Discussion on Automate Testing of Secured Mobile Apps by Karen Hsu | Testμ 2024

Testμ Conference 2024
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#21

As per my own expirence and also Karen highlighted that dependencies can introduce vulnerabilities if not managed properly. She advised:

  1. Regular Dependency Audits: Tools like OWASP Dependency-Check, Snyk, or Sonatype Nexus can be integrated into the build pipeline to automatically scan for vulnerabilities in Maven, Gradle, npm, and other package managers.
  2. Version Pinning: Avoid using loosely defined dependencies. Instead, pin specific, tested versions to prevent introducing unvetted updates into your pipeline.
  3. Security Patches: Continuously monitor for security patches and apply them to keep dependencies secure. Automation tools can also flag outdated libraries that may pose risks.
#22

Hello everyone,

Yes, security testing is essential for builds that will be deployed in totally offline environments or dark sites. Here are a few key reasons why:

  1. Potential Threats: Even in offline environments, systems can be vulnerable to threats from removable media (such as USB drives) or other physical access points.
  2. Insider Threats: Offline systems may still face risks from insider threats, where employees or contractors could exploit vulnerabilities.
  3. Data Protection: Sensitive data may reside in these environments, making it crucial to ensure that it is protected against unauthorized access and breaches.
  4. Compliance Requirements: Many industries have regulations that mandate security testing, regardless of whether the system is connected to the internet. This helps avoid potential legal issues.
  5. Future Connectivity: There may be plans to connect offline systems in the future. Ensuring robust security from the beginning mitigates risks when the system is later connected.

In summary, conducting security testing is vital for maintaining the integrity and safety of software, even in offline settings.

#23

Hello everyone,

When it comes to testing secured applications, utilizing data visualization tools can greatly enhance the analysis and interpretation of testing results. Here are some of the most helpful and efficient tools for testers:

  1. Grafana
  • Use Case: Excellent for visualizing metrics and logs.
  • Features: Supports various data sources, provides interactive dashboards, and allows for real-time monitoring.
  1. Kibana
  • Use Case: Ideal for analyzing and visualizing log data.
  • Features: Works seamlessly with Elasticsearch to offer powerful search capabilities and customizable dashboards.
  1. Tableau
  • Use Case: Great for creating comprehensive visual reports.
  • Features: User-friendly interface, supports a wide range of data sources, and offers advanced analytics.
  1. Power BI
  • Use Case: Useful for business intelligence and reporting.
  • Features: Integrates well with Microsoft products, provides data modeling, and features visually appealing dashboards.
  1. D3.js
  • Use Case: Suitable for custom visualizations of data.
  • Features: Highly flexible and allows for creating interactive visualizations directly in web applications.
  1. Chart.js
  • Use Case: Ideal for simple charting needs.
  • Features: Lightweight and easy to implement, supporting various chart types like bar, line, and pie charts.
  1. Jupyter Notebooks with Matplotlib/Seaborn
  • Use Case: Useful for data analysis and visualization in a programming environment.
  • Features: Combines data analysis with visualizations using Python libraries, making it great for exploratory data analysis.
  1. Splunk
  • Use Case: Effective for security data analysis.
  • Features: Provides real-time insights into machine data with powerful searching, monitoring, and analyzing capabilities.
  1. Looker
  • Use Case: Excellent for data exploration and reporting.
  • Features: Supports real-time dashboards and customizable reports, integrating well with various databases.
  1. Redash
  • Use Case: Great for querying and visualizing data from multiple sources.
  • Features: User-friendly query editor with collaborative capabilities through shared dashboards.

These tools can significantly aid testers of secured applications in gaining insights from their testing data, tracking security metrics, and effectively communicating findings to stakeholders.