
you’ve launched the app. The OWASP
mobile top 10 is a document of app security risks curated by experts around
the globe. It also talks about how to handle each of these security risks. This
document is freely available online and helps developers in ensuring that their
apps are secure.
Ranked eighth in the list of app security risks, code tampering is one of the most preferred
forms of manipulation by attackers. Code tampering allows attackers to gain
unlimited access to the application. It becomes easier to access the behavior
of the user and even the entire device. The easiest way to do this is to
encourage users to download a tampered version of a popular app through any
third-party store. This is usually done through misleading advertisements and
phishing attacks. The following are some code tampering risks you should be
aware of:
Malware Infusion
Once a user has been convinced to
download an app that has been tampered with and they’ve installed this app with
a modified core binary or altered resource package adversaries can gain access
to their information. Such tampered applications make it possible for hackers
to change entire APIs of the system. They can then execute malicious foreign
code in the device. Attackers then modify the resident code of the user’s
mobile device, or modify the memory. They can also indulge in data theft.
Theft of Data
Tampered apps usually offer additional
features that are not present in the authentic version of the apps. Hence,
users have an incentive for downloading such apps. In fact, tampered apps are
so common that most companies invest in tools and resources that help them in
recognizing and eliminating such duplicate versions of the app from the app
store. Companies even try to educate users about the possibility of data theft
if they were to download such apps.
Attackers also tend to exploit the
lacunae present in the OS to modify the coding of the original app.
Furthermore, when users allow jailbreaking of devices or rooting, they
essentially provide options for third parties to change the resident code of
the device.
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