The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) serves as a globally recognised framework for assessing and strengthening mobile application security. Rather than treating security as a binary outcome, MASVS defines a structured set of controls that help security teams evaluate how well a mobile app is protected across its full attack surface.
The standard groups security requirements into well-defined domains, enabling architects and developers to implement layered safeguards for android app security and iOS app security. These include protecting sensitive data both at rest and in motion, enforcing robust user authentication, and hardening applications against client-side threats such as tampering, instrumentation, and reverse engineering.
OWASP Mobile App Security Checklist for MASVS Compliance
Based on the OWASP MASVS domains, this Mobile App Security checklist helps developers verify if their security architecture covers the necessary bases. The actions mentioned are positioned as recommendations that can be clubbed with other security measures.
MASVS-STORAGE: Secure Data Storage
Ensure that sensitive data (PII, tokens) stored locally on the device is not accessible to other apps or attackers with physical access.
Action: Implement Root & Jailbreak Detection. On a compromised device, standard OS sandboxing fails. The solution must detect if the device is rooted and block the app from running to protect the data.
MASVS-CRYPTO: Cryptography Verification
Ensure the app uses strong cryptography and, critically, manages the encryption keys securely so they cannot be extracted.
Action: Utilize Whitebox Cryptography. This technology ensures that cryptographic keys are not exposed in the static binary code or memory, making them challenging for attackers to extract.
MASVS-AUTH: Authentication & Session Management
Ensure the app creates a secure session and prevents unauthorized access via session hijacking or credential reuse.
Action: Deploy Device & SIM Binding. Instead of relying solely on passwords/OTPs (which can be phished), bind the session to the specific hardware and SIM card of the user.
MASVS-NETWORK: Network Communication
Protect data-in-transit between the mobile app and the backend server against interception.
Action: Enforce SSL/TLS Pinning and MitM Detection. The app must pin the server’s certificate and actively detect if a proxy or unauthorized certificate is trying to intercept traffic.
MASVS-PLATFORM: Platform Interaction
Ensure the app interacts safely with the Android/iOS environment and does not run in untrusted environments (like emulators used by bot farms).
Action: Implement Emulator & Virtual Space Detection. The solution should identify if the app is running on a real device or a simulated environment intended for fraud.
MASVS-CODE: Code Quality & Build Settings
Ensure the app is built securely, and third-party libraries (SDKs) are not introducing vulnerabilities.
Action: Use Runtime SDK Monitoring. A system that monitors the behaviour of third-party libraries in real-time to prevent them from accessing data they shouldn't.
MASVS-RESILIENCE: Anti-Reversing & Anti-Tampering
This is the most critical layer for preventing intellectual property theft and app cloning. The app must defend itself against analysis and modification.
Action: Implement a dual defence of Code Obfuscation (to render code unreadable) and RASP.
MASVS-PRIVACY: Privacy Controls
Protect user privacy by ensuring the app does not inadvertently leak sensitive data via screenshots or screen recording.
Action: Implement Anti-Screen Capture/Mirroring. This technology blocks the OS or malware from taking screenshots or recording the screen when sensitive pages (like payment screens) are open.
How Protectt.ai Supports OWASP MASVS Alignment
Meeting OWASP Security requirements can be operationally challenging without the right tooling. Protectt.ai addresses this by delivering an integrated Mobile App Security that embeds many MASVS-aligned controls directly at runtime.
In addition, Protectt.ai supports comprehensive Mobile Application Security Assessments (OWASP MASA), helping organisations identify gaps, prioritise remediation, and strengthen their mobile security posture in line with industry best practices.
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