Reducing Data Security Issues in eLearning App Development?

Technology advancement has made app development easier but has also put data security in deep uncertainty. Any data breach can cost an eLearning app dearly, as the users can abandon the app due to misuse of their personal information and financial details. 

Implementing radical security measures to prevent data breaches from an eLearning app is a big concern for an app development company. Making data secure should be central to the thinking of an eLearning app developer, as it can otherwise cost identity theft, fraud, loss of intellectual property, data tempering, and more. 

In this article, we have covered essential measures that can be taken during the development phase to prevent and secure an eLearning app from unethical users.

Securing Data Storage

Making the data secure is one of the biggest challenges for developers while developing a mobile app. Most of the time, users choose easy credentials such as login passwords that can be easily decoded by a hacker, gaining access to critical user information. During eLearning app development, developers should design apps so that passwords and personal details do not get stored on the device. If the data is being held on the device, then it must be secure and encrypted. 

Check out: Understanding the Importance of Demand Of Online Identity Theft Securing

Securing SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) 

SSL is a standard security protocol to keep the internet connection secure and safeguard sensitive data. Often, developers implement faulty SSL applications during educational app development. Either SSL certificates are not verified, or a lack of transport layer protection invites attackers to exploit the app easily. If the transport layer is susceptible to eavesdropping, hackers might gain access to critical data and misuse it for malicious purposes like fraud, identity theft, etc. 

SSL and Transport layer can be secured by using a common practice to encrypt the communication. Data is transferred from the end-user to the server and vice versa via a transport layer. Hence, strengthening the transport layer is important. Listed below are a few points to secure the transport layer of an educational application:

• Make SSL chain verification necessary
• Use valid SSL certificates
• Avoid mixed SSL sessions 
• Password should not be sent over alternate channels such as SMS or MMS 

Preventing Weak Server Side Controls

At the earlier stages of an eLearning app development, developers must assess the common risks with the application’s server. The variety of potential attacks on the server are huge and can make an eLearning application vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Vulnerabilities such as insecure communication, injections, insecure direct object reference, and more may lead to server-side adversaries. Attackers who have gained access to the server can push malicious content and can also compromise user devices.  

Weak Server Side attacks can be prevented by:

• Using secure coding development life cycle: eLearning app security is not a one-day affair; it needs to be incorporated into the development process. Only by implementing certain code practices can the worst of attacks be prevented.
• Using an automated scanner: An automatic scanner can impart light on many eLearning app vulnerabilities, thus giving direction to an eLearning app developer to bridge the security gap.
• Getting a detailed manual assessment: Automated scanners can report many vulnerabilities such as false negatives and false positives. This is where manual intervention is crucial. Manual inspection separates low threats, high threats, and what can be avoided.

Avoiding Data Leakages

An educational app contains all of a user’s important information. Data leakage must be avoided to ensure the user’s privacy remains uncompromised. Anybody with access to the app’s analytics can misuse end-user details, so while developing a custom mobile application for eLearning, developers should integrate standardized APIs for analytics.

Data leakages happen due to the storage of critical data at locations that are not secure or stored on an easily accessible device or app. The result is a breach of user privacy that leads to the unauthorized use of data. Leakage of data happens due to negligence in the security of the framework or bugs in an application. Unintended data leakages can be prevented by monitoring leakage points like cache, login, browser cookie objects, and more. 

Preventing Poor Authorization and Authentication

Poor authentication allows anonymous attackers to execute false functionalities within the eLearning app or backend server. Authentication requirements in an eLearning app are different from those of web applications in terms that users need not be online via an app during a session.  

For uptime requirements, eLearning apps need offline authentication. This offline user identity authentication method poses security risks as the app cannot recognize the authorized user. Therefore, while implementing authorization schemes during educational app development, developers need to add a functionality that limits login only in the online mode.

Likewise, poor authorization can result in high privilege breaches such as data theft, data manipulation, or a compromise of backend services. For instance, if a hacker attains rights such as administrators, it may adversely use data. Poor authentication and authorization can be prevented to increase the security of an eLearning mobile app by:

• Using data encryption and deriving the user’s credentials securely. 
• They are allowing server-side authentication requests. After successful authentication, only sensitive data should load on the mobile device.
• String authentication and authorization schemes should be implemented that require user verification and authentication. 
• One-time passwords (OTPs) or security questions can be used to validate a user’s identity.

Writing Secure Code

Many custom app development companies have specialized developers for eLearning app development to write codes that follow security protocols. Application code is vulnerable to exploitation, leading to fraud, reputation damage, privacy violations, identity theft, and more.   

Writing secure code for an eLearning app thus becomes essential to prevent attackers from violating the code. Hackers can engineer to use the application’s code in an unethical way. Developers should build a hard code that is not easy to break to prevent the illegal use of data.

To update the code easily from time to time, developers of an educational app development company should follow an agile development approach. Other practices that can be followed to make the code secure are:

• code hardening
• obfuscating the code (make it gibberish so that it is indecipherable)
• signing to develop the best quality code so that the security bar of an eLearning app is raised 

Encrypting Data

Data encryption efficiently protects data from malicious use. It converts readable data into an encoded form that users cannot read without decryption. eLearning applications store sensitive data, such as student information (PII), mark sheets, and addresses, in databases. Developers must secure this data from malicious attacks.

Using SSL encryption to protect data is a good practice. If a hacker breaches the eLearning application’s database, the encryption minimizes the chances of data leakage.

Using a Reputable LMS (Learning Management System)

Using LMS to deliver eLearning courses from a reputable provider is pivotal as it has the best built-in security options and features. During eLearning app development, whether you hire a professional eLearning developer or not, make sure that the LMS used is from an authorized provider. 

User authentication methods vary across APIs. Some APIs require an API key, while others may need elaborate authentication to protect sensitive data. Developers should use official APIs provided by trusted, secure parties in the eLearning application code.

For maximum security, experts recommend centralizing authorization for all the APIs used in the eLearning application. Otherwise, hackers could gain access and tamper with sensitive data.

Using Two-Factor Authentication Over Single Factor Authentication To Secure Third-Party Platforms

The target audience of most eLearning and educational apps is based on age, varying from students, adult learners, and professionals who are looking to enhance their skill set. Thinking that having strong or hard-to-guess passwords or usernames is enough to secure personal identity can have repercussions to users who save their passwords naively. 

In today’s scenario, the power of modern hardware makes it easy for hackers to break into an SFA easily. This is why using two-factor authentication over single-factor authentication is necessary. Adding an extra layer of authentication such as a biometric scan (fingerprint or facial) to a third-party LMS increases data security and prevents attackers from getting access to sensitive data.

Conclusion

Creating a secure eLearning application boils down to a developer’s knowledge and resolve. An eLearning app developer needs to invest time and effort to learn about developing a secure eLearning application. 

To keep malicious attacks at bay, developers of a custom app development company should view the app through the eyes of an attacker. By incorporating the security mentioned above points, eLearning app developers can create highly secure educational apps.

Author Bio 

I am Bhavmeet Kaur, a digital business consultant having experience of 4+ years and helping you to create an educational app or startup firm through complete analysis and strategy of the various business modules and up-trending technologies.

Social media Profile links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavmeet-kaur/