Mobile threats are ever-increasing. Here’s how shielding your apps can protect them and keep you ahead of threats.
Mobile apps are central to how we communicate, shop, bank, and work, and are increasingly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals because they handle sensitive data. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and the consequences of a breach can mean lost trust, financial damage, and regulatory penalties.
In this threat landscape, apps simply aren’t secure enough. And it’s not an iOS vs. Android issue. It’s a platform-agnostic issue. That’s where effective mobile app security—specifically, app shielding—comes in.
75% of mobile apps would fail basic security tests. Is your app secure? Get practical steps to secure your app in our guide on OWASP Mobile Top 10 Risks and app shielding.
What is app shielding?
App shielding is a solution designed to protect your mobile apps both when they’re in use (runtime) and when they’re not actively running (at rest). These solutions can detect and prevent real-time attacks, making your app more resistant to intrusion, tampering, reverse engineering, and malware.
Some of the core technologies incorporated into app shielding include:
- Code obfuscation: It makes your app’s code more complex and difficult to understand for potential attackers, reducing the risk of reverse engineering and tampering.
- RASP (runtime application self-protection): RASP enables your app to detect and respond to threats as they happen in real time. This makes your apps resistant to attempts to exploit vulnerabilities and reduces the burden on your busy IT teams.
- White-box cryptography: It takes data protection a step further by securing sensitive cryptographic keys even in hostile environments. This technique allows encryption keys to remain safe, even if an attacker gains access to the app’s runtime environment.
Why you need app shielding
Banking, payments, retail, streaming media, and mobile games are industries particularly attractive to hackers. This is because they feature apps with a large user base, revenue, valuable intellectual property, and the sheer volume of personal and financial information they handle.
What’s more, businesses face an ever-growing landscape of global privacy and data security regulations. Regardless of where you do business, compliance violations are reputationally damaging, financially costly, erode user trust, and should be avoided at all costs.
A shielded app reduces the risk of attacks, insulates against lurking malware, doesn’t compromise on security or user experience, and helps enable compliance with security regulations. App shielding reduces the risk of reputational harm and revenue loss, no matter the size of your company.
What are the benefits of app shielding?
App shielding includes functionalities applied to an app’s source, byte, or binary code. It enables your app to be protected against intrusion, reverse engineering, tampering, and malware attacks. App shielding gives you:
- More time to innovate: With enhanced security, app shielding minimizes the need to build and maintain an in-house cybersecurity solution, giving your developers more time to innovate and build apps.
- Multi-layered protection: App shielding delivers a combination of app hardening and anti-tampering technologies. Underlying security techniques like code obfuscation and RASP protect apps at rest and at runtime.
- Compliance and regulations: An app shielding solution helps keep your app safe and helps your company remain compliant with evolving regulations. This builds trust with the users and protects your organization from lawsuits and hefty fines.
- Real-time security: Unlike security solutions that simply monitor and test vulnerabilities, app shielding can detect and proactively prevent real-time attacks.
- Improves cybersecurity ROI: By automating mobile app security processes with app shielding, you enhance your cybersecurity ROI, cut compliance costs, increase revenue, and enhance customer loyalty and your brand’s reputation.
While the complexity of integrating new security features to an app is a serious concern, modern app shielding solutions like Promon SHIELD® are the exception. You can integrate SHIELD automatically, post-compile, with minimal maintenance requirements, and without lengthening or complicating the development cycle.
What are the threats to mobile apps?
To get a better understanding about the threats, OWASP released the list of top 10 mobile risks in its report OWASP Mobile Top 10 2024, giving a breakdown of the risk factors, threats, and attack vectors. Here are some of those threats explained in brief:
Repackaging
Repackaging, also called a cloning attack or code injection, occurs when hackers inject malicious functionality into your app’s code. They can then change app features and distribute an entirely new version to steal credentials and data. A comprehensive app shielding solution can help you eliminate the risk of code repackaging attacks. Promon has found that about 62% of the top Android apps can be repackaged, while 93% of the top iOS apps can be repackaged.
