Did you know that, according to Statista, over 5 billion smartphone users globally drove 60% of web traffic in 2022? Because of that, it's really important to ensure mobile apps are safe. Making your app safe means testing it extensively and adding security while you're making it. That is why we created a list of the top 8 mobile app security testing tools to choose from. Let’s begin!
How do you choose the best mobile app security testing tool?
Mobile app security involves protecting mobile applications from threats and vulnerabilities to ensure user data's integrity, confidentiality, and availability. It is crucial because mobile apps often handle sensitive information, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. When choosing mobile app security testing tools, you can consider some of the following:
- Comprehensive coverage: Ensure the tool can test for a wide range of vulnerabilities.
- Ease of use: The tool should have an intuitive interface and require minimal setup to facilitate efficient testing.
- Integration capabilities: Look for integration compatibility with your existing development and CI/CD pipelines.
- Automated testing: Choose a tool that supports automated testing to save time and improve consistency in finding vulnerabilities.
- Detailed reporting: The tool should provide clear, actionable reports that help developers quickly understand and fix issues.
- Regular updates: Ensure the tool is regularly updated to handle new threats and vulnerabilities as they emerge.
- Support and documentation: Good customer support and comprehensive documentation are essential for troubleshooting and maximizing the tool’s potential.
Benefits of mobile app security testing
Here are 10 benefits of mobile app security testing:
- Protects user information: Security testing ensures that sensitive user data is protected from unauthorized access and potential breaches.
- Enhances user trust: A secure app can boost trust and confidence in the app and the developer.
- Reduces financial risks: Security breaches can lead to legal and financial repercussions. Security testing can minimize the financial risk associated with a breach.
- Avoids reputation damage: A data breach or security incident can result in significant reputational damage for the app and the developer.
- Ensures compliance: Security testing ensures the app complies with industry standards and regulations.
- Identifies vulnerabilities: Security testing can identify potential vulnerabilities in the app that can be exploited by hackers and attackers.
- Improves app performance: Security testing can identify and fix issues that may negatively impact the app's performance.
- Saves time and money: Fixing security issues before they are exploited can help save time and money in the long run.
- Ensures scalability: Security testing can identify issues that can hinder the app's growth and scalability, allowing developers to address them before they become a problem.
- Provides competitive advantages: A secure app can provide a competitive advantage over other apps that may not have undergone security testing.
8 Mobile App security testing tools
1. Checkmarx – “Shift Everywhere With the Leading Cloud-Native AppSec Platform”
Checkmarx is an application security testing tool and a cloud-native AppSec platform designed to help organizations identify and remediate security vulnerabilities in their software. It provides various security solutions that cover the entire software development lifecycle.
Key Features
Some of the key features highlighted on the Checkmarx website are:
- SAST (Static application security testing): Analyzes source code, bytecode, and binaries for security vulnerabilities early in development.
- SCA (Software composition analysis): Scans open source components and third-party libraries for known vulnerabilities and licensing issues.
- SSCS (Supply chain security): Protects against risks associated with the software supply chain, ensuring the integrity and security of third-party components.
- API security: Identifies and mitigates security vulnerabilities in APIs to protect against data breaches and other attacks.
- DAST (Dynamic application security testing): Examines running applications for vulnerabilities by simulating attacks in real-time.
- AI Security (AI-powered application security): Utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of security testing, reducing false positives and improving threat detection.
2. Appknox – “Automated tools and team of penetration testers will make your application secure”
Appknox is an application security testing tool that combines automated tools with a team of experienced penetration testers. By combining automated and manual testing, Appknox helps identify security vulnerabilities across multiple platforms.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the Appknox website are:
- Automated and manual testing: Provides automated scanning and manual testing to cover a wide range of security vulnerabilities.
- SAST (Static application security testing): Analyzes source code for vulnerabilities early in development, improving security before deployment.
- DAST (Dynamic application security testing): Tests live applications in real-time to identify and address runtime vulnerabilities.
- API testing: Ensures the security of APIs by identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could lead to data breaches.
- Penetration testing: Involves manual testing by expert penetration testers to simulate real-world attacks and uncover hidden vulnerabilities.
