Security Considerations for Cross-Platform Development
Build once, defend everywhere. This edition focuses on Security Considerations for Cross-Platform Development, helping you design, code, and ship applications that remain resilient across Android, iOS, web, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Threat Modeling That Travels With Your Code
Identify the assets attackers want—tokens, encryption keys, user data, intellectual property—and note how each platform stores or exposes them. A cross-platform threat model prevents blind spots when the same data lives differently in iOS Keychain versus Windows DPAPI.
Consider adversaries from script kiddies to advanced actors with device control. On Android, rooted devices change assumptions; in Electron, DevTools misuse matters. Write down practical attacker paths so mitigation plans map to real, cross-platform constraints.
Describe how a single flaw, like weak token validation, can be exploited via mobile deep links, desktop file handlers, or web intents. Invite readers to share their oddest abuse case so we can compare patterns and harden designs together.
Authentication and Session Safety in a Cross-Platform World
Avoid Fragile Token Storage Across Devices
Tokens cached in localStorage on the web, AsyncStorage in React Native, or plain files in desktop apps invite theft. Prefer platform-secure stores and bind tokens to device or session context. Tell us which storage got you into trouble, and why.
Use Platform Brokers, WebAuthn, and Proof-of-Possession
Adopt OS auth brokers, WebAuthn, or passkeys to reduce phishing and credential replay. Add token proof-of-possession where feasible. A small startup cut account takeover by half after moving mobile login to the native broker—share your broker wins.
Defend Against Session Fixation and Replay Everywhere
Rotate session identifiers after privilege changes, bind sessions to device attributes cautiously, and expire tokens promptly. One team found replay via a desktop updater’s log files; they fixed logging scope and session rotation. What rotation cadence works for you?
Secure Data Storage, Secrets, and Key Management
Prefer iOS Keychain, Android Keystore, Windows DPAPI, and macOS Keychain to homegrown encryption. Wrap them in a thin abstraction so your code stays portable without sacrificing native guarantees. Comment with your favorite cross-platform key wrapper approach.
Secure Data Storage, Secrets, and Key Management
Full encryption is not just ciphertext; filename patterns, directory structures, and cache artifacts can betray sensitive context. A fintech team discovered exported thumbnails revealing account names. Audit metadata paths and document cache-clearing policies across platforms.
Permissions, Sandboxes, and Platform Policies
Request permissions in context, just-in-time, and only when a feature needs them. Clear explanations increase acceptance and trust. A health app improved opt-in by clarifying data use per platform. How do you tailor permission prompts across ecosystems?
Supply Chain, Dependencies, and Code Signing
Use allowlists, review maintainership health, and monitor advisories. Prefer well-supported libraries over shiny but unmaintained options. Tell us your policy for vetting transitive dependencies and how you prune risky packages across mobile and desktop.
Supply Chain, Dependencies, and Code Signing
Adopt reproducible builds where feasible, generate SBOMs, and verify checksums of toolchains and artifacts. When an Electron app pulled a compromised mirror, integrity checks caught it. What tools help you compare builds across platforms confidently?
Updates, Telemetry, and Incident Response
Serve updates over TLS with signed manifests, stage rollouts, and support rollback. A team avoided mass outages by canarying desktop auto-updates first. How do you balance fast fixes with safety when every platform upgrades differently?
Updates, Telemetry, and Incident Response
Collect only necessary signals, hash or tokenize identifiers, and scrub payloads. Give users control and document retention. Share the single most useful signal you track for detecting abuse without compromising user privacy or developer trust.
Testing: Static, Dynamic, and Runtime Protections
Enable SAST for web, mobile, and desktop code, customizing rules for framework quirks. Flag insecure storage, weak random, and risky IPC calls. What rule caught your biggest issue, and how did you tune false positives without losing coverage?
