Why Should Mobile App Security Be A Top Priority?

There is a huge chance that the device on which you are reading this article is a mobile device or handheld device. More than half of the internet traffic now comprises mobile and handheld devices and this number will only increase in the years to come. To perform various functions, mobile apps are available that can perform several functions. Whenever you need to perform a task, you would hear someone tell you, “Oh, there is an app for that”, which shows how much dependent we have become on mobile apps.

As of the latest data, there are around 3.4 million apps on the Google Play Store while the Apple App Stores house about 2.1 million mobile apps, and these numbers will only increase as people will come up with more unique ideas. Our reliance on mobile apps has increased so much that some of us trust these apps with our secrets and sensitive information. However, we are not aware of the fact that these apps are always susceptible to threats.

These cited numbers clearly show how many people around the world use mobile apps and why mobile app security must be taken seriously. Most developers or companies who develop their unique apps don’t pay much heed to app security. It could be because mobile phones are compact handheld devices as compared to PCs and laptops but mobile phones nowadays have access to a lot more sensitive and private information than anything else. With all of that said, let’s have a look at a few reasons why mobile app security should be a top priority:

Mobile Apps Have Become Complex
The first and biggest reason why mobile app security should be a top priority is that mobile apps are becoming increasingly complex. Mobile apps have evolved right in front of our eyes and there is a mobile app available for almost everything. Some mobile apps are simple like a Solitaire game that lets you use the app without sharing much of your information and there are banking and financial apps that allow you to make complex financial transactions.

For complex and sophisticated apps that store your sensitive personal and corporate data, mobile security is so important for these apps. These apps can have access to customer records, corporate records, or financial information such as banking information and a security breach in these apps can cause a huge loss of brand and personal reputation.

All mobile apps but complex and sophisticated mobile apps that house a lot of sensitive data should be secured properly. Mobile app security should be an integral part of the app development process and app security should be a top priority, especially after it goes live to protect user data.

Mobile App Security Allows To Discover Potentially Harmful Vulnerabilities
Mobile app security should be an integral part of the app development process, right from the beginning to the time it is being used on users’ devices. The reason why we say that it should be an integral part of the app development process is that it allows developers to discover potentially harmful security vulnerabilities and flaws.

Apps must be secure from the very beginning, the time you get started with the requirements and design of the app, no matter whether it is a simple gaming app like Klondike Solitaire or a complex app. When app security is a priority from the very start, it allows developers to verify the security and privacy of various features of the app during the developmental process. This helps developers in discovering various security flaws and vulnerabilities before the app is launched so that they can act promptly, fix the security flaws, and release the app to the public without any security concerns.

A Mobile App Security Failure Can Be Disastrous
Another reason to take mobile app security seriously and make it a top priority is that a mobile app security failure or data breach can cause a huge disaster especially if it is a popular app that has a lot of users. Apps that are installed on your phone can have access to your phone’s camera, microphone, audio, videos, pictures, and other files on your phone.

If any installed app gets compromised, it can cause a huge disaster as it would lead to the private data of so many users being leaked on the internet which can ruin many lives. Smartphones on which that particular app was installed can longer be trusted and any data on smartphones can be leaked out in public. App security failures can be disastrous and cause huge panic among the general audience. Therefore, app security should never be neglected and whenever a bug arises or a security vulnerability is found, it should be fixed as soon as possible.