How to Build Enhanced App Screen Blur iOS Apps

Learn to Blur Focus Loss in iOS apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What is Blur on Focus Loss?

Appdome’s Blur on Focus Loss builds upon the foundation set by the “Blur Application Screen” function, which blurs the screen of an app when it moves into the background, thus safeguarding sensitive information from being visible in the recent app’s view. Blur of Focus Loss takes this a step further by initiating the blur effect immediately when the app loses focus, rather than waiting until it transitions fully to the background. This timely response ensures that user privacy is protected from the very moment they start to swipe away from the app. It also intelligently manages pop-up windows within the app by applying the blur effect to the screen behind them, thereby enhancing privacy without hindering the user experience.

How Appdome Implements Blur on Focus Loss?

Appdome implements Blur on Focus Loss through a sophisticated mechanism that detects when an app is losing focus in real time, triggering the blur effect instantly to protect user privacy. This implementation is particularly beneficial for apps handling sensitive information, such as financial details, personal data, or confidential communications, as it minimizes the window of opportunity for unauthorized visual access. By blurring the screen as soon as the app begins to transition away from the user’s immediate view, Appdome effectively shields against visual hacking techniques and inadvertent information exposure. The feature offers developers the flexibility to choose how and when the blurring should be applied. With the addition of a sub-toggle within the “Blur Application Screen” settings, developers can opt for this enhanced privacy feature, tailoring the app’s security measures to suit the specific needs and preferences of their user base.

Prerequisites for Using Blur on Focus Loss:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Blur Focus Loss , you’ll need:

• Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
• A license for Blur on Focus Loss
• Mobile App (.ipa for iOS)
• Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)

Blur Focus Loss on iOS apps using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Blur Focus Loss without an SDK or gateway:

1. Upload the Mobile App to Appdome.

   1. Upload an app to Appdome’s Mobile App Security Build System

   2. Upload Method: Appdome Console or DEV-API
   3. iOS Formats: .ipa
   4. Blur on Focus Loss Compatible With: Obj-C, C+, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and more

2. Build the feature: Blur on Focus Loss.

   1. Building Blur on Focus Loss by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Blur on Focus Loss feature as shown below:
      

      Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Blur on Focus Loss feature
      Note: Naming the Fusion Set to correspond to the protection(s) selected is for illustration purposes only (not required).

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Blur on Focus Loss feature via Appdome Console, to add the Blur on Focus Loss feature to this Fusion Set.

      3. Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set, as shown in Figure 1 above, and get the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below):

         Figure 2: Fusion Set Detail Summary
         Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      4. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, App Center, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Cirlce CI or other system:

         1. Build an API for the app – for instructions, see the tasks under Appdome API Reference Guide
         2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository

   2. Building the Blur on Focus Loss feature via Appdome Console

      To build the Blur on Focus Loss protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.

      1. Where: Inside the Appdome Console, go to Build > Security Tab > Mobile Privacy section.

         Like all other options in ONEShield™, Blur on Focus Loss is turned on by default, as shown below:

         Figure 3: Blur on Focus Loss option
         Note: The App Compromise Notification contains an easy to follow default remediation path for the mobile app end user. You can customize this message as required to achieve brand specific support, workflow or other messaging.

      2. How: Toggle (turn ON) Blur on Focus Loss, as shown below.

         Figure 3: Blur Focus Loss option

      3. When you select the Blur on Focus Loss you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Blur on Focus Loss

         

         Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Blur on Focus Loss protection

      4. Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).

   Congratulations!  The Blur on Focus Loss protection is now added to the mobile app

3. Certify the Blur on Focus Loss feature in iOS Apps.

   After building Blur on Focus Loss, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Blur on Focus Loss protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Blur on Focus Loss protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below:

   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 Blur on Focus Loss has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Blur on Focus Loss and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app