Introduction
A fast, good-looking app isn’t enough. If it’s not secure, it puts users and your business at risk. In 2025, mobile apps are essential tools for banking, shopping, healthcare, and more. They handle large amounts of personal and business data. That makes them prime targets for cybercriminals.
Fortinet reports that more than half of all mobile security breaches start with the app itself.
If you’re building an app, security has to be planned from the beginning. This guide shows how to secure your mobile app from cyber threats using proven steps, practical tools, and common-sense protections. It also includes a mobile app security checklist to help you review everything before launch.
Whether you’re a startup founder or looking to hire app developers in India, this covers what you need to know.
Why Apps Get Hacked
Apps are popular in every business today, while useful too, and often rushed to market. That’s why they’re targeted.
Here’s why they’re vulnerable:
- Billions of users
- Apps handle most of your data like passwords, payments, health records, and location data
- Users often connect on unsafe networks for their related work.
- Apps depend on third-party tools, APIs, and cloud services that can not be secure
Golden Owl says it clearly: hackers don’t just attack apps directly they go after weak links in the system to make their work easy.
Common Mobile App Security Threats in 2025
These are some fundamental risks as per the research done by OWASP, Fortinet, and Qualysec.
1. Unsecured APIs
APIs open to anyone without tokens or access controls
2. Reverse engineering
Attackers decompile the app to steal logic or data
3. Risky third-party SDKs
Programs that require excessive permissions or contain malware invisibly
4. Bad session handling
No logout after inactivity, or reuse of old sessions
5. Code injection
Apps that don’t validate inputs can be exploited
6. Device-level weaknesses
Jailbroken/rooted phones use apps that have no protection
7. Insecure data storage
Plaintext or poorly secured files on the device
8. Weak login systems
No multi-factor login, no lockout on failed attempts
9. Unencrypted communication
APIs or data sent over HTTP instead of HTTPS
10. Poor encryption
Old or broken cryptography that’s easy to crack
How to Secure Your Mobile App from Cyber Threats
Here’s a practical approach. These tips apply whether you are developing apps in-house or for a business.
1. Secure Coding
So this is your starting point. Use OWASP’s Mobile Security Testing Guide (MSTG) as a standard approach.
Do this:
- Verify all user inputs
- Use complex code to make it harder to reverse-engineer
- Never hardcode secrets or tokens
- Use trusted and verify cryptography libraries
- Turn off debug logs in production builds
Tools:
- ProGuard or R8 (Android)
- MobSF (for APK and iOS analysis)
- SonarQube (code quality and security)
This is where many forget security. If you're working with an app development company or freelancers, ask for their mobile application security PDF or documentation.
2. Strong Login and Access Controls
Most breaches start with weak login systems.
Set up:
- MFA (Multi-factor authentication)
- Use for Biometrics like fingerprint or face ID
- OpenID Connect or OAuth 2.0
- RBAC (Role-based access controls)
Also:
- Apply strong password rules
- Lock out accounts after three failed logins
- Use secure password recovery flows to manage app
If you're hunting to hire dedicated developers in India, make sure they know identity management best practices.
3. Encrypt Data
Encryption protects users even if attackers get in.
Protect:
- Data at rest using AES-256
- Data in transit using TLS 1.3 or HTTPS
- Secrets using Android Keystore or iOS Secure Enclave
- Avoid storing passwords or personal data locally unless needed
Mobile phone cyber security can be approached by encrypting every data and most importantly payment or health data.
4. Secure Your APIs
APIs are the easiest way into your app.
Lock them down:
- Use API keys, JWT, or OAuth tokens
- Verify every request on the server
- Use certificate fix to prevent fake server attacks
- Rate-limit requests to stop crime
- Keep analysing traffic for odd behavior
There are various types of tools that test your APIs including mobile app security tools such as Postman, OWASP ZAP, or Burp Suite.
5. Protect Against Reverse Engineering
Your APK or IPA file is possible to decompile, and the attacker can figure out how it works.
Defend with:
- Code Verification
- Checksum validation
- Jailbreak/root detection
- Lock up screen recording or screenshots on sensitive screens
How to make your mobile application resistant to cyber threats apk? Start by making it indecipherable and tamper-proof.
6. Secure the Device Environment
After the app is launched, you no longer have control over the user's phone. Assume it is hacked.
Protect by:
- Limiting or Blocking access on rooted or jailbroken devices can help
- Requiring updated OS versions
- Logging out users after inactivity
- Turning off copy-paste on login or payment screens
If anyone asks "how do I secure my phone from hackers", the best answer is to use secure apps and update the OS.
7. Test Often and Monitor
Security testing is never done. Keep checking even after launch.
Run:
- SAST (Static testing)
- DAST (Dynamic testing)
- Pen tests with real or simulated hackers
- RASP (Runtime Application Self-Protection)
OWASP ZAP, AppSweep and Qualysec audit services are some of the mobile app security tools.
8. Privacy and Compliance
Bad data practices aren’t just unsafe, they’re illegal.
Make sure:
- You are docile with GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS or another local regulation
- You collect only what’s needed
- Users see a clear privacy policy
- They can give or withdraw consent easily
Mobile application security incorporates legal and ethical application of the data.
2025 Mobile App Security Checklist
Make sure you use this before any release or update of your app.
Code Security
- Follow OWASP MSTG
- Verify production code
- Turn off logs and debug tools
Login Security
- Enable MFA or biometrics
- Use OAuth 2.0 / OpenID
- Lockout failed logins
Data Protection
- Use AES-256 for local data
- Use TLS 1.3 for network calls
- Secure keys with system tools
API Security
- Authenticate every API call
- Pin SSL certificates
- Limit API usage
Device & Environment
- Detect jailbroken/rooted phones
- Auto-logout after inactivity
- Disable screenshots
Testing & Monitoring
- Perform SAST and DAST
- Run manual pen tests
- Integrate RASP where needed
Compliance
- Privacy policy included
- Collect minimum data
- User consent logged
This mobile app security checklist is a living document. Review it often.
Why Work with RushKar Technology?
At RushKar Technology, we build apps with security at the core. We offer:
- Full-stack app developers in India
- Support for startups and enterprise projects
- Teams trained in android app security best practices
- Deep experience with mobile application security standards
- End-to-end audits using top mobile app security tools
If you want to hire app developers in India or hire dedicated developers in India for your mobile app, we can help build it the right way.
Closing Thoughts
Apps that aren't secure put users and businesses at risk. The damage goes beyond fines or app store bans. You lose trust.
If you don’t know where to start, follow the basics:
- Secure your code
- Encrypt data
- Lock down APIs
- Keep testing
- Follow the mobile app security checklist
Ask your team simple questions like "how do I secure my phone from hackers" or "can anyone check my phone security from the outside?" If the answers aren’t clear, the app may not be safe.
Security is not a final step. It's part of the build process.
Get Started
- Want to improve your app’s defenses?
- Need a custom mobile application security PDF?
- Want experts to check my phone security or audit your app?