20 Android Security Interview Questions and Answers

Android Security is a hot topic in the world of mobile development. With the number of Android devices in use surpassing two billion, it’s important for developers to be aware of the latest security concerns and how to mitigate them. In an interview setting, you may be asked about your experience with Android Security and how you would handle certain situations. Knowing how to answer these questions can help you land the job.

Android Security Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Android Security interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is an Android application?

An Android application is a software application that is developed for use on the Android platform. Android applications can be written in a variety of programming languages, including Java, C++, and Kotlin.

2. How does the Android system protect against malicious applications?

The Android system employs a number of security measures to protect against malicious applications. First, all applications must be signed with a digital certificate before they can be installed. This certificate can be used to verify the identity of the developer and ensure that the application has not been tampered with. Secondly, the Android system uses a permission-based security model, which means that each application must request permission to access sensitive data or resources. Finally, the Android system includes a number of built-in security features, such as application sandboxing and data encryption, to further protect users from malicious applications.

3. What are some of the security challenges that you face while developing apps for Android devices?

One of the biggest security challenges that we face is making sure that our apps are not susceptible to malware. We also have to be careful about how we handle sensitive data, such as user passwords and credit card information. Another challenge is keeping our apps up to date with the latest security patches from Google.

4. Can you explain what APK-based protection schemes are?

APK-based protection schemes are designed to protect Android applications from being reverse engineered or tampered with. These schemes typically involve encrypting the application code and using code obfuscation techniques to make it more difficult to understand the code.

5. Why do you think it’s important to have a comprehensive testing plan before releasing an app on the Google Play Store?

There are a number of reasons why it’s important to have a comprehensive testing plan before releasing an app on the Google Play Store. First, it’s important to make sure that your app is stable and doesn’t crash. Second, you want to make sure that your app doesn’t have any security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. Finally, you want to ensure that your app is compliant with all of the relevant policies set forth by the Google Play Store.

6. What is the difference between static and dynamic testing? Which one would you prefer when trying to find vulnerabilities in an Android app? Why?

Static testing is when you analyze the code of an app without actually running it. This can be done manually or with the help of tools. Dynamic testing is when you execute the code and observe its behavior.

I would prefer to use dynamic testing when trying to find vulnerabilities in an Android app because it is more likely to find issues that static testing would miss. Static testing can only analyze the code, so it can only find issues that are present in the code. Dynamic testing can find issues that are caused by the code interacting with other parts of the system, such as the operating system or other apps.

7. Explain how you can perform static code analysis with FindBugs and QARK.

FindBugs is a static code analysis tool that can be used to find potential bugs in Android applications. QARK is another static code analysis tool that can be used to find potential security vulnerabilities in Android applications.

8. How do you create a test suite using Robotium or Appium?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the approach you take will depend on the specific needs of your project. However, in general, you will need to create a series of test cases that cover the functionality you want to test, and then use a tool like Robotium or Appium to automate the execution of those test cases.

9. What is the role of MonkeyRunner in mobile app testing?

The MonkeyRunner tool provides a way to test Android applications through an API. It can be used to generate random user input, take screenshots, and record videos of the app while it is running. This is useful for testing how the app behaves in different conditions and can help find potential bugs.

10. What are some of the most common methods used by attackers to gain access to sensitive data stored on mobile devices?

Some of the most common methods used by attackers to gain access to sensitive data stored on mobile devices include:

-Using malware to gain access to devices and steal data
-Using social engineering techniques to trick users into revealing sensitive information
-Exploiting vulnerabilities in apps or the operating system to gain access to data
-Using unsecured Wi-Fi networks to eavesdrop on communications
-Physical access to devices to bypass security measures

11. Are there any best practices you follow when creating an Android app from scratch?

There are a few best practices to follow when creating an Android app from scratch:

1. Use a strong encryption algorithm to protect any sensitive data stored on the device.
2. Use a secure server for any data that needs to be transmitted over the network.
3. Use permissions to restrict access to any sensitive data or functionality within the app.
4. Use a remote wipe feature to delete all data from the device if it is lost or stolen.

12. Can you explain what key store passwords are? How do they work?

A key store password is used to protect the private keys stored in an Android KeyStore. The key store password is used to unlock the keystore, and then the private keys can be used to sign or decrypt data.

13. What are some examples of standard permissions in Android?

Standard permissions are permissions that cover basic features that most apps need, such as the ability to access the internet, use the camera, or access the device’s storage.

14. What is the importance of verifying user input when designing web forms?

It is important to verify user input when designing web forms in order to prevent malicious users from injecting code that could compromise the security of the website. By verifying that the input is what you expect it to be, you can help ensure that only valid code is executed on your website.

15. What is SQL injection? How can it be prevented?

SQL injection is a type of attack where malicious code is inserted into a SQL statement in order to execute unintended actions or access sensitive data. In order to prevent SQL injection, user input should be validated and escaped before being included in any SQL statements.

16. What are some use cases for reverse engineering an existing apk file?

There are many reasons why someone might want to reverse engineer an apk file. One common reason is to try to understand how a particular app works, in order to either improve upon it or create a similar app. Another reason might be to try to find security vulnerabilities in an app, in order to exploit them.

17. Is it possible to sign an Android app using multiple certificates? If yes, then why would anyone want to do this?

Yes, it is possible to sign an Android app using multiple certificates. There are a few reasons why someone might want to do this:

1. To support multiple signing keys for different purposes (e.g. one for development and one for release)
2. To support multiple signers (e.g. if the app is developed by a team of people, each of whom has their own signing key)
3. To support multiple platforms (e.g. if the app is also available for iOS, each of which has its own signing key)

Using multiple signing keys can make it more difficult to manage the app signing process, but it can also provide more flexibility and security.

18. What is the difference between JWT and OAuth?

JWT is a standard for creating access tokens that are used to authenticate a user to a service. OAuth is a standard for authorization that allows a user to grant a third-party application access to their data.

19. What are some ways to detect intent leaks?

One way to detect intent leaks is to use a static code analysis tool like FlowDroid. FlowDroid can help you to identify potential intent leaks by analyzing the data flows in your app. Another way to detect intent leaks is to use a dynamic analysis tool like AppKnox. AppKnox can help you to identify potential intent leaks by monitoring the app’s runtime behavior.

20. Can you give me some examples of real-world Android apps with known security vulnerabilities?

There are a few examples of real-world Android apps with known security vulnerabilities. One example is the WhatsApp messaging app, which has been known to have vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access users’ private messages. Another example is the Snapchat app, which has been known to have vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access users’ private photos and videos.