App development has come a long way in the past decade. There is an app for the most useful things to the most useless things. This is because app development has become relatively easier in recent times. As a result of this, we can see a ton of apps in the market that rushed hurriedly.

This often leads to most apps not having a basic necessity like Security features. Having a security feature is not just about having a feature; it is much more than that. Security features are the minimum requirements for an app to have.

While developing an app, it is important to foresee the kind of security features you need to include. This foresight should ideally be had even before coding starts. The importance of having a security feature is highlighted by the problems you might face if you don't have them.

Security features of an app help in protecting the data app take from yourself and clients. Any security breaches in your app can result in losses worth millions. Cybercrime has become one of the most common types of crime being committed in today's world. Privacy and data protection are important issues that everyone is discussing globally.

For the users of an app, their details, including their location, personal data, and even bank details, are at stake. Android app developers thus need to ensure that their apps are as secure as possible.

10 key security features that are necessary for android app development

1) Encryption Encrypt All Data

Encryption is becoming more popular as a security feature for android app development. Encryption is the basic process in which information is coded at one end and decoded at the other end. This allows information to be transferred without the risk of someone encrypting it and misusing it.

A popular example is the Signal messenger app. The data or messages sent through the app are end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the people who have the security key can decrypt your messages.

2) Security Code

A security code is the first step in protecting your app from unwanted safety breaches and glitches. It is not uncommon to find bugs and breaches in most apps. This is because most of the security used by apps is a default code that you can find anywhere.

This is why, when testing your app, you need to place special importance on the security code and its functions. Reverse engineering is the biggest issue you will face. The easier it is to figure out your code, the more security breaches you will experience. Making a tougher code to crack is a great and key security feature.

3) Authentication

We are all familiar with Google's two-factor authenticator. This type of authentication ensures and provides a degree of security to your apps. A strong authentication process will ensure that users are not getting their data stolen. One of the most popular forms of authentication is multi-factor authentication which uses OTP's (one-time passwords).

4) Proper Permissions

A lot of data breach occurs due to the app getting access to users' data without their knowledge. Not everyone is technically aware enough to know what app might use what data. Children are special victims of these since they often play games on phones. These gaming apps often get access to bank details for making in-app purchases.

Apps nowadays need to highlight what data they use and whether they can use that data or not. This obviously comes in the form of app permissions, which may or may not be necessary.

5) Credible Third-party Access

When it comes to third-party access, credibility is very important. You should not allow your app to use untrustworthy third-party libraries. A lot of data is stolen through these third-party clients. Obviously, this means that you will have to test your security code a lot in order to prevent any breaches and security risks. It also means that your security code must stay up to date to handle third-party changes.

6) Ensure No Tampering Can Take Place

A lot of time, hackers try to hack the security code and the source code to figure out breaches. This kind of tampering can be quite dangerous as it can essentially ruin your whole app. Not to mention the amount of data that might be stolen as a result of this.

Ensuring anti-tamper protection can help in automatically protecting the app from data breaches. Anti-tamper also provides protection from duplication of code and potential copyright violations.

7) Ensure Your Backend Is Secure

One key security feature of android app development is the security of the backend. While most amateurs focus on getting a good frontend, the backend is quite often ignored. As a result of this, unstable and unreliable backends exist. This can cause a lot of problems, including data breaches. Remember and make it a note to yourself that the backend is just as important as the frontend and must be tested several times.

8) Test Your App Regularly

App testing is a must and an important part of delivering the final product. Just as an escape room must be played multiple times to ensure no issues exist, an app must be tested regularly. Regular testing can bring out bugs, glitches, and breaches that can negatively affect your app.

9) Employ A Trustworthy Cryptography Tool

Encryption keys need to be stored securely in a place where hackers cannot find them. Cryptography tools must be used, and only the latest and the most secure ones should be trusted.

10) Removal Of Unnecessary Features

A lot of android apps nowadays are filled with unnecessary features. Some of them can be potential sources of a security breach. It is thus very important to ensure that data breach does not occur while implementing these features. It is best to thus remove such features, which put users at risk.

Conclusion

There have been several instances of data being stolen or being misused. People have become more aware of data privacy and protection. It is thus time that app development too shall focus on key security features. The above-mentioned 10 security features will help you in knowing the most basic and essential security features to include in android app development.