Mobile apps have entirely transformed the ways humans interact and carry out their daily activities. The mobile app market is evolving faster with the integration of breakthrough technologies like the Internet of Things. IoT integration in mobile apps has made them more powerful and efficient. IoT has swiftly expanded the horizon of effectiveness and usability of mobile apps in human lives. In this post, we’ll discuss some key ways IoT in mobile app development is helping improve the user experience. For any mobile app, user experience is the key to its success, and in recent years, IoT technology has significantly helped improve it. So, let’s move forward and learn more about IoT and its positive impact on mobile app development.

Key ways IoT in mobile apps is improving human lives

1. Solidifies smart home concept

The smart home concept has seen rapid adoption by people in recent years. Smart homes are houses with a number of devices connected to a shared network via which they can exchange information and communicate. The smart home concept assists creating energy-efficient homes that can help save money and time by making various appliances easy to control. All the usual household appliances, such as refrigerators, TV, washing machine, microwave, air conditioner, etc., are connected to the internet with the help of IoT technology. These devices are specially designed with inbuilt wifi that allows them to connect to a shared network to further communicate with other devices and are called smart appliances. 

The smart home concept has become popular on a global scale, and the market is predicted to reach 99.41B U.S. dollars by the end of 2021. The idea of smart homes has become viable thanks to “Internet of Things” technology. As we already discussed, smart homes consist of smart devices connected to the internet, which people can easily control. Mobile apps are the medium by which a human can control these smart devices. Moreover, mobile apps are the easiest way to control these devices from anywhere in the world. Mobile apps to control IoT-powered smart homes are hence the newest trend in mobile app development. 

2. Extra convenience through mobile apps

Mobile apps have made life more convenient in numerous ways, be it easing online shopping, ordering food, helping cope with mental health issues, or making online appointments. Mobile apps have helped humans carry out essential tasks in less time. In the same way, mobile apps are making lives more manageable with the help of IoT technology by helping humans control their houses and appliances smoothly from any place. Using the smart home app, people can control various devices from any distance, whether from the office or the bedroom. People can control their house lighting to save energy and, before returning home, can switch it on to light the home before entering the house with just one click using the relevant mobile app. 

Moreover, if you want to keep a check on your kids and pets while you are away, you can easily do so with the help of smart cameras. These cameras are programmed in such a way that whenever the child goes beyond a safe place or place which is not meant for them to enter, a notification is sent to a mobile app to alert the parents. In this way, IoT is becoming increasingly popular in mobile apps due to the convenience this combo brings to users’ lives. 

3. Better home security 

IoT-powered smart homes do not just bring convenience to the user’s lives but also help them ensure the best security of their property and loved ones. There’s no need to panic if you leave your door unlocked before leaving for vacation or the office, as your smart home can make things easy for you. Smart homes come with smart door locks and smart security systems; sometimes, these devices are so advanced that they detect by themselves that the door is open and will close automatically after a fixed time interval. Or, the owner can check if every door and knob of the house is locked, and if not, a command can be generated using the app for these smart gadgets to lock up. This feature helps ensure that you are safe from intruders and ensures that the kids and pets in the house are safe. 

4. Better driving experience with automotive apps 

From the above three points, it is clear that IoT technology has become more viable and accessible with its integration in mobile apps. The most striking example of this integration is the rise of automotive apps. Today almost all newly manufactured cars have become smart, i.e., contain smart devices such as smart security cameras, smart infotainment systems, smart wipers, smart navigation systems, weather check systems, and much more. You can turn on the AC of your car or start its deep cleaning from any place just by a click from your brand automotive app. Some car manufacturing brands such as Tesla have created vehicles that can self-drive themselves out of the Garage and park right in front of your doorstep through  the use of the Tesla App. This automotive app puts the owner directly in touch with their vehicle and its controls no matter where the owner is. In all these smart systems, IoT is the most critical technology that comes into play, and from the mentioned examples, it’s obvious how mobile apps are improving human lives and user experience.

Wrapping up

Mobile app technology has been a groundbreaking technology that has bound the whole world with the same thread. Things have become more accessible thanks to mobile apps; you can buy any services or goods and get them delivered right to your doorstep regardless of which country the product comes from. IoT is one such promising technology that has been transforming various sectors such as housing, retail, etc., for the better. Today IoT integration in mobile app development has become a most remarkable trend contributing significantly to improving user experience. In this post, we described various ways in which the combo of IoT and mobile apps have helped make user lives more comfortable and secure. More research is being done to make IoT in mobile apps more viable and effective for unexplored sectors, and this trend is foreseen to have the potential to transform the future.

