Mobile app security testing: what it covers and how to get started
Mobile apps hold customer data, payments and access to your back-end systems. Security testing finds the weaknesses before attackers do.
Updated October 2026 · 6 min read
Customers now bank, shop, book appointments and manage their accounts through mobile apps. Each app stores sensitive data and connects to systems that hold even more. A single weakness can expose customer records, enable fraud or damage trust in your brand.
Why mobile apps need dedicated testing
- Data protection: apps often cache personal and payment data on the device.
- API exposure: the back-end APIs an app uses are reachable by anyone who inspects the traffic.
- Reputation: app store reviews and social media spread news of a breach quickly.
- Compliance: data protection laws and industry rules such as PCI DSS apply to mobile channels too.
What a mobile app security test covers
| Area | What testers look for |
|---|---|
| Data storage | Sensitive data stored unencrypted on the device or in logs |
| Authentication | Weak login, session handling and biometric bypasses |
| Network | Missing certificate validation and unencrypted traffic |
| APIs | Broken authorisation, excessive data exposure and injection |
| Code and binary | Hard-coded keys, debug code and reverse engineering risk |
| Platform use | Insecure permissions, deep links and inter-app communication |
Testing methods
- Static analysis (SAST): reviews source code or the compiled app for insecure patterns.
- Dynamic analysis (DAST): tests the running app and its traffic.
- Manual penetration testing: skilled testers chain weaknesses the way a real attacker would.
- API testing: checks the back-end services independently of the app.
Building testing into your release cycle
- Agree scope: platforms, versions, APIs and test accounts.
- Run automated scans in your CI/CD pipeline on every build.
- Commission a manual penetration test before major releases.
- Fix findings by severity and retest to confirm.
- Repeat after significant changes and at least annually.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a mobile app penetration test take?
Most tests take one to two weeks, depending on the number of platforms, features and APIs in scope.
Do you test both iOS and Android?
Yes. Each platform has different risks, so we test the builds you release on both.
What is OWASP MASVS?
The Mobile Application Security Verification Standard is the OWASP benchmark for mobile app security requirements, used alongside its testing guide.
Will testing affect our live users?
No. Testing is done on test builds and accounts, and any production testing is agreed in advance.