There’s an exciting trend happening in mobile app defense. This trend emphasizes better user experiences in mobile app security and anti-fraud measures and de-emphasizes brute force defense countermeasures. This approach puts the mobile end-user’s experience on par with defending the app, brand, and network.
How do developers create better user experiences out of security features that are designed primarily to stop an attacker? Using Appdome’s Threat-Event™ Intelligence Framework, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that inside well-defended mobile apps, mobile brands, and developers can create a balanced, user-centric security model that integrates seamlessly with the app experience.
The Origins of “Crash to Defend” in Mobile Apps
In mobile app defense, “crash to defend” was designed to preserve the integrity of the mobile app, data, and network, not the user experience. For years, it was seen as the best practice for protecting sensitive data and systems from exploits. If a defense’s primary goal is to stop the attack, the easiest and most absolute way of doing that is to crash the app – i.e., render the app inoperable. This strategy was effective in stopping certain types of attacks. For example, one might argue that when an OS-level exploit arises, because of its potential impact on the data in the app, the app’s process should be terminated or crashed. But, today, the expectations and needs of mobile users have evolved, and the “crash to defend” model – however effective technically – is no longer useful. By disregarding the user, these countermeasures lead to frustration, loss of trust, and user abandonment in the mobile business.
The Big Problem with “Crash to Defend” in Mobile Apps
Using crash to defend in a mobile app has several problems. First, it leaves users confused and frustrated, often without any guidance on what went wrong or how to resolve the threat that caused the crash in the first place. It’s a brute-force approach that prioritizes stopping the attacker over the needs of the user when the attack happens. Second, in a world where user experience is increasingly tied to brand loyalty and success, users expect apps to work even when attacks occur. They are unlikely to tolerate disruptions, even if the disruption is for good reason, particularly if they don’t understand why the disruption occurred. Third, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have both adapted their policies to severely limit the use of crashing the app to defend the app. They both maintain strict standards on crash-free rates for all developers. Using crash to defend, even for legitimate security events, could lead to app store rejections or delisting.
How to Achieve the Best User Experience in Mobile Defense
To achieve the best user experience in mobile defense requires a paradigm shift. Step #1 is to recognize that you’re not protecting just “an app” or “a network.” Step #2 is to recognize that the defense’s purpose is to guide the user through the threat, up to and including the threat resolution process. To do this effectively, mobile brands and developers need a framework to:
- Generate real-time, granular threat data in the mobile app,
- Consume unique ThreatIDs and meta-data in the threat data in the mobile app,
- Attribute the threat data to SessionIDs or UserIDs, and
- Use the data to create unique responses to each threat in the mobile app.
The more granular and detailed the data and matching functions, the more dynamic the responses based on each specific threat can be. This eliminates the one-size-fits-all response to threats and also eliminates crash to defend in mobile apps all together. This also means that instead of simply shutting down the app, the mobile app can take more nuanced actions, such as reducing the app’s functionality or temporarily suspending certain features until the threat is resolved. When a threat is detected, the app doesn’t just shut down; instead, it provides users with clear information about the nature of the threat and guides them through the steps they need to take to resolve it – all while mitigating the threat while it exists. This not only keeps the app functional but also helps users feel empowered and confident in their ability to manage their own security.
Examples of Better Threat Response in Mobile Apps
One of the key strengths of Appdome’s Threat-Event™ Intelligence Framework is that it allows for a wide range of threat responses, all designed to protect the app without compromising the user experience. These responses could include:
- Threat Education: Instead of crashing the app, mobile brands can provide users with detailed information about the threat, helping them understand what’s happening and why. This educational component builds trust and empowers users to take action.
- Threat Mitigation: If a threat is detected, the app can reduce its functionality rather than crashing completely. For example, certain high-risk features might be temporarily disabled, but the core functionality remains available, minimizing disruption.
- Threat Containment: In situations where the threat is specific to certain transactions or actions, the app can limit the scope of its functionality, such as reducing transaction limits or temporarily restricting sensitive operations.
- Threat Pausing: When further investigation is needed, the app can temporarily hold certain transactions while enhanced due diligence is performed. This ensures that users can continue using other features of the app while the threat is assessed.
- Threat Aggregation: For less severe threats, mobile brands can accumulate multiple threat indicators before taking action. This reduces the likelihood of false positives and minimizes unnecessary disruptions.
- Threat Monetization: In some cases, mobile brands can make offers to attackers (e.g., bug bounties) or make offers to users who are under attack, such as through protection packages for purchases or transactions while threats are present. This not only secures the app but also provides users with additional value.
The Role of Gen AI in Better User Experiences
As we demonstrated in our Threat Resolution Center™, a key component of the User Experience in mobile defense is the ability to help users resolve threats on their personal mobile devices. At Appdome, we use of Generative AI (Gen AI) to educate and guide users through threat resolution. When a threat is detected, Gen AI can dynamically generate personalized messages that explain the threat and offer step-by-step instructions for finding and resolving threats on personal mobile devices. This level of personalized threat resolution is critical in building user trust and ensuring that users feel supported throughout the process.
Building Better User Experiences in Mobile Defense is the Future
Elevating the user experience in mobile defense represents the future of mobile app security. By prioritizing the user experience and offering a wide range of threat response options, it ensures that apps remain secure without compromising usability. This approach not only protects the app but also enhances the user experience, leading to greater user satisfaction and loyalty.
As the mobile landscape continues to evolve, the need for security solutions that integrate seamlessly with the user experience will only grow. With Appdome’s Threat-Event™ Intelligence Framework, mobile brands can evolve their security posture to meet the needs of today’s users, ensuring that security measures are both effective and user-friendly. In a world where user experience is king, this new trend offers a smart, sophisticated approach to mobile app security that benefits everyone involved.
Stay tuned for more from Appdome on this topic!
Tom Tovar is co-creator at Appdome.
