In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the demand for robust, user-friendly mobile apps is at an all-time high. Businesses across all industries are investing heavily in mobile solutions to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations. However, while companies rush to launch the next big app, many overlook a critical aspect—mobile app security. If you're working with a mobile app development company in Dubai, such as Devherds, it's essential to prioritize app security from day one to protect your users and your business.

Despite growing awareness of cyber threats, countless mobile apps are released with vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. These risks not only threaten sensitive user data but can also lead to reputational damage, legal issues, and financial losses. Let's dive deep into some of the most common yet frequently ignored mobile app security risks—and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Insecure Data Storage:

One of the most prevalent mobile app security risks is insecure data storage. Many apps store sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, and personal user data on the device's local storage. If this data isn't encrypted, it becomes a prime target for attackers.

Mobile devices can be lost, stolen, or accessed by malicious software. Without robust encryption and secure storage practices, your app could inadvertently expose user data. Companies must enforce encrypted data storage and use secure containers to prevent unauthorized access.

At Devherds, we help you implement best-in-class storage encryption practices, ensuring your users' data remains protected even in offline mode.

2. Weak Server-Side Controls:

Mobile apps often communicate with servers to perform operations such as login authentication, data syncing, and push notifications. If the server-side logic lacks strong security controls, hackers can exploit endpoints to gain unauthorized access or manipulate app functions.

Common server-side vulnerabilities include:

  • Poor input validation

  • Insecure APIs

  • Outdated software libraries

To mitigate these risks, it's crucial to implement secure coding standards, regularly update your server software, and conduct penetration testing. Devherds, as a trusted mobile app development company in Dubai, emphasizes secure backend architecture and API hardening in every project.

3. Unsecured APIs:

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the backbone of most mobile applications, enabling them to communicate with third-party services or internal servers. However, if APIs are poorly secured, they can become a gateway for attackers to manipulate or steal data.

Common mistakes include:

  • Exposing sensitive data through unencrypted APIs

  • Lack of authentication and authorization controls

  • Over-permissioned API keys

To avoid this, developers should always use HTTPS, implement token-based authentication (like OAuth 2.0), and limit access scopes. At Devherds, we integrate secure API practices into every stage of the development lifecycle, helping your app stay resilient against cyber threats.

4. Improper Session Handling:

Session management flaws can allow attackers to hijack user sessions, impersonate users, or gain unauthorized access. These flaws usually arise from improperly stored session tokens or failure to time out inactive sessions.

A secure mobile app should:

  • Use short-lived tokens

  • Invalidate tokens on logout

  • Use secure storage (like Keychain or Keystore) for token management

If your app involves sensitive operations—like online payments or user authentication—strong session handling becomes non-negotiable. Devherds ensures that all session protocols follow industry-leading standards to maintain user integrity and privacy.

5. Reverse Engineering Vulnerabilities:

Most mobile apps are vulnerable to reverse engineering, where attackers decompile the app code to study its logic, extract hardcoded credentials, or identify weaknesses. This is especially dangerous for Android apps, where APK files can be easily unpacked.

To combat reverse engineering:

  • Obfuscate the code to make it unreadable

  • Avoid hardcoding sensitive information

  • Use runtime application self-protection (RASP)

As a seasoned mobile app development company in Dubai, Devherds leverages code obfuscation tools and runtime security measures to reduce reverse engineering risks significantly.

6. Lack of Code Obfuscation:

Many developers focus solely on the functionality of an app while ignoring code obfuscation—one of the simplest yet most effective techniques to enhance security. Obfuscation involves transforming readable code into a difficult-to-understand format, making it harder for attackers to reverse engineer.

Benefits of code obfuscation include:

  • Protecting intellectual property

  • Hiding internal logic from attackers

  • Reducing vulnerability exploitation

At Devherds, we implement automated code obfuscation tools as part of our app hardening process, giving your mobile application a critical security edge.

7. Insufficient App Transport Security (ATS):

Data in transit between the mobile app and the backend server must be secured using encryption protocols. However, many apps still transmit data over unsecured HTTP connections, putting user information at risk.

Transport layer security (TLS) should be enforced across all data transmissions. Apps must also avoid SSL pinning bypasses, which can expose them to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

As a reliable mobile app development company in Dubai, Devherds configures your mobile applications to comply with the latest ATS protocols, ensuring your data stays safe from prying eyes.

8. Overlooking Third-Party Library Risks:

Third-party libraries can significantly speed up development, but they come with their own set of security challenges. Vulnerabilities in these libraries can be exploited to compromise your app—even if your own code is secure.

Best practices include:

  • Using libraries from trusted sources

  • Keeping libraries updated

  • Regularly auditing dependencies for vulnerabilities

Devherds performs thorough security reviews on all third-party code integrations, ensuring that only secure and reliable libraries are used in your app.

9. Failure to Secure the App Store Binary:

Even after development is complete, risks don't disappear. Attackers can download your app from the app store, decompile it, inject malicious code, and distribute a fake version. These counterfeit apps can steal user data or damage your brand reputation.

To prevent this:

  • Use tamper detection techniques

  • Apply app signature verification

  • Monitor the app stores for cloned versions

Devherds provides post-deployment support that includes app integrity checks and threat monitoring, giving you continued protection even after your app goes live.

10. Neglecting Regular Security Testing:

Security is not a one-time task—it's an ongoing process. Many businesses launch their app and forget about regular vulnerability testing, leaving the door open for evolving threats.

Essential testing practices include:

  • Static and dynamic code analysis

  • Penetration testing

  • Regular updates and patching

Devherds includes comprehensive security testing in every development cycle, ensuring your app can withstand modern security challenges.

Final Thoughts:

Ignoring mobile app security risks can be a costly mistake—not just in terms of revenue but also brand reputation and user trust. By partnering with a professional mobile app development company in Dubai like Devherds, you ensure that your application is developed with security at its core.

From secure coding practices to robust data encryption and post-launch monitoring, Devherds delivers mobile apps that not only perform flawlessly but also stand strong against cyber threats. Don't let avoidable security flaws derail your app's success. Make security a priority—your users (and your business) will thank you.