Generally speaking, by simulating attacks, mobile application penetration testing evaluates the security of a mobile application.

Enhancing the mobile app’s resilience to attacks is the main objective in order to make sure that it is safe from online dangers.

This kind of security evaluation looks at a number of elements, including security flaws in the backend APIs of the mobile application, authorization and authentication systems, filesystem permissions, inter-process communication, and unsafe cloud and device data storage.

Mobile app pentesting services are applicable to both iOS and Android, as well as less well-known platforms like Windows Phone and BlackBerry. It’s crucial to note that the majority of pentesting tools no longer support them.

The Right Time to Get Help from Mobile App Pentesting Services

The last phases of QA are typically the best times to test a new application. The application should be completely operational and as near to production-ready as feasible.

It takes about a week to run a test and another week to generate the report for the majority of applications.

Therefore, adding two weeks to your project timeframe for security and penetration testing is a smart idea.

How long does a mobile penetration test engagement typically last?

The complexity and particular features of the app are two of the many variables that affect how long a mobile application penetration test takes. The following general timescales can be estimated:

·         Simple mobile apps (one week)

Basic utility applications, simple game apps, and small-scale e-commerce apps are examples of simpler mobile apps with fewer features that usually take one to two weeks to thoroughly evaluate.

·         Mobile apps with a moderate level of complexity (2–3 weeks)

It usually takes two to three weeks for apps with more complex features, such as multiple user roles, sophisticated UI/UX elements, or connections with backend systems and external APIs. Mobile banking apps that meet normal security standards or complex e-commerce platforms can fall under this category.

·         Large or complicated mobile apps (3+ weeks)

The features and functionalities of apps in this category are extensive or extremely complicated. Enterprise-level apps with plenty of features, unique functionality, intricate data processing, and a lot of backend interfaces are among them.

3 Signs That Pen-Testing Is Needed 

1. Your service is heading into production or going live.

IT and development teams frequently push out apps while working under unreasonable schedules. Before deploying their systems or services, businesses need to evaluate their security.

Keep in mind that penetration testing needs to be carried out prior to the systems becoming live or into production once they are no longer constantly changing.

2. You have modified web apps and infrastructure.

The following are notable modifications to the web apps or infrastructure:

• Setting up new apps, infrastructure, and software
• Code modifications
• Decommissioning of outdated software
• Onboarding of new third-party services
• Addition of new physical office locations to the network
• Movement of physical offices
• Addition of new Internet of Things devices to the system
• Adjustments to network equipment

3. You’ve Installed Security Updates

Security patches are intended to address errors, vulnerabilities, and security flaws in software that has already been deployed.

Because patch information is made public, attackers typically research the patches and the patched vulnerabilities to identify ways to exploit them.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Test an Application

Once a new application becomes online, you don’t want to wait to test it. First, availability data integrity is clearly less of a problem prior to the application becoming live.

As a result, the test team can focus on improving the website without worrying about taking it down. Obviously, mobile app pentesting services test production apps frequently and are skilled at providing a reliable test without any disruptions.

Having said that, it is usually preferable to not have availability issues because this expedites our evaluation and enables us to thoroughly examine the risk of vulnerabilities that are found.

The second—and possibly most obvious—reason is that once a website goes live, it becomes accessible to all Internet users, including malevolent hackers. Assuming that it won’t be targeted within the first 24 hours of going into production is risky.

As was indicated in the introduction, your entire company is at risk, not just the new application, if an attacker discovers a flaw that allows him to remotely execute code on the underlying server