How to Encrypt Configuration Files in iOS Apps Using AI

Last updated February 23, 2025 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Encrypt Configuration Files in iOS apps.

What Are Configuration Files in iOS Apps?

Configuration files in iOS apps often store sensitive data such as API keys, server details, or user preferences, making them a target for attackers. These files, commonly in formats like JSON, XML, YAML, or CSV, are vulnerable to unauthorized access and manipulation, particularly on jailbroken devices. Attackers can exploit unencrypted configuration files to extract critical information, alter app behavior, or compromise app functionality. Ensuring the encryption of these files is essential to protect sensitive data, prevent tampering, and maintain the security of the app, especially in compliance-driven industries like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce.

How Appdome Protects iOS Configuration Files?

Appdome’s dynamic iOS Encrypt Configuration Files plugin encrypts configuration files in various formats at runtime, ensuring sensitive data remains secure. The plugin dynamically encrypts files without requiring changes to the app’s code or structure, blocking unauthorized access and tampering attempts. This protection is particularly effective against threats on jailbroken devices, safeguarding critical app information.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Encrypt Configuration Files Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Encrypt Configuration Files , you’ll need:

How to Implement Encrypt Configuration Files in iOS Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Encrypt Configuration Files without an SDK or gateway:

  1. Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

    1. Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.

    2. iOS Formats: .ipa
    3. Encrypt Configuration Files is compatible with: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other iOS apps.
  2. Select the defense: Encrypt Configuration Files.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Encrypt Configuration Files feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Encrypt Configuration Files

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Encrypt Configuration Files feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Encrypt Configuration Files feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you select the Encrypt Configuration Files you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Encrypt Configuration Files.

        Fusion Set applied Encrypt Configuration Files

        Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Encrypt Configuration Files protection
        Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      4. Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set. Copy the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

      5. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:
        1. Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
    1. Add the Encrypt Configuration Files feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Security tab > TOTALData™ Encryption section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On > Encrypt Configuration Files.
        Encrypt Configuration Files option

        Figure 4: Selecting Encrypt Configuration Files

    2. Initiate the build command either by clicking Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 4) or via your CI/CD as described in Section 2.1.4.
    Congratulations!  The Encrypt Configuration Files protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Encrypt Configuration Files feature in iOS Apps

    After building Encrypt Configuration Files, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Encrypt Configuration Files protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Encrypt Configuration Files protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below: Encrypt Configuration Files shown in Certificate secure

    Figure 5: Certified Secure™ certificate

    Each Certified Secure™ certificate provides DevOps and DevSecOps organizations the entire workflow summary, audit trail of each build, and proof of protection that Encrypt Configuration Files has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Encrypt Configuration Files and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for Configuration Files Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Configuration Files is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Configuration Files in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Configuration Files shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Configuration Files are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Encrypt Configuration Files Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Encrypt Configuration Files
Threat-Event Mode
OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging.
ON, IN-APP DETECTION Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce).
ON, IN-APP DEFENSE Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection).
Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check x
Visible in ThreatScope™ x
Developer Parameters for Encrypting Configuration Files Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF
Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore Current Threat-Event score
threatEventsScore Total Threat-events score
Threat-Event Context Keys
message Message displayed for the user on event
failSafeEnforce Timed enforcement against the identified threat
externalID The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events
osVersion OS version of the current device
deviceModel Current device model
deviceManufacturer The manufacturer of the current device
fusedAppToken The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app
kernelInfo Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine.
deviceID Current device ID
reasonCode Reason code of the occurred event
buildDate Appdome fusion date of the current application
devicePlatform OS name of the current device
updatedOSVersion Is the OS version up to date
timeZone Time zone
deviceFaceDown Is the device face down
locationLong Location longitude conditioned by location permission
locationLat Location latitude conditioned by location permission
locationState Location state conditioned by location permission
wifiSsid Wifi SSID
wifiSsidPermissionStatus Wifi SSID permission status
threatCode The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device.

With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), iOS developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in iOS applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when Configuration Files is detected.


The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Encrypt Configuration Files:


Important! Replace all placeholder instances of <Context Key> with the specific name of your threat event context key across all language examples. This is crucial to ensure your code functions correctly with the intended event data. For example, The <Context Key> could be the message, externalID, OS Version, reason code, etc.



Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Encrypt Configuration Files. There is no SDK and no library to code or implement in the app and no gateway to deploy in your network. All protections are built into each app and the resulting app is self-defending and self-protecting.

Releasing and Publishing Mobile Apps with Encrypt Configuration Files

After successfully securing your app by using Appdome, there are several available options to complete your project, depending on your app lifecycle or workflow. These include:

Related Articles:

How Do I Learn More?

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

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.

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