SSL Pinning has always been one of those terms which tend to trouble most of the iOS app developers out there. But, don’t worry, we are here to help you out. But before we discuss that, are you aware of the term, HPKP (HTTP Public Key Pinning)? Those who don’t know what that is, it is just a specific implementation of pinning that is used alongside SSL.
However, you should know about the fact that both pinning HPKP are different from each other. Now, that we have made things pretty clear, this would be the right time to discuss the concept of pinning and its implementation.
What exactly is pinning?
Pinning is referred to as an optional mechanism that is often used to improve the security of a service, a website, or a mobile app that relies on SSL certificates. The SSL pinning allows you to bring out a cryptographic identity that can be accepted by users who are visiting your website or using your app. It sounds a bit complicated, doesn’t it? But, let us tell you it is quite simple instead.
To help you understand, we thought it would be right to break down the term into something more “less perplexed”.
Since it is a cryptographic identity, it has the capability to prove the identity of any given server/host through cryptography with ease. A CSR, a public key, and an SSL certificate are perfect examples of cryptographic identity. The pin generated, can be used to tell the client to remember the identity and accept them only when they want to establish a secure connection in the future.
SSL pinning is being used quite extensively in iOS app development and is getting recognition around the globe. But, in order to use it to the best of its ability you’ve got to configure your server and clearly specify what exactly you need to pin in the first place. The reason behind that is the fact that your pin’s identity would be validated by browsers and clients every time when a connection is established. If they end with a false identity, they can abort the connection then and there only.
The bottom line is; an SSL connection helps a client to make establish an encrypted connection with an identity that matches the host. Pinning helps the client to accept a specific connection from a specific identity.
How SSL Pinning Can Help You in Making a Secure iOS App?
If you haven’t got the idea yet, then let us tell you that SSL pinning plays a crucial role in the development of secure mobile apps, in this case, iOS apps. Mobile apps that are made with SSL pinning are considered to be highly encrypted can be trusted no matter what.
We, being an iOS app development company itself, always make sure to implement SSL pinning while creating a mobile app for the iOS platform. We have some of the best iOS app developers you can possibly find in the industry. The mobile apps built here are somewhat immune to the common security attacks – MITM or man-in-the-middle.
- Our iPhone app developers always make sure to implement SSL pinning because if we don’t the hackers can easily read and modify all the SSL sessions and use the access to reverse engineer the app protocol or for the purpose of extracting the API keys.
- Hackers can also stick around for a long time within the SSL sessions by tricking users into installing a trusted CA through malicious websites and pages. Like that wasn’t enough, they can also hack the root CAs which are often trusted by the devices, and can use them to generated counterfeit certificates.
Also Read: Build Web Application with Advanced Laravel Development Services
Issues Which You Might Face Implementing SSL Pinning and How to Resolve Them
Providing our clients with the best possible services is the only thing that matters to us the most. Our team of experts always make sure to test out your mobile app for any bugs and security vulnerabilities. But, it doesn’t mean that every other app development company do that. They can be reluctant towards these issues, which might lead up to disastrous ends.
Following are some of the reasons why most app development companies tend to ignore the implementation of SSL pinning in iOS apps:
- One of the biggest reasons behind such reluctance is the implementation of SSL in iOS. Apparently, it is proven to be quite complicated as it can force app developers to write the code again and again which ultimately makes the development complex.
- Since pinning certificates are bound to change regularly, developers can be forced to update the app’s binary every time when a certificate is changed.
- Multiple efforts have to be made in order to safeguard the ways to bypass an iOS SSL verification.
In the End
SSL Pinning has always been essential for iOS app development since iOS is all about safety. If you are planning on implementing pinning in your iOS app development project then do make sure to contact us. Being a top-rated mobile app development company, our developers and technicians would be more than happy to help you out.
If you feel like you learned something of value from this article then do make sure to let us know by leaving a comment in the comment section down below. Also, let us know what kind of topic you’d like us to cover in the near future.
