iOS Binding Obfuscation, Anti-Reversing in iOS Apps

Last updated November 30, 2023 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Add Binding Obfuscation in iOS apps.

What is Binding Obfuscation?

iOS apps consist of binaries in Mach-O format. This format contains “Binding Information” which is required to perform dynamic resolution of system symbols. “Binding Information” consists of a list of instructions the OS will follow when loading the app into memory so that the app has all it needs to function properly. One type of instruction will instruct OS to provide the app with the address of a function that is implemented in a system library, a.k.a dynamic resolution system symbols. Properly obfuscating binding information requires meeting both of the following conditions: (a) the binding instructions are rendered incomprehensible to an attacker, so they cannot be converted back to the original symbol while (b) when the app is launched, all required functions are resolved properly and in the correct timing.

Why Should Developers Obfuscate iOS Bindings?

Attackers will use Binding information during static analysis and reverse engineering to gain a deep understanding of the inner workings of an iOS app. The binding instructions list includes the system function names the app is planning to call. As a result, combining all of  the system function names into a list provides an insight into the app’s business logic and potential vectors to attack the app. Furthermore, attackers can perform the opposite conversion, by following the binding instruction to convert the system function names to the location the OS is instructed to store the resolved address. In so doing they will find all calls to the system in question. Obfuscating iOS Bindings in the application binary will prevent the attackers from performing these conversions, thereby extremely reducing any risk of  reverse engineering.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Binding Obfuscation Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Add Binding Obfuscation , you’ll need:

How to Implement Add Binding Obfuscation in iOS Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Add Binding Obfuscation without an SDK or gateway:

  1. Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

    1. Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.

    2. iOS Formats: .ipa
    3. Binding Obfuscation is compatible with: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other iOS apps.
  2. Select the defense: Binding Obfuscation.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Binding Obfuscation feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Binding Obfuscation

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Binding Obfuscation feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Binding Obfuscation feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you select the Binding Obfuscation you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Binding Obfuscation.

        Fusion Set applied Binding Obfuscation

        Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Binding Obfuscation protection
        Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      4. Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set. Copy the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

      5. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:
        1. Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
    1. Add the Binding Obfuscation feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Security tab > TOTALCode™ Obfuscation section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On > Binding Obfuscation.
        Binding Obfuscation option

        Figure 4: Selecting Add Binding Obfuscation

        Note: The Appdome Platform displays the Mobile Operation Systems supported by each defense in real-time. For more details, see our OS Support Policy KB.

      3. Configure the User Experience Options for Binding Obfuscation:
        With Threat-Events™ OFF, Appdome provides several user experience options for mobile brands and developers.
        1. App Compromise Notification: Customize the pop-up or toast Appdome uses to notify the user when a threat is present while using the protected mobile app.
        2. Short message Option. This is available for mobile devices that allow a banner notification for security events.
        3. Localized Message Option. Allows Appdome users to support global languages in security notifications.

          Localized Message

          Figure 5: Default User Experience Options for Appdome’s Binding Obfuscation

        4. Binding Obfuscation Threat Code™. Appdome uses AI/ML to generate a unique code each time Binding Obfuscation is triggered by an active threat on the mobile device. Use the code in Appdome Threat Resolution Center™ to help end users identify, find and resolve active threats on the personal mobile devices.
    2. Initiate the build command either by clicking Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 4) or via your CI/CD as described in Section 2.1.4.
    Congratulations!  The Binding Obfuscation protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Binding Obfuscation feature in iOS Apps

    After building Binding Obfuscation, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Binding Obfuscation protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Binding Obfuscation protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below: Binding Obfuscation shown in Certificate secure

    Figure 6: Certified Secure™ certificate

    Each Certified Secure™ certificate provides DevOps and DevSecOps organizations the entire workflow summary, audit trail of each build, and proof of protection that Binding Obfuscation has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Binding Obfuscation and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for Binding Obfuscation Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Binding Obfuscation is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Binding Obfuscation in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Binding Obfuscation shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Binding Obfuscation are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Add Binding Obfuscation Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Binding Obfuscation
Threat-Event Mode
OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging.
ON, IN-APP DETECTION Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce).
ON, IN-APP DEFENSE Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection).
Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check x
Visible in ThreatScope™ x
Developer Parameters for Adding Binding Obfuscation Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF
Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore Current Threat-Event score
threatEventsScore Total Threat-events score
Threat-Event Context Keys
message Message displayed for the user on event
failSafeEnforce Timed enforcement against the identified threat
externalID The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events
osVersion OS version of the current device
deviceModel Current device model
deviceManufacturer The manufacturer of the current device
fusedAppToken The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app
kernelInfo Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine.
deviceID Current device ID
reasonCode Reason code of the occurred event
buildDate Appdome fusion date of the current application
devicePlatform OS name of the current device
updatedOSVersion Is the OS version up to date
timeZone Time zone
deviceFaceDown Is the device face down
locationLong Location longitude conditioned by location permission
locationLat Location latitude conditioned by location permission
locationState Location state conditioned by location permission
wifiSsid Wifi SSID
wifiSsidPermissionStatus Wifi SSID permission status
threatCode The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device.

With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), iOS developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in iOS applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when Binding Obfuscation is detected.


The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Binding Obfuscation:


Important! Replace all placeholder instances of <Context Key> with the specific name of your threat event context key across all language examples. This is crucial to ensure your code functions correctly with the intended event data. For example, The <Context Key> could be the message, externalID, OS Version, reason code, etc.



Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Binding Obfuscation. There is no SDK and no library to code or implement in the app and no gateway to deploy in your network. All protections are built into each app and the resulting app is self-defending and self-protecting.

Releasing and Publishing Mobile Apps with Binding Obfuscation

After successfully securing your app by using Appdome, there are several available options to complete your project, depending on your app lifecycle or workflow. These include:

Related Articles:

How Do I Learn More?

If you have any questions, please send them our way at support.appdome.com or via the chat window on the Appdome platform.

Thank you!

Thanks for visiting Appdome! Our mission is to secure every app on the planet by making mobile app security easy. We hope we’re living up to the mission with your project.

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