How to Test Appdome-secured iOS Apps on Browserstack

Last updated August 2, 2023 by Appdome

Learn how to test Appdome-secured iOS Apps using Browserstack’s mobile testing suite. Appdome is 100% compatible with all leading mobile application test automation solutions used by DevSecOps teams. Automated testing of secured iOS app helps developers and others rapidly deploy comprehensive mobile app security and fraud detection with DevSecOps speed and agility.

This knowledge base article covers the steps needed to test Appdome secured iOS mobile apps by using BrowserStack mobile test automation suite.

Appdome works with all leading mobile automation testing solutions to help customers achieve comprehensive mobile app security at DevSecOps speed and agility, all within the app’s existing application lifecycle.

Use Appdome’s Build-to-Test service to test iOS protected application on Browserstack for both Live and Automated testing.
Customers with an Appdome SRM license can use Appdome’s Build-to-Test service to quickly and easily test their Appdome-secured mobile apps by using Browserstack, without the need for different Fusion Sets. With Appdome’s Build-to-Test service, Appdome’s in-app defense model recognizes the unique signature of these testing services and allows for easy testing without issuing a security alert or forcing the app to exit, even if these services use tools such as Magisk or Frida. For details, see How to Use Appdome Mobile App Automation Testing.

General Information about Testing in iOS Apps

Browserstack allows testing apps by using its App Live and App Automate features, which can both be used for testing Appdome secured mobile apps.

The following table describes which Appdome protection features may be triggered and the reason why:

Appdome feature	Reason
Prevent App Screen Sharing	Browserstack allows live view of the device screen while the test is running
Anti-Debugging	Browserstack signs the app as debuggable upon installation

Live App testing – iOS

To initiate App Live test of your iOS test app in Browserstack:

Log in to your BrowswerStack account. Alternatively, if you do not yet have an account, Create an account.
Click the Let’s Go button in BrowserStack’s account page.
The website now displays a page with a list of iOS and Android devices you can test the app with.
Click App Live on the top of the page.
Click Upload to upload your signed app build.
After the app upload completes, select the device to be used for testing the app.
To do that, click the device type (in the example shown below, iPhone) and then the device model. The app will be automatically installed on the selected device and then launched.
Note:
In case of any issues with the app, you need to send the device logs to Appdome Support by following these steps:
1. Go to Build > Security on on Appdome.
2. Go to the Appdome Dev Options section.
3. Enable(toggle On) the option Diagnostic Logs.
  For details, see Knowledge Base article Appdome Diagnostic Logs for Troubleshooting Secured Apps.
4. Go back to BrowserStack and re-run the steps used for uploading the app with the selected device.
5. Click the Kill/Uninstall button on the running app.
6. Select the options All Device Logs and Verbose.
7. Clear the log under DEVTOOLS.
8. On the device, open the app once more, getting to the point where the issue occurred (and take note of the time).
9. Click Download at the top right-hand corner under DEVTOOLS.
10. Set a name for the downloaded log, including the time the issue occurred.
11. Sent the log by email to support@appdome.com, complete with details on the issue, device model, and OS version used in testing.

Automating App Testing on iOS

When using Browsersdtack with Automate App testing on an Appdome protected app, certain security protections may be triggered due to advanced options that need to be enabled in Browserstack’s test environment. In addition to the protections that are triggered in live testing, as specified earlier in section General Information about Testing in iOS Apps, the following table describes which Appdome protection features may be triggered when performing automated testing, and the reason why:

Appdome feature	Reason
iOS MiTM Prevention	Browserstack uses a MiTM proxy

BrowserStack has several Appium capabilities, namely: a series of key-value pairs that allow you to configure your tests on BrowserStack. For further details, see the Capabilities Builder – Appium webpage.

The network Log Appium capability can trigger Appdome protection features, as specified below.

BrowserStack-Specific Appium Capability	Reason
networkLog	By default, BrowserStack re-signs the app to enable capturing network log.

Troubleshooting Tips

Most automation test tools can typically be used in one of two modes: emulator modeand real devicemode (specific terms may vary according to the testing tool). If you use the automation test tool in “emulator mode” instead of “real device mode”, the Appdome-secured application will not run on the device. This is expected because Appdome ONEShield protects apps from running on emulators/simulators. Instead, you should run the automation test tool in real device.
If your mobile application closes/exits unexpectedly and/or you see a message such as: “Application has violated security policies and it will be shut down”, this usually means that techniques are present which Appdome protects against, such as emulator mode, tampering, reverse engineering, or root hiding. Below are some of the likely causes:
- The user may be running the testing tool in ’emulator’ mode, which Appdome protects against. To remedy this, run the test in ‘manual’ mode or using real devices.
- BrowswerStack’s VPN uses TCP port 80 (http), which does not encrypt traffic. If you built your application with Appdome’s MitM Prevention or other features from Appdome’s Secure Communication category, the TCP session will be blocked. This is expected and by design.

Thank you!

Thanks for visiting Appdome! Our mission is to secure every app on the planet by making mobile app security easy. We hope we’re living up to the mission with your project.

If you have any questions, please send them our way at support.appdome.com or via the chat window on the Appdome platform.