How to Encrypt Strings.xml in Android Apps

Last updated March 10, 2024 by Appdome

Learn to Encrypt strings under strings.xml in Android apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What is the strings.xml file?

The strings.xml file is the usual location for storing a string resource, which provides text strings for your application, with optional text styling and formatting. Unlike the java strings and the assets folder, the string resources cannot be encrypted on the device because the OS needs to access the strings file. This makes strings the soft belly of any application, as they can contain sensitive information such as phrases, URLs, tokens, and passwords that can be easily understood from the application without using any specialized tools.

How does Appdome Protect the strings.xml File?

To provide customers with overall security protection of their Android app, Appdome’s XMLEncrypt™ service encrypts the sensitive strings stored in the localizable locations in Android.

Prerequisites for Using XMLEncrypt™:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Encrypt strings under strings.xml , you’ll need:

Encrypt strings under strings.xml on Android apps using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Encrypt strings under strings.xml 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. Android Formats: .apk or .aab
    4. XMLEncrypt™ Compatible With: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other Android apps
  2. Build the feature: XMLEncrypt™.

    1. Building XMLEncrypt™ by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

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

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

      To build the XMLEncrypt™ protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.

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

        Fusion Set applied XMLEncrypt™

        Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added XMLEncrypt™ protection

      3. Extra Configuration with XMLEncrypt™:
        1. XMLEncrypt™

          Encrypt sensitive strings.xml values for all locales.

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

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Android Apps by using XMLEncrypt™. 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 XMLEncrypt™

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:

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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