What Security Risks Do Mobile Apps Face?
Mobile app security threats have evolved dramatically in recent years. According to NowSecure research, cyberattacks are rising 44% annually, with mobile apps becoming prime targets. Understanding these risks is the first step to building secure mobile applications.
Data Leakage & Insecure Storage
CRITICAL RISKUnencrypted data storage or transfer exposes sensitive user information. This includes credentials cached in plain text, logs containing personal data, and clipboard vulnerabilities.
Improper Credential Usage
CRITICAL RISKHardcoded API keys, embedded secrets in binaries, and insecure credential storage make apps vulnerable to unauthorized access and data theft.
Supply Chain Attacks
HIGH RISKCompromised SDKs, malicious libraries, and insecure third-party integrations can inject vulnerabilities across hundreds of apps simultaneously.
Insecure Communication
CRITICAL RISKMissing TLS, weak certificate validation, or HTTP usage allows attackers to intercept data in transit through man-in-the-middle attacks.
Weak Authentication
HIGH RISKPoor password policies, missing MFA, improper session management, and broken access controls allow unauthorized account access.
AI-Powered Attacks
EMERGING RISKSince ChatGPT launched, phishing attacks have surged 4,151%. Hackers use AI for hyper-realistic phishing, deepfakes, and automated exploits.
Sources: OWASP Mobile Top 10, Mobile Security 2026
How Do I Protect User Data?
User data protection requires a layered approach covering data at rest, in transit, and during processing. According to the OWASP Mobile Application Security Cheat Sheet, these practices form the foundation of secure mobile apps.
Data at Rest
- Use AES-256 encryption for sensitive data storage
- Store credentials in platform secure storage (iOS Keychain, Android Keystore)
- Never store passwords on the device - use device-specific tokens
- Encrypt local databases and cache files
- Implement secure key management - never hardcode keys
Data in Transit
- Use TLS 1.3 for all network communications
- Implement certificate pinning for sensitive apps
- Validate server certificates properly
- Avoid transmitting sensitive data in URLs
- Disable caching for sensitive responses
Access Control
- Perform authentication/authorization server-side
- Implement principle of least privilege
- Use row-level security for database access
- Validate all user inputs on the server
- Log access attempts for security monitoring
OWASP Mobile Top 10: Know the Threats
The OWASP Mobile Top 10 2024 is the definitive guide to mobile security risks. Updated for the first time since 2016, it reflects the modern threat landscape. When building apps with platforms like AI app builders, understanding these vulnerabilities helps you make informed security decisions.
| # | Vulnerability | Description | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Improper Credential Usage | Hardcoded credentials, insecure storage | Use secure storage, never hardcode secrets |
| M2 | Inadequate Supply Chain Security | Compromised SDKs and libraries | Audit dependencies, use trusted sources |
| M3 | Insecure Authentication/Authorization | Weak passwords, broken access control | Implement OAuth 2.0, MFA, server-side auth |
| M4 | Insufficient Input/Output Validation | Injection vulnerabilities | Validate and sanitize all inputs server-side |
| M5 | Insecure Communication | Missing TLS, certificate issues | Use TLS 1.3, implement certificate pinning |
| M6 | Inadequate Privacy Controls | Excessive data collection, PII exposure | Minimize data collection, implement GDPR controls |
| M7 | Insufficient Binary Protections | Reverse engineering, code tampering | Enable obfuscation, implement integrity checks |
| M8 | Security Misconfiguration | Debug enabled, weak settings | Disable debug in production, audit configs |
| M9 | Insecure Data Storage | Unencrypted local data | Encrypt all sensitive data at rest |
| M10 | Insufficient Cryptography | Weak algorithms, poor key management | Use AES-256, RSA, secure key storage |
Authentication Best Practices for 2026
Strong authentication is your apps first line of defense. According to security experts at Astra Security, implementing these practices significantly reduces breach risk.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Combine password authentication with biometrics (Face ID, fingerprint), OTP, or hardware tokens. MFA blocks 99.9% of automated attacks.
- Use biometrics for convenient re-authentication
- Require MFA for sensitive operations
- Support authenticator apps over SMS
OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect
Industry-standard protocols for secure authentication. Delegate auth to trusted providers like Google, Apple, or your own identity server.
- Use short-lived access tokens (15-60 min)
- Implement secure token refresh flows
- Support social login providers
Session Management
Proper session handling prevents unauthorized access and session hijacking attacks.