Malware injection
Malware is any virus, trojan, or a computer program used to infect systems and networks. Developing and distributing fraudulent apps is the most common method of mobile malware attacks on both Android and iOS devices. Attackers typically exploit a vulnerability that allows the processing of invalid data and use code injection techniques to change the way your program executes.
Reverse engineering
To reverse engineer your app, hackers obtain the executable files—APK files for Android and IPA files for iOS—and decompile them to extract the source code. The goal is to understand the app's functionality, identify how it handles data, and discover security flaws. They manipulate the vulnerabilities and repackage the content to steal data, bypass payment mechanisms, or inject malware.
Extraction of keys and app secrets
The combination of a key and a secret (API secret, access token or private key) limits the APIs the device can communicate with, allowing it to perform specific actions like modifying tags and named users for a particular channel, device token, or APID. Hackers use key extraction techniques to obtain sensitive cryptographic keys or credentials. For example, they may extract encryption keys or other confidential data stored within an app's code or memory.
Financial fraud
Bad actors can exploit vulnerabilities and improper in-app business logic to cheat the system and gain access to user’s personal and financial data.
Jailbreaking
Jailbreaking in iOS means removing manufacturer-imposed restrictions, giving users root access to the operating system. They can install third-party applications, custom firmware, and other modifications not officially sanctioned by the device manufacturer. Jailbroken devices (or rooted devices for Android) are more vulnerable to cyber attacks. You can implement a root detection system to identify rooted devices and protect the app.
Examples of recent mobile app attacks and vulnerabilities
- In 2024, Symantec researchers found that mobile apps with millions of users had hard-coded unencrypted API keys directly in the app’s code base.
- In 2024, Promon researchers discovered an advanced mobile malware targeting banking applications in Southeast Asia, called Snowblind.
- In 2023, Promon researchers discovered FjordPhantom, a banking malware that was causing significant financial losses.
- In 2023, Chick-fil-A announced that a credential stuffing attack on its mobile app resulted in the exposure of personally identifiable and sensitive data for more than 71,000 users.
- In 2023, Threat actors used trojanized Telegram and WhatsApp applications that switch the cryptocurrency wallet addresses the victim sends in chat messages for addresses belonging to the attacker.
What is the impact of weak mobile app security?
If your mobile app security is weak, it can expose your organization to a host of risks, including financial losses, reputational damage, and compliance violations. Safeguarding your mobile apps is critical to maintaining the integrity of your business operations and protecting sensitive user data.
Here are some of the most common consequences of using weak app security:
IP theft
Intellectual property (IP) is an asset, and losing it is a significant blow when you have invested in developing it. IP theft puts proprietary and app code at risk, and can open your organization up to litigation. App shielding uses anti-tampering and anti-debugging techniques like code obfuscation to help protect your IP.
Data leaks
Data leaks happen when you inadvertently place sensitive information in an unprotected location which other apps can easily access and steal using reverse engineering. But you can prevent this with app shielding, which includes white-box cryptography techniques and secure data encryption to protect API keys and certificates.
Malware and viruses
Mobile apps are used all too often as gateways for malware and viruses. Compromised app stores, and indeed malicious apps, can trick anyone into installing harmful software, which can compromise personal and financial information.
Insecure APIs
An API (application programming interface) defines how software applications communicate with one another. Researchers have time and again sounded the alarm on threats to app security from insecure APIs. Hackers can exploit Insecure APIs to gain unauthorized access to a system, steal data, or perform other malicious activities.
Lack of encryption
Not encrypting data during transmission or at rest can leave it vulnerable to interception by malicious actors. This is a particular concern for apps that handle confidential data like financial transactions, healthcare data, or personal messages.
Inadequate authentication
Weak or poorly implemented authentication mechanisms make it easier for attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or the app itself. These vulnerabilities include weak password policies, no multi-factor authentication (MFA), or insecure session handling.
