Encryption protects sensitive data by converting it into a coded format that can only be read by someone with the proper decryption key. In the context of mobile security, encryption safeguards data both at rest (stored on the device) and in transit (sent over networks). This prevents unauthorized access and ensures that even if data is intercepted, it cannot be deciphered without the decryption key.
Mobile app data encryption involves converting sensitive data into a secure format that is only accessible by those with the correct decryption key. It ensures data protection when it is being sent over a network and/or when it is stored on the device.
It is generally recommended to use peer-reviewed, standardized encryption algorithms such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) because in-house algorithms may not be as resilient and robust as them.
Encryption is essential for protecting information from unauthorized access. By transforming readable data into an unreadable format, encryption ensures that only authorized parties with the correct key can access the original information. Often confused to be similar, encryption transforms data using keys to ensure confidentiality during transmission or storage while obfuscation obscures data without altering it to protect software.
Encryption transforms readable data (called plaintext) into an unreadable format (called ciphertext) to protect it from unauthorized access using encryption algorithms. Common encryption algorithms include AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), and DES (Data Encryption Standard).
Encryption algorithms use mainly two types of keys to perform the transformation:
There are two kinds of encryption algorithms:
Symmetric encryption | Asymmetric encryption |
Uses the same key for encryption and decryption. | Uses a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. |
Example: AES encrypts data in storage and transit. | Example: RSA uses key pairs for secure communication. |
Suitable for encrypting large volumes of data because it’s fast. | Used for key exchange, digital signatures, and securing communication channels like SSL/TLS for HTTPS connections. |
Faster because of its simpler mathematical operations in processing, like XOR operations and bit shifts. | Slower because of intensive operations like modular exponentiation and prime number factorization. |
Data encryption transforms data like your user’s credentials into a secure format that can only be read or decrypted with the correct cryptographic key. It uses mathematical algorithms to scramble data, making it inaccessible without the appropriate key.
On the other hand, data obfuscation masks your data by altering its appearance or structure to prevent unauthorized users from understanding it. While it does not necessarily involve complex mathematical algorithms, it protects data. One of the key differences is that obfuscation can be reversed without needing a key or understanding an algorithm by using a large language model (AI LLM).
Code encryption secures your app data and algorithms by rendering them unreadable without the decryption key. It uses cryptographic algorithms to transform data into ciphertext. Because decryption uses mathematical algorithms, it employs multiple CPU cycles to decrypt the code, making it a bit slower.
On the other hand, code obfuscation protects app logic by altering code appearance and structure without affecting its functionality. It uses techniques like renaming variables, changing the code flow, or inserting dummy code. Obfuscation safeguards the app’s intellectual property and prevents unauthorized access to the codebase. Unlike encryption, an obfuscated code can be executed with minimal overhead.
Encryption is a subset of cryptography. While encryption specifically refers to the process of converting plaintext into ciphertext (secure form), cryptography is the broader field that encompasses not only encryption and decryption but also techniques like hashing and digital signatures. Cryptography includes the study of secure communication techniques that allow only the sender and intended recipient of a message to view its contents.
Thousands of years ago, ancient Greeks and Romans used simple ciphers to encrypt. But after World War II and the introduction of public-key cryptography in the 1970s, encryption became critical to modern computing. As mobile computing rose in the late 1990s and early 2000s, encryption became important to protect the sensitive information stored on mobile devices and transmitted across networks. Today, encryption in mobile apps is driven by regulatory requirements, growing threats, and technological advancements.
Recent advancements in technology and shifts in regulatory frameworks significantly affect mobile app encryption. AI-driven systems can analyze and adapt to threats in real time, enhancing data protection strategies. AI technologies can also be used to develop sophisticated methods to break encryption, reducing the time to crack encryption.
Quantum computers are also a concern, as they could theoretically break many of the cryptographic protocols currently used almost instantaneously. In response, researchers are developing quantum-resistant or post-quantum cryptographic methods that quantum computers cannot easily break. On the regulatory front, global standards and laws such as the GDPR in Europe and the CCPA in California are pushing for stronger data protection measures, including mandatory encryption of certain types of data.