- Implement automatic session timeout
- Invalidate sessions on logout
- Regenerate session IDs after login
Password Security
Strong password policies combined with secure storage protect user accounts.
- Enforce minimum 12 character passwords
- Hash with bcrypt or Argon2 server-side
- Check against breach databases
What Security Do No-Code Platforms Provide?
One advantage of modern no-code app builders is built-in security features. Platforms like Natively leverage battle-tested frameworks like React Native and Expo, along with secure backend services, to provide security out of the box.
Built-in Security with React Native + Expo
How Natively apps are secured by default
Frontend Security
- expo-secure-store - Encrypted credential storage using iOS Keychain and Android Keystore
- Biometric authentication - Face ID and fingerprint support via expo-local-authentication
- Hermes bytecode - Code compilation provides baseline obfuscation
- OAuth integration - expo-auth-session for secure social login
Backend Security (Supabase)
- Row-Level Security - Database-level access control policies
- Encrypted at rest - All data encrypted with cloud provider KMS
- SSL/TLS everywhere - All connections encrypted in transit
- Built-in auth - JWT tokens, social providers, MFA support
Security Checklist for Your App
Use this interactive checklist to audit your apps security posture. Based on industry security frameworks and best practices, check off items as you implement them to track your progress.
Interactive Security Checklist
Check off items as you implement them
Critical security work needed.
Use AES-256 or similar encryption for stored user data, credentials, and personal information.
Ensure all API calls and data transfers use TLS 1.3 encryption to prevent interception.
Use platform-specific secure storage (iOS Keychain, Android Keystore) instead of plain storage.
Never hardcode API keys or secrets in your codebase. Use environment variables or secure vaults.
Require MFA for sensitive operations to protect against credential theft.
Implement OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect for industry-standard secure authentication.
Automatically expire user sessions after inactivity to prevent unauthorized access.
Offer Face ID or fingerprint login for convenient yet secure user access.
Sanitize and validate user inputs to prevent injection attacks and data corruption.
Protect APIs from abuse with request throttling and rate limits per user/IP.
Verify permissions server-side before granting access to resources or actions.
Set up logging and alerts for suspicious patterns like failed login attempts.
Regularly update libraries and SDKs to patch known vulnerabilities.
Use tools like ProGuard or R8 to make reverse engineering more difficult.
Ensure debug logs and developer tools are disabled in release builds.
Pin SSL certificates to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks on sensitive apps.
Building a new app? Start secure from day one.
Natively apps come with built-in security features powered by React Native and Supabase.
Build Your Secure AppSecurity Essentials Every App Must Have
Whether you are using a no-code platform or building traditionally, these security fundamentals are non-negotiable for protecting your users and business.
HTTPS Everywhere
All network traffic must use TLS encryption. Never allow HTTP connections for any API calls or data transfers.
Encrypted Storage
Sensitive data must be encrypted at rest using strong algorithms like AES-256 with proper key management.
Strong Authentication
Implement OAuth 2.0 or similar standards with MFA support for all user accounts.
Input Validation
Validate and sanitize all user inputs on both client and server to prevent injection attacks.
Secure Credentials
Never hardcode API keys. Use environment variables and secure vaults for all secrets.
Regular Updates
Keep all dependencies updated to patch known vulnerabilities. Automate security scanning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main security risks for mobile apps?
The main mobile app security risks include insecure data storage, weak authentication, insufficient encryption, improper credential usage, and supply chain vulnerabilities. According to OWASP Mobile Top 10 2024, improper credential usage and inadequate supply chain security are the top concerns.
How do I protect user data in my mobile app?
Protect user data by encrypting sensitive information at rest using AES-256, securing data in transit with TLS 1.3, using platform secure storage like iOS Keychain or Android Keystore, implementing proper authentication, and following the principle of least privilege for data access.
What security features do no-code platforms provide?
Modern no-code platforms like Natively provide built-in security through frameworks like React Native and Expo, which include secure storage APIs, encrypted credential handling, OAuth authentication, and backend integration with secure services like Supabase that offer row-level security and encrypted data storage.
What security basics should every app have?
Every mobile app should have HTTPS for all network traffic, encrypted data storage, secure authentication with MFA support, input validation to prevent injection attacks, proper session management, certificate pinning for sensitive apps, and regular security updates.
How much does a mobile app data breach cost?
The average cost of a data breach involving mobile apps and cloud data reached $5.05 million in 2025 according to industry reports. Beyond direct costs, breaches cause reputational damage, user churn, and potential regulatory fines under GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws.