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Mobile security shaky at Snapchat, again

Experts are saying that the popular photo sharing app is experiencing a lacking in privacy protection.

According to the complaints of a number of experts regarding the Snapchat app, the level of mobile security behind the application is greatly inadequate for protecting the privacy of its users.Mobile Security - Mobile Apps

Some now feel that the mobile app development team behind the app lacks the necessary understanding.

Among the most recent steps that the company has taken toward improving mobile security includes last week’s introduction of a CAPTCHA code verification. This is designed to help to ensure that all new subscribers are humans and not computer programs. It is important to avoid computer created accounts as these are common methods used by cybercriminals for the distribution of spam or to discover ways to grab personal information from other users of these types of mobile apps.

While the number of fake accounts may be reduced, it doesn’t mean that the mobile security is strong.

Although the CAPTCHA techniques can shrink the number of fake accounts that a service experiences, a graduate research assistant from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Steven Hickson, was able to easily hack into Snapchat despite its latest upgrades.

The CAPTCHA implementation at Snapchat was weak to the point that Hickson required under an hour on the mobile development of a computer program that would be able to trick the system with “100 percent accuracy”. Hickson explained that “They’re a very, very new company and I think they’re just lacking the personnel to do this kind of thing.”

In order to make sure that the potential user of the service is a human, the system selected by Snapchat involves having to choose the white ghost mascot of the company from among nine illustrations. Unfortunately, only the size and angle of the correct image is altered, making it simple for a computer to be able to recognize.

In order to stop a CAPTCHA mobile security system from being hacked, Hickson explained that “you want something that has a lot of variety in the answer,” adding that you essentially want one correct answer, but a vast array of different incorrect answers. This needs to be too complex for a computer to be able to solve while being quite obvious to a human.

Evaluating The Creative Aspects In Choosing A Mobile Development Service

Mobile apps development presents encouraging market outreach opportunities to companies

Many services became millionaires overnight via developing highly addictive mobile apps games. Companies can benefit immensely by providing a unique user experience to its target audience. Besides, the data analytics advantage of apps usage data is crucial in developing effective business policies.Mobile Development - Apps

There are several considerations in selecting a suitable service for the purpose. Overall, you need to verify the creative expertise of the coders to develop an engaging user experience. Mobiles are essentially highly personal gadgets. The app must be able to connect personally with the target demographic.

The choice of platform

The platform conflict between iOS, Windows, and Android is the primary critical issue in choosing a mobile development agency. Since iOS and Android are fiercely competitive, it is difficult to develop cross platform apps. For many webmasters, the choice of app platform is automaticalIy the same one he/she is comfortable using. If you still require an app to perform on both leading mobile operating systems, look up an advanced programming service. Check the following aspects:

  • Highly automated form-dependent development
  • The drag-n-drop programming protocol
  • Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) with WYSIWYG
  • Usage of automated code translators

You may choose your app platform irrespective of your personal usage preference. Essentially, you need to research the mobile usage pattern of your target audience. Discuss with the developers on whether they can employ advanced analytic parameters at identifying definitive target outreach traits. If your audience is more available over Android than on iOS, the choice of the platform is obvious. The company should be able to assist you on researching the mobile usage stats. However, in whichever platform you select, the experienced developers should be able to deliver an engaging user experience.

Ensuring optimum performance features

You have to ensure the maximum performance capacity of the apps. The choice of the mobile development platform is crucial. The mobile development service must be able to guarantee the following aspects.

  • Effective server end management of back-end data
  • Capabilities of network identification
  • Secure on-device storage arrangements
  • Extensive mobile friendly coding (confirm the experience of the coder in the preferred platform)
  • Strong testing and analytics features
  • Neat data-transfer protocols

Innovative with the latest trends

Digital coding is essentially an open discipline. Programmers have been working with different coding approaches in delivering optimized user experience. The key target of developing a mobile app is to create a neat one with minimum coding. The loading time and fluency of activity are two essential foundations in determining apps popularity. Usage of neat codes is essential to have light applications. Find whether the service frequently engages in brainstorming sessions to upgrade the approaches. The company must be in touch with the latest developments in the field. There are virtually millions of apps. You must be able to present an intriguing user experience via the creative coding approach.   

Confirm security concerns

The recent spate of revelations in the NSA surveillance systems indicate that the Government spying agency looks into the apps even to collect and archive user data. This proves the vulnerability of the apps from external hacking attacks. You need to confirm whether the service is in track with the latest developments in the field. Verify the authentication framework of the mobile development service. Call up the company in discussing your concerns. Check the various aspects of ensuring digital security.

Look up the parameters of on-device encryption, secured client/server communication, administrative control access, and offline authentication. Ensuring the security parameters is essential in relating with the confidence of your target demographic. In specialized business apps, the confidentiality aspect is of utmost importance.

Author Bio: Gabriel Stevens is a veteran Android apps developer at http://bigdropinc.com/. He is one of the brains behind a top performance fantasy games app. He keeps track of the latest traits in mobile development technology. Stevens currently works as the lead coder in a major Brooklyn service.