Running a Checksum Validation of Android & iOS Apps

Last updated February 22, 2024 by Appdome

Learn to Validate the file you received has not been tampered with. in Mobile apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What is checksum?

A checksum, otherwise known as “hash”, is a sequence of numbers and letters used for checking data for errors. A checksum is produced by running a program that puts the original file through an algorithm such as MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256/512. By executing a cryptographic hash function, the algorithm produces the checksum as an input of a fixed length.

Why Should Developers use Checksum Validation??

A checksum validation is used when you received a file and would like to verify that the original file has not been modified or tampered with. If you know the checksum of the original file, running a checksum validation that results in a checksum of the same length proves that no changes were made to your copy. Any change made to the original file, be it one character or one digit, will result in producing an entirely different checksum.

Prerequisites for Using Checksum Validation:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Validate the file you received has not been tampered with. , you’ll need:

Validate the file you received has not been tampered with. on Mobile apps using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Mobile Apps that Validate the file you received has not been tampered with. 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. Mobile App Formats: .ipa for iOS, or .apk or .aab for Android
    4. Checksum Validation Compatible With: Obj-C, C+, Java, JS, C#, C++, Swift, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, and more
  2. Build the feature: Checksum Validation.

    1. Building Checksum Validation by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

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

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Checksum Validation 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 Checksum Validation feature via Appdome Console, to add the Checksum Validation 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 Checksum Validation feature via Appdome Console

      To build the Checksum Validation protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.

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

        Fusion Set applied Checksum Validation

        Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Checksum Validation protection

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

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Mobile Apps by using Checksum Validation. 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 Checksum Validation

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:

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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