Third-party integrations
Organizations sometimes use third-party integrations to use external libraries and frameworks for saving time and resources. If these third-party components have security vulnerabilities, they can pose a significant risk to both the app and its users. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in these integrations to gain access to sensitive data or compromise your app’s functionalities.
Getting technical: How application shielding protects your mobile apps
Here’s how app shielding can help protect your apps:
Protection at rest
Code obfuscation helps prevent cybercriminals from decompiling and reverse engineering code to protect your apps from IP theft. Executable files are changed to make them useless to a hacker, while remaining fully functional. To achieve this, you can obfuscate, or hide, the logic and purpose of the app while its functionality remains unchanged.
It is made up of several techniques which together create a layered defense for your app’s code. Some transformations target the names used in the code, while others focus on the control flow. Examples of major code obfuscation techniques include data obfuscation, layout obfuscation, and control obfuscation.
Application binding, for example, uses proprietary techniques to “glue” your app shielding solution to the app. This renders the app useless if the solution is prevented from running or an attempt is made to remove it. App binding is necessary because attackers can use applications published on app stores to spread malware through repackaging and publishing it under a similar name/brand.
Protection at runtime
Runtime application self-protection (RASP) protects the app when it’s running. RASP tools detect, block, and mitigate attacks, and protect your apps in real time. It is typically used to protect against dynamic attacks, where the attacker is attempting to exploit vulnerabilities or manipulate the app's behavior at runtime.
RASP tools can detect and prevent malware, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, and jailbroken or rooted devices even before the application loads. It secures the app from both known and unknown attack vectors and is a powerful tool to address compliance requirements.
Using RASP, you can protect your app from tampering, UI manipulation, and fraud executed through debuggers and screen readers. It also helps prevent hooking frameworks, like Frida and LSPosed from attaching to your app.
How to implement application shielding
You can implement app shielding pre-compile or post-compile. While pre-compile shielding can dramatically impact and slow down development cycles, post-compile solutions don’t have any such impact. This is how you can implement it:
- App shielding is applied automatically by running a shielding tool with configuration over an existing @.aab or *.apk (Android), or *.ipa file (iOS).
- You can use a command-line script and configuration to allow app shielding to run as part of your continuous integration process.
- Or you can integrate the app shielding as a plugin to your IDE (using a custom script on iOS, or a Gradle plugin on Android) for easier development.
Security testing
Once integrated, it’s a good idea to test your app shielding through penetration testing and other methods. By incorporating security measures from the beginning, you accelerate development cycles, reduce vulnerabilities, and foster a sense of shared responsibility between developers, security professionals, and operations teams.
While testing app shielding, you’ll notice the difference between post-compile and pre-compile options, with the latter not impacting your development cycles.
App shielding for compromised devices
Application shielding technologies are a crucial line of defense against vulnerabilities that are introduced when users gain privileges on their devices by rooting or jailbreaking. For an app owner like you, shielding helps maintain the integrity of your software and prevents unauthorized modifications, reverse engineering, and tampering. It is particularly important when your app handles sensitive data or provides premium services.
From the user's perspective, application shielding offers an additional layer of security, even on jailbroken or rooted devices. While it may offer them greater control over their devices, rooting exposes them to security risks.
If your app is shielded, it can detect if it is running in a compromised environment and take appropriate actions like limiting functionality or not running altogether to protect users from malware and safeguard their data. As shielded apps are more resistant to tampering and reverse engineering, malicious actors are less likely to compromise them.
App shielding technologies create a win-win situation for both app owners and users. By implementing robust security measures, you can confidently deploy your software across a wider range of devices and operating system versions. This increased confidence often translates to more feature-rich apps and broader availability, benefiting your users.
Does your business actually need app shielding?
App shielding can be used for mobile apps in any industry. Currently, it is most commonly used by the financial services, healthcare, retail, and entertainment sectors.
