Security Principles for Mobile Development

Building secure mobile applications requires adherence to fundamental security principles adapted for the mobile environment.

Defense in Depth: Implement multiple layers of security controls throughout your application. No single security measure is foolproof, but combining multiple defenses creates a robust security posture. This includes secure coding practices, encryption, authentication, network security, and runtime protection.

Least Privilege: Applications should request only the minimum permissions necessary for functionality. Users are more likely to grant limited permissions, and reducing permission scope limits potential damage from compromises. Regularly review and audit permission usage, removing any that are no longer needed.

Secure by Default: Security should be the default state, not an option users must enable. Implement secure defaults for all configurations, encrypt data automatically, and ensure secure communication channels without user intervention. Make insecure options difficult to enable accidentally.

Fail Securely: When errors occur, applications should fail in a way that maintains security. Avoid exposing sensitive information in error messages, maintain data protection even during crashes, and ensure authentication states reset appropriately after failures.