- SBOM (Software bill of materials): Conducts binary-based security analysis to identify and mitigate risks associated with third-party and open-source components.
3. Data Theorem – “Full Stack App Security”
Data Theorem is a full-stack application security platform designed to protect mobile, web, and cloud-native applications. It offers end-to-end security solutions that cover the entire software lifecycle, ensuring protection against various threats.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the Data Theorem website are:
- Mobile security: Provides end-to-end security for mobile applications, including static, dynamic, and behavioral analysis to identify vulnerabilities.
- API security: Secures APIs by detecting and mitigating vulnerabilities that could lead to data breaches and other security incidents.
- Web app security: Protects web applications from common threats and vulnerabilities through continuous monitoring and automated testing.
- Cloud-native apps security: Secures applications built on cloud-native architectures, ensuring they are protected from design to deployment.
- Supply chain security: Safeguards the software supply chain by identifying and addressing third-party components and dependencies risks.
4. NowSecure – “Mobile App Security Confidence Starts Here.”
NowSecure is a provider of mobile app security solutions, offering continuous automated testing and expert services to safeguard applications. The platform focuses on enhancing mobile app security through a combination of automated tools, developer training, and comprehensive risk management.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the NowSecure website are:
- Continuous automated mobile app security testing: Provides ongoing, automated testing to identify and remediate security vulnerabilities in mobile applications.
- Self-service AppSec training for developers and security teams: Offers training programs to help developers and security teams enhance their skills in mobile app security.
- Mobile app penetration testing services: Delivers specialized penetration testing conducted by experts to uncover hidden vulnerabilities and security flaws.
- Mobile app supply chain risk management: Manages and mitigates risks associated with third-party components and dependencies in the mobile app supply chain.
- Completion of security review for Google Play Data safety section: This function ensures that mobile apps meet the security requirements for the Google Play Data Safety section through independent security reviews.
5. App-Ray – “Static and Dynamic Security Testing of Android and iOS Applications”
App-Ray is a mobile application security platform that offers advanced testing and protection for mobile apps. It provides a range of security solutions to safeguard apps from vulnerabilities, protect code integrity, and secure backend systems.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the App-Ray website are:
- Mobile app security testing: Identifies vulnerabilities and security issues within mobile applications through rigorous testing.
- Mobile app protection (code hardening): Enhances the security of app code to prevent reverse engineering and tampering.
- Data breach prevention: Implements measures to prevent data leaks and ensure the confidentiality and integrity of user data.
- Network security: Analyzes network communications to detect and mitigate potential security threats.
- Software fuzzing: Uses fuzzing techniques to identify unexpected vulnerabilities in software by inputting random data.
- IoT security testing: Assesses the security of IoT devices to protect against cyber threats specific to connected devices.
6. Veracode – “Application Security for the AI Era”
Veracode is an application security platform that provides solutions for identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle. It offers a range of tools and services designed to enhance application security, from prevention and detection to response and remediation.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the App-Ray website are:
Prevent:
- eLearning: Provides on-demand secure coding training to help developers write secure code from the start.
- Security Labs: Offers hands-on, interactive labs for developers to practice and improve their security skills in a controlled environment.
Detect:
- SAST (Static application security testing): Analyzes source code to identify and fix security flaws early in development.
- SCA (Software composition analysis): Scans open source components and third-party libraries for known vulnerabilities and licensing issues.
- Container security: Ensures the security of containerized applications by identifying vulnerabilities in container images and configurations.
- DAST (Dynamic application security testing): Tests running applications to find vulnerabilities by simulating real-world attacks.
- PTaaS (Penetration testing as a service): Provides on-demand penetration testing services to identify and address vulnerabilities from a hacker's perspective.
Respond:
- Fix (Automate remediation): Automates the remediation process to quickly and efficiently address identified vulnerabilities.
- Build, mature, and scale AppSec programs: Offers expert services to help organizations build and scale their application security programs.
7. Ostorlab – “Mobile Security Testing Automation for Android and iOS”
Ostorlab is a security platform that specializes in automated mobile and web application security testing. It offers advanced tools for managing attack surfaces and integrates seamlessly with popular development and communication platforms.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the Ostorlab website are:
- Mobile app security testing: Provides thorough security testing for Android and iOS applications to detect vulnerabilities and ensure robust protection.
