How to Implement Anti Frida Detection Bypass in iOS Apps Using AI
This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Implement Frida Detection Bypass in iOS apps.
What is Frida Detection Bypass?
On iOS, attackers use custom, advanced and non-official Frida variants and bypass techniques to manipulate application logic, extract cryptographic keys, and intercept sensitive data. These techniques include anti-Frida bypasses, Objective-C method observers, function call tracing, and iOS data protection class manipulation. Frida-based exploits enable attackers to override system security controls, modify FaceID authentication flows, and dynamically analyze app behavior. These tools are widely used in penetration testing but also serve as powerful attack vectors for bypassing security protections in mobile apps. As attackers refine these methods, they pose an increasing threat to iOS applications, particularly in financial, healthcare, and enterprise sectors.
How Appdome Protects iOS Apps With Anti Frida Detection Bypass
Appdome’s dynamic Anti Frida Detection Bypass plugin for iOS detects and prevents Frida-based tampering by monitoring API interactions, intercepting function hooks, and identifying unauthorized attempts to override security mechanisms. The plugin blocks anti-Frida bypass scripts, Objective-C method tracing, and function call modifications, ensuring that apps remain protected against dynamic runtime manipulations. By securing iOS applications from Frida-based attacks, Appdome safeguards authentication, encryption, and session integrity. Mobile developers can use Appdome’s Threat-Events™ to collect threat data and trigger security responses when Frida activity is detected.
Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Anti Frida Detection Bypass Plugins:
To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Implement Frida Detection Bypass , you’ll need:
- Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
- A license for Anti Frida Detection Bypass
- Mobile App (.ipa for iOS)
- Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)
How to Implement Implement Frida Detection Bypass in iOS Apps Using Appdome
On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Implement Frida Detection Bypass without an SDK or gateway:
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Designate the Mobile App to be protected.
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Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.
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iOS Formats: .ipa
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Anti Frida Detection Bypass is compatible with: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other iOS apps.
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Select the defense: Anti Frida Detection Bypass.
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Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Anti Frida Detection Bypass feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.
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When you select the Anti Frida Detection Bypass you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Anti Frida Detection Bypass.
Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Anti Frida Detection Bypass 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
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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:
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Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
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Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
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Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Anti Frida Detection Bypass feature as shown below:Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Anti Frida Detection Bypass feature
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Add the Anti Frida Detection Bypass feature to your security template.
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Navigate to Build > Anti Fraud tab > Mobile Malware Prevention section in the Appdome Console.
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Toggle OnAnti Frida Detection Bypass.
(a) Choose to monitor this attack vector by checking the Threat Events checkbox associated with Anti Frida Detection Bypass as shown below.
(b) To receive mobile Threat Monitoring, check the ThreatScope™ box as shown below. For more details, see our knowledge base article on ThreatScope™ Mobile XDR.Figure 4: Selecting Implement Frida Detection Bypass
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. -
Select the Threat-Event™ in-app mobile Threat Defense and Intelligence policy for Anti Frida Detection Bypass:
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Threat-Events™ OFF > In-App Defense
If the Threat-Events™ setting is not selected. Appdome will detect and defend the user and app by enforcing Frida Detection Bypass.
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Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Detection
When this setting is used, Appdome detects Frida attacks using advanced, custom and non-official Frida builds and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence to the app’s business logic for processing, enforcement, and user notification. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ to Implement Anti Frida Detection Bypass Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
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Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Defense
When this setting is used, Appdome detects and defends against Frida Detection Bypass (same as Appdome Enforce) and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence to the app’s business logic for processing. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Implement Anti Frida Detection Bypass Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
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Configure the User Experience Options for Anti Frida Detection Bypass:
With Threat-Events™ OFF, Appdome provides several user experience options for mobile brands and developers.- 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.
- Short message Option. This is available for mobile devices that allow a banner notification for security events.
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Localized Message Option. Allows Appdome users to support global languages in security notifications.
Figure 5: Default User Experience Options for Appdome’s Frida Detection Bypass
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Anti Frida Detection Bypass Threat Code™. Appdome uses AI/ML to generate a unique code each time Anti Frida Detection Bypass 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.
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Congratulations! The Anti Frida Detection Bypass protection is now added to the mobile app -
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Certify the Anti Frida Detection Bypass feature in iOS Apps
After building Anti Frida Detection Bypass, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Anti Frida Detection Bypass protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Anti Frida Detection Bypass protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below:
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 Anti Frida Detection Bypass has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Anti Frida Detection Bypass and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.
Using Threat-Events™ for Frida Detection Bypass Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps
Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Frida Detection Bypass is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Frida Detection Bypass in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Frida Detection Bypass shown below.
The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Frida Detection Bypass are:
Threat-Event™ Elements | Implement Frida Detection Bypass Method Detail |
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Appdome Feature Name | Anti Frida Detection Bypass |
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 | |
Visible in ThreatScope™ | |
Developer Parameters for Implementing Frida Detection Bypass Threat-Event™ | |
Threat-Event NAME | FridaCustomDetected |
Threat-Event DATA | reasonData |
Threat-Event CODE | reasonCode |
Threat-Event REF | 6905-1 |
Threat-Event SCORE | |
currentThreatEventScore | Current Threat-Event score |
threatEventsScore | Total Threat-events score |
Threat-Event Context Keys | |
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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 Frida Detection Bypass is detected.
The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Anti Frida Detection Bypass:
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.
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let center = NotificationCenter.default
center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name("FridaCustomDetected"), 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 '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// let variable = usrInf["<Context Key>"];
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Anti Frida Detection Bypass. 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 Anti Frida Detection Bypass
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:
How to Detect Frida Gadget in Mobile Apps Using AI
How to Detect Frida Instrumentation in Android & iOS Apps Using AI
How to Detect Frida Tool in Mobile Apps Using AI
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.
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