App attestationSolved

App attestation is a security mechanism that ensures an app is genuine and hasn’t been tampered with. It verifies that the app is running on an unmodified OS and is not being manipulated. This helps prevent attacks like credential theft, unauthorized access, and fraud.

To break it down: when an app launches, it requests an attestation token from a trusted source (Apple’s App Attest API for iOS or Google’s Play Integrity API for Android). The attestation service checks if the app is legit and running on a secure device before issuing a signed response. The app then sends this to its backend for validation.

Right, and what makes it effective is that the attestation token is cryptographically signed, meaning it can’t be faked. If an attacker modifies the app, runs it on an emulator, or roots/jailbreaks the device, the attestation request will fail, preventing unauthorized access. 

But does this mean users with rooted or jailbroken devices can’t use the app at all? Some people modify their devices for legitimate reasons. 

Not necessarily. Some apps might just restrict certain actions rather than block the user entirely. For example, banking apps often disable transactions but still allow basic account access. It depends on how the developer implements the attestation check. 

Also, attestation isn’t foolproof. Attackers constantly find ways to bypass it using techniques like hooking frameworks or running apps in virtualized environments. That’s why developers should use attestation alongside other security measures like server-side anomaly detection and behavioral analysis.