Obfuscate iOS Control Flows & Methods, Anti-Reversing iOS Apps

Last updated November 29, 2023 by Appdome

Learn to Obfuscate code and control flows in iOS apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What are Code and Control Flows?

Control flow is the order by which function calls, instructions, and statements are executed or evaluated when running a program. The control flow is a significant part of the logic of any computer program, as its implementation means that rather than just running any line of code sequentially, the developer determines what section of code is run in a program at any time. This allows implementing decision making, looping, and branching, so that specific blocks of code are executed only if they meet one or more conditions.

Code flow describes the path your code follows from starting point to a destination (final) point, in order to obtain the requested output. For example: getting a search query from a user, looking up the requested item in a list or a database, and displaying the search results.

Why do I Need to Obfuscate the Code and Control Flows?

Decompilers have reached a maturity level that allows recovering source code back from mobile apps with ease. Obfuscation is an established, widely used preventive measure against static reverse engineering attempts. Obfuscation proved to be an high performing, easy to use solution.

Appdome’s Flow Relocation modifies a mobile app’s compiled code by relocating and obfuscating the app’s code flow and logical control-flow.  In so doing, Appdome makes reverse engineering much harder to perform while preserving the functionality and performance of the original app.

Prerequisites for Using Flow Relocation:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Obfuscate code and control flows , you’ll need:

Obfuscate code and control flows on iOS apps using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Obfuscate code and control flows 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. Flow Relocation Compatible With: Obj-C, C+, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and more
  2. Build the feature: Flow Relocation.

    1. Building Flow Relocation by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Flow Relocation feature as shown below:
      2. fusion set that contains Flow Relocation

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

      3. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Flow Relocation feature via Appdome Console, to add the Flow Relocation feature to this Fusion Set.

      4. 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): fusion Set Detail Summary image

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

      5. 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 Flow Relocation feature via Appdome Console

      To build the Flow Relocation protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.

      1. Where: Inside the Appdome Console, go to Build > Security Tab > TOTALCode™ Obfuscation section.
      2. When you select the Flow Relocation you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Flow Relocation

        Fusion Set applied Flow Relocation

        Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Flow Relocation protection

      3. Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).
    Congratulations!  The Flow Relocation protection is now added to the mobile app

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Flow Relocation. 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 Flow Relocation

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 to Obfuscate Non-Native Android & iOS Code and Frameworks

How to add Native Code Obfuscation to any iOS, Android app

How to Encrypt Java Class Files (.dex) in Android Apps

Appdome ONEShield Mobile App Hardening

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.

Want a Demo?

Mobile Code Obfuscation

AlanWe're here to help
We'll get back to you in 24 hours to schedule your demo.