- Web app security testing: Conducts extensive testing on web applications to identify and address security issues.
- Attack surface management: Monitors and manages the attack surface to reduce the risk of exploitation by continuously assessing potential entry points.
- Static and dynamic analysis: Utilizes both static and dynamic analysis techniques to uncover security vulnerabilities at various application lifecycle stages.
- Integrations: Offers integration with popular development and communication tools like Jira, Jenkins, GitHub, Slack, and others.
8. Q-MAST by Quokka – “Rely on Q-mast Automated Mobile App Security Testing (MAST) for Android and iOS”
Q-MAST by Quokka is a cloud-based platform that delivers comprehensive mobile application security testing through various advanced analysis techniques. It provides a robust solution for identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring privacy and security standards compliance.
Key features
Some of the key features highlighted on the Q-MAST website are:
- Range of Analysis methods: Static (SAST), Dynamic (DAST), Interactive (IAST), and Forced-Path Execution App Analysis methods are available to assess app security thoroughly.
- Automated scanning: Quickly scans apps without needing the source code.
- Analysis of compiled app binary: Examines the compiled binary to identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Malicious behavior profiling: Detects malicious behaviors and interactions between apps.
- Checks against privacy & security standards: Ensures compliance with NIAP, NIST, and MASVS standards.
- Precise SBOM generation and analysis: Creates and analyzes a detailed software bill of materials (SBOM) for the app.
Conclusion
You now understand various mobile app security testing tools available.
Although Global App Testing doesn't specialize in security testing itself, our crowdsourced testing solutions follow the highest security protocols. Global App Testing has earned ISO 27001 certification, aligning with the highest global security standards. Our rigorous processes and policies ensure the protection, integrity, and availability of data:
1. Network & System Policies
Hosting: Our platform is exclusively hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), leveraging their high-security data centers. AWS adheres to ACIPA SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ISO 27017 standards, providing robust security and compliance.
2. Data and Encryption
Encryption: All our applications, databases, and storage are encrypted with 356-bit AES encryption. Data management is handled by AWS key management services, ensuring secure data processing and storage.
3. Authentication
Authentication Service: We use Auth0 for authentication, and our employees utilize single sign-on (SSO) technology through Google G Suite Directory. This setup enforces strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
4. Recovery & Continuity
Disaster Recovery: We have comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity plans, with high availability infrastructure in Ireland and a backup in Stockholm. Our testers are available 24/7, and we regularly test these plans to ensure rapid recovery in case of a disaster.
5. Firewalls
Web Protection: All incoming traffic is managed through Cloudflare with Web Application Firewall enabled. We ensure secure communication by negotiating TLS at a minimum version of 1.2 and using SSL channels for all web traffic, protecting against malicious internet traffic.
6. Product Security
Development Procedures: We follow secure development procedures, authenticate internal API endpoints, conduct regular external penetration tests, and run a bug bounty program. We maintain a live status page for operational uptime and issues.
7. Employee & IT Security
Training: All employees undergo mandatory security and privacy training. Our ISO 27001 certification includes comprehensive policies and procedures, such as risk monitoring, system improvements, and thorough background checks for all hires to ensure we employ trustworthy professionals.
8. Build Distribution
Build Security: We protect unreleased builds, apps, and websites using secure platforms like TestFlight and Firebase. Our testers sign NDAs, and access can be further secured through VPNs, IP whitelisting, or email domain whitelisting.
9. GDPR Compliance
Privacy Training: Employees receive mandatory security and privacy training. We adhere to ISO 27001 policies, continuously monitor and document risks, and ensure all hires are reliable professionals, underscoring our dedication to data security and privacy.
By choosing a solution like Global App Testing, you are taking a significant step towards creating a more secure environment for your business and its customers. Consult our experts to make the most informed decisions for your organization's cybersecurity. They can help you evaluate your specific needs and implement the necessary measures for robust protection. Take action today to enhance your cybersecurity, and schedule a call!
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