App shielding can help your business in the following ways:
Increased security
App shielding software protects your app against malicious attacks, unauthorized access, and other cyber threats. It also adds an extra layer of security using obfuscation and RASP that make it harder for attackers exploit it.
Reduced risk
By shielding apps from potential attacks, app shielding software reduces the risk of business disruption or financial losses. It also helps your company comply with privacy laws and regulations like HIPAA and GDPR as personal data is adequately protected.
Improved performance
App shielding software can increase overall system performance by improving your app’s stability and reducing the inevitable downtime caused by malicious attacks or system errors.
Enhanced visibility
App shielding software can give you transparency into who accesses which apps and when. This is particularly useful when you’re looking to monitor user activity on your networks to detect any suspicious behavior or identify potential insider threats.
Reduced overheads and quantifiable ROI
With application shielding software, you can save time and money by reducing the need for manual security measures like regular system patching and vulnerability scans, and help you avoid costly fines from privacy law violations.
Faster development cycles
Securing apps can streamline your development cycles, which in turn reduces your time-to-market. App shielding is an extra layer of protection that can allow you to stay ahead of your competitors and reach your target audience faster, particularly if you choose a post-compile solution.
Compliance
Key security requirements on mobile apps include malware monitoring and security measures to mitigate risks. By adding strong data protection controls through app shielding, you can meet and exceed compliance requirements like GDPR, NIS2, PCI DSS, PSD2, and CCPA.
Risk mitigation
Mobile app shielding mitigates risk by incorporating anti-malware features to detect and protect against known and emerging mobile malware threats. It scans the app for malicious code or behavior, blocks unauthorized access attempts, and alerts users or administrators about potential risks in real time.
Reputational protection
App shielding protects your business’s reputation and brand image by minimizing the risk of sophisticated, highly targeted attacks. With it, your clients and third-party suppliers can be sure their data is safe in your hands, and this is hugely valuable for your revenue and user trust.
Facilitating scalability
App shielding enhances resistance to tampering, reverse engineering, and unwanted modifications, ensuring that only authorized people can access your app. This allows you to scale your business effortlessly without worrying about additional cybersecurity challenges.
How to choose the right app shielding solution
Here are some key factors to consider when investing in an app shielding solution:- Works with minimum manual intervention and takes care of app security complexities.
- Accelerates app’s time-to-market and works smoothly with your dev team’s CI/CD tools.
- Has a proven track record, like solutions that have protected over 1 billion end-users.
- Provides consistent vendor support with encrypted communication options for sensitive matters.
- Uses, where appropriate, RASP, white-box cryptography, and relevant obfuscation processes.
The future of app shielding
With emerging tech appearing and evolving all the time, detection and prevention can increasingly be automated. You need proactive protection and prevention to stay ahead of threats and get a competitive edge. To navigate thes challenges and opportunities, following trends are shaping the future of app shielding:
Artificial intelligence
Both artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will significantly enhance cybersecurity capabilities and app shielding solutions. But they will also introduce new vulnerabilities, particularly in reverse engineering and deobfuscation attacks. While AI can create complex obfucations, hackers continue to face hurdles in using AI to deobfuscate code.
Quantum computing
The advancement of quantum computing presents a shift in encryption technology. Organizations must now proactively transition to quantum-safe cryptography standards to protect their future communications.
Ethical hacking and bug bounty programs
These programs are projected to experience considerable growth and will play a vital role in both identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening overall cybersecurity resilience.
Getting started with app shielding
App shielding is a real-time, proactive defense against zero-day and other targeted attacks. Comprehensive app shielding allows your app to run securely, block foreign code from being injected, and shut down if a threat to data exists. In short: you, your clients, and any third parties you do business with are safe.
Integrating app shielding means its runtime protection ensures the complete integrity of your app and protects your sensitive information from cybercriminals—even on untrusted mobile devices.
To find out more, download our guide to securing your app with the OWASP Mobile top 10 and app shielding.
