How to Strip Debug Info in iOS Apps

Last updated September 23, 2024 by Appdome

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

What is Debug Information?

Debug information is data stored inside the code of a mobile app which aids the developer in troubleshooting, tracking down issues, and fixing bugs more easily. Debug information can also be used by bad actors who want to learn how your app works by reverse engineering your code (or other malicious purposes like copying or stealing your intellectual property). Your final production app should be built in release mode (which does not contain debug information). However, more often than not, the released mobile app does contain debug information such as source code file names, line numbers, variable names and symbol names. Rather than going back to the developer and asking them to modify the app, Appdome offers a quick and easy way to strip debug information from the Android or iOS app – instantly without code or coding.

Why Strip Debug Information in iOS Apps?

Debug information in mobile apps can display information that leaves a mobile app vulnerable to attacks. Examples of the information that can be exposed are the source code file names, line numbers, variable names, and symbol names, to name a few. You can use Appdome to remove debug information from the logs for additional mobile app protection.

Handling the -use_app_entitlements Error in Fastlane

When using Appdome to fuse your app with Strip Debug Information, the app’s executable file is encrypted for security, and this encryption process can prevent tools like Fastlane from extracting the app’s entitlements, mainly if you are using Private Signing. To resolve this, you need to manually provide Fastlane with your app entitlements by extracting them from the original non-protected .ipa using the following command:

codesign -d --entitlements - --xml <path>/vanilla/Payload/MyiOS.app/MYiOS  | plutil -convert xml1 -o - - > <path>/MyiOSAppEnt.plist

Upload your entitlements file to the relevant signing vendor. For more details on managing entitlements, refer to Fastlane Documentation.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Strip Debug Information Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Strip Debug Information , you’ll need:

Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
A license for Strip Debug Information
Mobile App (.ipa for iOS)
Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)

How to Implement Strip Debug Information in iOS Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Strip Debug Information without an SDK or gateway:

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. Strip Debug Information is compatible with: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other iOS apps.
Select the defense: Strip Debug Information.

Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Strip Debug Information feature as shown below:

Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Strip Debug Information feature

Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Strip Debug Information feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

When you select the Strip Debug Information you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Strip Debug Information.

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

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):

Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

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:

Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.

Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.

Add the Strip Debug Information feature to your security template.

Navigate to Build > Security tab > TOTALCode™ Obfuscation section in the Appdome Console.
Like all other options in ONEShield™, Strip Debug Information is turned on by default, as shown below:
Figure 4: Selecting Strip Debug Information
Note: The App Compromise Notification contains an easy to follow default remediation path for the mobile app end user. You can customize this message as required to achieve brand specific support, workflow or other messaging.

Toggle On > Strip Debug Information.

Figure 4: Selecting Strip Debug Information

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 Strip Debug Information protection is now added to the mobile app

Certify the Strip Debug Information feature in iOS Apps

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

Figure 5: 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 Strip Debug Information has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Strip Debug Information and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for Debug Information Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

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

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Debug Information are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Strip Debug Information Method Detail

Appdome Feature Name Strip Debug Information

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 Striping Debug Information 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 Debug Information is detected.

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

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.

let center = NotificationCenter.default center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name(""), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else { return } let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code // Current threat event score let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"]; // Total threat events score let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"]; // Replace '' with your specific event context key // let variable = usrInf[""]; // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) }

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let center = NotificationCenter.default
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center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name(""), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in
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guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else {
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return
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}
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let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user
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let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
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let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"];
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// Total threat events score
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let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"];
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// let variable = usrInf["<Context Key>"];
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}

[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName: @"" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) { __block NSNotification *note = org_note; dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) { // Message shown to the user NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"]; // Threat detection cause NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"]; // Event reason code NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"]; // Current threat event score NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"]; // Total threat events score NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"]; // Replace '' with your specific event context key // NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@""]; // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) }); }];

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[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName: @"" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) {
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__block NSNotification *note = org_note;
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dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) {
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// Message shown to the user
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NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"];
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// Threat detection cause
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NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"];
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// Event reason code
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NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"];
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// Current threat event score
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NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"];
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// Total threat events score
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NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"];
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"<Context Key>"];
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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});
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}];

const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules; const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents); function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) { NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action); aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback); } export function registerToAllEvents() { registerToDevEvent( "", (userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo)) var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"] // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"] // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = userinfo[""] // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) ); }

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const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
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const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);
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function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
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NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
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aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
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}
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export function registerToAllEvents() {
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registerToDevEvent(
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"",
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(userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo))
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var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user
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var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause
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var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"]
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"]
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"]
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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);
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}

RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter("")); class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver { public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent) { String message = intent.GetStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user String reasonData = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause String reasonCode = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code // Current threat event score String currentThreatEventScore = intent.GetStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Total threat events score String threatEventsScore = intent.GetStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Replace '' with your specific event context key // String variable = intent.GetStringExtra(""); // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) } }