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Moreover, another study found that 86% of breaches were financially motivated. This not only affects users but leads to distrust in the app and thus resulting in a bad reputation for the business. Most of the apps require the user’s personal information and bank details. Tight app security is imperative for such apps as private info, and bank details are very sensitive data that can prove to be very dangerous when fallen into the wrong hands. 

Hence in every mobile app development, security must be the key priority for every developer and business. This article will discuss some of the best practices that should be employed in mobile app development for a secure app. So, let’s take a look at some of these practices.

1. Build a special team of professionals to work on app security 

App security is an essential feature that every developer and business should prioritize. It’s advisable to form a special team besides the development team with the sole objective of maximizing and looking after the app security. This will reduce the burden on other professionals and help them focus on crafting other app features with the best accuracy possible and reducing development time. Meanwhile, the security team, which is solely focusing on app security, can work on finding loopholes and mistakes in every step of mobile app development to ensure and rule out any potential security threat. 

2. Minimize permissions required

Every developer should focus on building an app that asks for the minimum number of permissions for using the native features. For example, I have seen many apps that don’t require permission for access to the camera or storage but still ask for it. This is not a good practice as it can lead users to unnecessary exposure to attackers looking to collect sensitive information. 

Narrowing and limiting the access to sensitive data by reducing the permission requests made by an app can reduce the risk of misuse of permissions and further make the app less vulnerable to cyberattacks. Moreover, it creates a sense of trust among users as their information stays private.

3. Store data wisely

Almost every app requires permission to use storage and users grant this request to apps. In return the developer should respect the privacy of users and should employ such practices that safeguard their data. This is important because the user’s trust is crucial for an app to be successful and to survive in the market. Let’s take a brief look at the measures you can take to ensure the safety of user data.

Store sensitive data in internal storage

In an android OS, the files created by android apps on the mobile’s internal storage are only accessible to that particular app, therefore it is advisable to store sensitive data in the internal storage. By using MODE_PRIVATE mode for creating a file in internal storage, you can ensure that your app’s files are not availed or hampered by other apps present on the same mobile. Also, if it’s required to share your app’s data with another app for completing a process, you can use a content provider. A content provider assists an app in managing access to the data stored by it in the internal storage, offering permissions to read and write to other apps. It provides a secure way for apps to access each other’s data stored by them in devices’ internal storage.

Store less significant data in external storage and encrypt it

External storage is considered less reliable since it can be accessed for reading and writing by any unauthorized apps. It can also be detached from the device at any time; thus, it’s not advisable to store executable files in it as it may hinder the app’s operation once removed. Therefore, It’s apt to store less sensitive data in external storage, most likely an SD card.

Moreover, the app should have a provision to store data in an encrypted format to protect whatever data you are keeping in the external storage area. AES (advanced encryption standard) is one such form of encryption that app developers can use to secure the app’s files in the external storage.

4. Employ HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

HTTPS protocol is a network security measure that every app developer should employ to secure the data transfer network between an app and the server to which it is connected. HTTPS is an extension and a secure version of the HTTP protocol that comes with encryption for efficient and safe data transfer. 

It utilizes an encryption protocol called Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt data transfer. This security feature is significant mainly for those developers looking to build payment apps and those banks providing e-services through their apps. Here sensitive data, including bank details, passwords, etc., are transferred on the network. HTTPS acts like a protective shield for this sensitive data and protects it from attackers spying on these details.

5. Test at every point

Testing is a process that should be carried out at every step of mobile app development. Repeated testing is essential for securing the app against threats or errors in various development phases. Multiple app security testing tools are available in the market that can be used to assure the app’s safety against different types of threats and possible potential attacks.

Vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, security scanning, risk assessment, ethical hacking, posture assessment, etc. are some types of testing that should be carried out to safeguard the app and the users against any potential threats.

6. Think like a hacker

It is true; to learn about the weak points in your apps that can be a potential security threat in the future, developers need to think out of the box and most likely should think like a hacker. Imagine yourself as a hacker and try searching for the loopholes in your app. This process will help you find the potential threats and vulnerabilities of your apps before its launching. 

Summing Up

Security has always been a significant concern for both developers and users. Users always look for an app that provides impenetrable protection and one that they can trust with their data. Simultaneously, the app developers’ concern should be to build a secure app which the user can trust. 

App security should be impenetrable and should be tested from time to time to ensure app safety. The practices mentioned above should be employed to ensure that you’re going in the right direction for safeguarding your app against any hackers and spyers.

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