Better cybersecurity might soon be available for your mobile apps, addressing the growing number of data breaches, malware attacks, and AI-driven bot threats.
On January 23, mobile app security firm Appdome introduced updates to its security tools. These upgrades are designed to protect against over 100 different types of digital threats.
The new MobileBot Defense product is aimed at defending against increasingly sophisticated threats in the mobile landscape. It offers enhanced protection against fraudulent apps, weaponized software, and malware.
This level of security is crucial given the rise of deceptive apps that mimic legitimate ones to steal user data. MobileBot Defense also provides robust defenses against bot attacks and credential stuffing, which are common tactics used by cybercriminals to circumvent standard security measures. These attacks can result in significant data breaches, impacting both businesses and their customers.
Additionally, MobileBot Defense helps mitigate DDoS attacks that can disrupt online services and prevent unauthorized access to user accounts. These capabilities are essential in maintaining business integrity and protecting customer data.
The updated MobileBot Defense is now compatible with any web application firewall (WAF), offering a cost-effective solution that extends existing WAF infrastructure to include mobile protection. According to Appdome, this can save mobile brands significant amounts of money and extend the lifespan of current WAF systems.
Tom Tovar, CEO and co-founder of Appdome, explained, “Brands often have diverse WAF environments or are looking to update only parts of their WAF setup. Our no-code, no-SDK, and no-server approach allows for easy integration of bot defense into mobile apps without the need for extensive upgrades.”
Mobile Apps and Bot Attack Challenges
Mobile apps face a broader and more complex attack surface than web apps, with increasing threats from malicious bots. Alan Bavosa, vice president of security products at Appdome, highlighted that attackers exploit numerous vulnerabilities across mobile devices, apps, and networks. These include threats like rooting/jailbreaking, code injection, fake apps, and various network attacks.
AI-enhanced bots are particularly concerning because they can imitate human behavior and adapt to changing defenses, making them harder to detect and counter.
AI-Enhanced Apps and Security Needs
In the current economic climate, retailers are focusing on mobile apps to drive growth and maximize ROI. Lawrence Snapp, CEO of AI-powered app developer Bryj, stressed that brands need to deliver highly personalized experiences and use AI to improve app performance and customer engagement.
Zimperium’s Global Mobile Threat Report 2023 noted a 51% increase in unique mobile malware samples. This rise is due to mobile devices being key targets for attackers. Banking trojans are increasingly common, as they offer high returns for cybercriminals.
Transitioning to mobile ID technology is one potential solution, as mobile IDs are harder to counterfeit than physical ones. Andrey Stanovnov, co-founder and CTO at IDScan, emphasized that businesses must ensure both physical and digital verification systems can handle fake credentials.
Enhanced Bot Defense
Appdome’s platform offers unique benefits by being compatible with any cloud, hosted, or on-premises WAF without requiring SDKs or code changes. The ThreatScope Mobile XDR feature provides real-time visibility into bot attacks, allowing brands to monitor and respond effectively.
Chris Roeckl, chief product officer at Appdome, noted that this compatibility and visibility help brands maintain their existing WAF investments while improving bot defense across different systems.
Rate Limiting Protection
Appdome’s MobileBot Defense includes a new rate-limiting feature to stop mobile DDoS attacks. Brands can set thresholds for endpoint requests, which helps prevent attacks from overwhelming their services.
Alan Bavosa pointed out that traditional security methods lag behind the rapid advancements in mobile development. Appdome’s platform integrates seamlessly into existing CI/CD pipelines, offering a unified solution for mobile app security.
Multi-Vendor Compatibility
Unlike other solutions, Appdome’s MobileBot Defense works with multiple WAF vendors without causing conflicts. This compatibility provides significant cost and operational benefits for mobile brands, particularly those with diverse WAF environments.