When it comes to mobile applications, security is the highest priority for security leaders.
With the increasing number of applications handling sensitive data, ensuring they are secure from cyber attacks is critical—and one of the most effective ways to do this is through penetration testing.
Penetration testing is a deliberate security exercise conducted by experienced security engineers to help identify any vulnerabilities present in the application. It has been a critical security measure for ensuring strong mobile app security.
But there are misconceptions about penetration testing that often prevent organizations from leveraging it to its maximum capacity. So we’ll dispel some common myths and learn the reality—as it should be—about penetration testing for mobile apps.
Myths about Penetration Testing for Mobile
Let’s first break down these myths and, with it, explore the reality behind them.
1. It’s Too Expensive
While penetration testing does involve an investment, it’s important to weigh it against the potential financial and reputational damage a security breach can inflict.
The cost of recovering from a data breach—encompassing legal fees, customer compensation, and lost business—can dwarf the investment in proactive security measures like penetration testing.
The best example to understand the impact of a security incident would be Equifax—a major credit reporting agency that suffered a massive data breach in 2017, exposing the personal information of over 147 million people. The breach resulted in a staggering cost of over $700 million, including legal fees, settlements, and the implementation of new security measures.
2. It’s Only for Large Enterprises
One common misconception is that only large companies need to worry about penetration testing. But in reality, mobile apps from businesses of any size are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Interestingly, small businesses are often seen as easy targets because they might not have strong security measures in place. SMEs, in particular, handle sensitive customer data and intellectual property, making them attractive targets for hackers. So, whether you’re running a small startup or a medium-sized enterprise, penetration testing is essential to protect your app and your users’ data.
3. It’s a One-Time Activity
Another common myth is that penetration testing is a one-time task, but that’s not the case. The threat landscape keeps changing, and because you need to push updates for your mobile apps frequently—to release features or patch old bugs—penetration testing should be an ongoing process to identify and remediate new vulnerabilities and mitigate the risk.
Imagine you pushed an update, and the new feature inadvertently exposes user data. Without regular testing, this new vulnerability could go unnoticed for days, months, or even years, putting your users at risk. By conducting penetration tests regularly, you ensure that your app remains secure despite ongoing changes and updates.
4. Automated Tools Are Enough
Automated tools are good and can help identify some issues, but they mostly address commonly known problems and not the unknown ones, which require intellectual effort and creative thinking.
They can’t replace the expertise of skilled security researchers and engineers, who can find hidden weaknesses and simulate attacks to exploit complex vulnerabilities that tools usually miss. And even those security tools need pentesting.
5. It Guarantees Complete Security
This is the biggest lie—a myth that conducting penetration testing guarantees complete security for your app. Software vulnerabilities can arise from human error and misconfiguration, and so even the most sophisticated penetration testing by seasoned professionals doesn’t ensure 100% security.
Cyber threats keep evolving, and no security measure is foolproof. However, following best security practices, including regular penetration testing, can significantly improve your security posture. Conducting testing internally is effective, and hiring a third party can provide additional value by getting an unbiased perspective.
The Reality of Penetration Testing for Mobile Apps
So, what does penetration testing actually look like for mobile applications? The proactive approach should always start with planning, where the security team understands the tech stack of the application, its functionality, and its purpose.
They then simulate various attack scenarios to identify any weaknesses due to human error, outdated dependencies, misconfiguration, or any unpatched zero-day vulnerabilities in third-party software. After thorough testing, they provide a detailed report that highlights the findings and recommends fixes, giving you clear visibility into the vulnerabilities and how to address them.
Visibility makes the benefits of this process very clear, helping everyone gain a detailed understanding of where your app is vulnerable so that the service owners (developers, admins, etc.) can take action to address those vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.
Best Practices for Mobile App Penetration Testing
To get the most out of penetration testing, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:
- Regular Testing: Schedule tests regularly, especially after major updates or changes to the app, to ensure ongoing security.
- Choose the Right People: Work with qualified and experienced security engineers who understand mobile application development and have a solid grasp of mobile security.
- Integrate Testing into Development: Make penetration testing a part of your development cycle, rather than an afterthought. This approach allows you to address security issues as they arise.
- Stay Updated: The best way to improve your security posture is to stay updated with the latest trends and news because you could be using technologies in your tech stack that have publicly disclosed vulnerabilities.
Penetration Testing for all Mobile Applications
Penetration testing is an essential part of mobile app security, but it’s often misunderstood due to various myths.
Big tech companies don’t underestimate the importance of continuous penetration testing—not automated, but manual testing conducted by skilled security engineers. It helps uncover critical security issues that, if left unchecked, could have destructive consequences.
Siemba provides a Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) platform with an advanced threat detection engine to help keep your app safe from ever-evolving threats. With their offensive security solutions, you can integrate penetration testing into your regular security strategy, supported by experienced security engineers who test your applications and help strengthen your security posture.
Contact our security engineers to proactively protect your business from cyber threats.
