The testing of mobile devices and the software, apps and solutions associated with it with an aim to improvise security is an established discipline today. Addressing the susceptibilities faced by mobile based software is a major focus for establishing good Mobile Application Testing practices.

 

As mobile devices make a stronghold in an organization’s activities in contrast to the practice of using only in house computers a couple of decades ago, mobile computing becomes a nucleus for all the systems set up by an organization. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) brings with it its advantages like increase in efficiency of the workforce and speedy implementations of processes.

 

 

But, an organization recognizing the threats posed by the devices that access organization resources from almost anywhere, is the organization investing in measures to carry out and implement the latest in Mobile App Testing. Unfortunately many organizations choose to ignore these problems and risks as long as they can.

 

Mobile security is the protection of wearable devices, smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers; their data and the networks that connect them and the users that use them from the threats posed by the new age computing. The ever increasing devices forming such networks and eventually connecting to the corporate networks makes the ensuring of safety in these systems of utmost importance. The variety in devices and their different operating systems pose unique challenges.

 

Mobile Device Applications Threats addressed by Mobile Application Testing

 

Application Security

 

• Apps are being downloaded one to the dozen every day. Mobile applications request for a lot of privileges and accesses in terms of data on the mobile devices.
• Some Apps from less trusted sites misuse this data and share with other beneficiaries like advertising agencies and so on.
• Typically confidential and critical data shared could be.
  • Contacts
  • Location Details
  • Calendar Details
• Apps downloaded could be infected with viruses and could ultimately share sensitive data from the devices.
• All these might give a competitive disadvantage to the company.

 

Device Data Leakages

 

• Enterprise Mobility applications fetch data from a variety of corporate data sources
• Mobile malware used by cyber criminals can use various routes to hack into sensitive and confidential data both on the devices or the back end system
• Data leaks while syncing into the enterprise cloud or its database are very common as well

 

Insecure Data Storages

 

• App designs sometimes overlook that restricted data like account details, credit card numbers are stored directly on the device
• This issue should be trapped and pointed out during the mobile app testing
• Secure storage methods with access limitations is recommended in these devices

 

Lack of Data Encryption

 

• Common encryption frameworks should be put to correct use to protect the data, but these are not full proof
• Proper testing methodologies ensure that the encryption process takes care of this problem

 

Broken Cryptography

 

• A most common mistake made as a result of callousness is including cryptographic keys on the device itself
• Proper practices to manage these on a central server ensure that a fortified backend is in place

 

Weak Back-end Security

 

• Improper security of the servers that an app is accessing can cause various threats making it mandatory that perfect security measures are in place to prevent unauthorized users from accessing data
• This should be addressed while devices test strategy for mobile application testing

 

Wireless transmissions not always encrypted

 

• Un – encrypted data transfers like e-mails, application data and so on can be easily intercepted in transit

 

Poor MDM Policies

 

• Less rigorous Mobile Device Management practices leads to unauthorized data access for malicious or even unintentional users
• A good MDM should appreciate different types of devices and their operating systems and the management strategy
• Stolen devices policies should be in place as well

 

Malware attacks

 

• Malware attack are treated callously and are not integrated as the expected front to fight
• Typically Trojan virus attacks are routed through the innocent SMS and can wreak havoc throughout the system

 

Gearing Up with Mobile Application Testing

 

Mobile App Testing acknowledges the vulnerabilities of the system and gears up for an attack on the weak points by following simple logical steps

 

List down the Vulnerabilities of the System in Question

 

While listing down the probable weak spots of the System, Mobile App Testing algorithms consider the following, again for a majority of devices available and their varied operating systems.

 

• Data flow & Audit Trails
• Data storage , encryption, databases, clouds
• Data leakage points
• User Authentication & Authorization
• Points of entry into the system
• Back End
• Lost Device management

 

Define Security Requirements

 

• Define scope under usefulness of the mobile system
• Study the scope of the mobile app or solution in question
• Gauge the security requirements and the probable breaches and attacks
• Determine the testing framework and tools that would do justice to these requirements

 

Mobile Application Testing Rules of Thumb

 

• Relying only on Automated Testing Tools might lead to overlooking of certain loop holes
• Human Intelligence should be used to emulate user behavior in the apps and solutions to ensure that most of the issues are replicated and catered to
• Use multiple Mobile App Testing Tools rather than depending on a single tool
• Have a versatile team with dynamic testers who themselves use a lot of mobile devices and can hence get into the skin of the flaws

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