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RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter(""));
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class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver
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{
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public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
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{
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// Message shown to the user
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String message = intent.GetStringExtra("message");
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// Threat detection cause
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String reasonData = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonData");
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// Event reason code
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String reasonCode = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonCode");
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// Current threat event score
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String currentThreatEventScore = intent.GetStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore");
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// Total threat events score
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String threatEventsScore = intent.GetStringExtra("threatEventsScore");
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// String variable = intent.GetStringExtra("<Context Key>");
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}
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}

NSNotificationCenter.DefaultCenter.AddObserver( (NSString)"", // Threat-Event Identifier delegate (NSNotification notification) { // Message shown to the user var message = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("message"); // Threat detection cause var reasonData = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonData"); // Event reason code var reasonCode = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonCode"); // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("currentThreatEventScore"); // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("threatEventsScore"); // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey(""); // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) } );

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NSNotificationCenter.DefaultCenter.AddObserver(
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(NSString)"", // Threat-Event Identifier
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delegate (NSNotification notification)
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{
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// Message shown to the user
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var message = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("message");
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// Threat detection cause
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var reasonData = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonData");
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// Event reason code
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var reasonCode = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonCode");
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("currentThreatEventScore");
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("threatEventsScore");
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("<Context Keys>");
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}
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);

window.broadcaster.addEventListener("", function(userInfo) { var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = userInfo. // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) });

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window.broadcaster.addEventListener("", function(userInfo) {
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var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user
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var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause
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var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = userInfo.<Context Keys>
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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});

import 'dart:async'; import 'package:flutter/material.dart'; import 'package:flutter/services.dart'; class PlatformChannel extends StatefulWidget { const PlatformChannel({super.key}); @override State createState() => _PlatformChannelState(); } class _PlatformChannelState extends State { // Replace with your EventChannel name static const String _eventChannelName = ""; static const EventChannel _eventChannel = EventChannel(_eventChannelName); @override void initState() { super.initState(); _eventChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError); } void _onEvent(Object? event) { setState(() { // Adapt this section based on your specific event data structure var eventData = event as Map; // Example: Accessing 'externalID' field from the event var externalID = eventData['externalID']; // Customize the rest of the fields based on your event structure String message = eventData['message']; // Message shown to the user String reasonData = eventData['reasonData']; // Threat detection cause String reasonCode = eventData['reasonCode']; // Event reason code // Current threat event score String currentThreatEventScore = eventData['currentThreatEventScore']; // Total threat events score String threatEventsScore = eventData['threatEventsScore']; // Replace '' with your specific event context key // String variable = eventData['']; }); } // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) }

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import 'dart:async';
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import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
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import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
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class PlatformChannel extends StatefulWidget {
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const PlatformChannel({super.key});
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@override
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State<PlatformChannel> createState() => _PlatformChannelState();
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}
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class _PlatformChannelState extends State<PlatformChannel> {
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// Replace with your EventChannel name
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static const String _eventChannelName = "";
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static const EventChannel _eventChannel = EventChannel(_eventChannelName);
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@override
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void initState() {
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super.initState();
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_eventChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError);
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}
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void _onEvent(Object? event) {
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setState(() {
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// Adapt this section based on your specific event data structure
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var eventData = event as Map;
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// Example: Accessing 'externalID' field from the event
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var externalID = eventData['externalID'];
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// Customize the rest of the fields based on your event structure
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String message = eventData['message']; // Message shown to the user
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String reasonData = eventData['reasonData']; // Threat detection cause
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String reasonCode = eventData['reasonCode']; // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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String currentThreatEventScore = eventData['currentThreatEventScore'];
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// Total threat events score
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String threatEventsScore = eventData['threatEventsScore'];
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// String variable = eventData['<Context Keys>'];
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});
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}
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Strip Debug Information. 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 Strip Debug Information

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:

Customizing, Configuring & Branding Secure Mobile Apps.

Deploying/Publishing Secure mobile apps to Public or Private app stores.

Releasing Secured Android & iOS Apps built on Appdome.

Related Articles:

Non-Native Code Obfuscation, Anti-Reversing for Android & iOS Frameworks

iOS SelRef Obfuscation, Anti-Reversing in iOS Apps

iOS Binding Obfuscation, Anti-Reversing in iOS Apps

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.

How to Strip Debug Info in iOS Apps

What is Debug Information?

Why Strip Debug Information in iOS Apps?

Handling the -use_app_entitlements Error in Fastlane

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Strip Debug Information Plugins:

How to Implement Strip Debug Information in iOS Apps Using Appdome

Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

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

Select the defense: Strip Debug Information.

Add the Strip Debug Information feature to your security template.

Certify the Strip Debug Information feature in iOS Apps

Using Threat-Events™ for Debug Information Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Related Articles:

How Do I Learn More?

Thank you!

Stop AI-Based Attacks While Automating PCI DSS 4.0 Compliance

Supercharge the Experience in Mobile App Defense

Better User Experience in Mobile Defense

Shifting Dynamics in Mobile Fraud Prevention: A Call for Developer Responsibility

Threat-Event™ Elements	Strip Debug Information Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name	Strip Debug Information
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 Striping Debug Information 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.