DAST security testing, also known as dynamic application security testing, is a process of assessing the security of an application by simulating real-world attacks. This type of security testing is important because it can identify vulnerabilities in the code that may be exploited by attackers. However, there are factors to consider before deciding whether or not to employ DAST security testing for your software. In this post, we will explore the importance of DAST security testing, discuss the pros and cons, and introduce some popular tools that you can use for performing this type of security testing.

Why Is DAST Security Testing Important?

DAST security testing is important because it can identify vulnerabilities in the code that may be exploited by attackers. These vulnerabilities can include flaws in the design, architecture, and implementation of a web or mobile app. By detecting these problems before they are exploited, you can repair them before they are used by attackers.

There are some drawbacks to employing DAST security testing. First, this sort of security testing may be time-consuming and expensive. Simulating real-world attacks against an app might be difficult. As a result, certain vulnerabilities may not be identified during a DAST security test.

Features Of Dynamic Application Security Testing

There are a number of features that you should look for when choosing a DAST security testing tool. First, the tool should be able to detect vulnerabilities in Android apps. This section should describe the threat in detail, including its nature and severity. Additionally, the tool should be easy to use, so that you can quickly identify and fix vulnerabilities in your Android app.

Pros and Cons of DAST Security Testing

The pros of using DAST security testing include:

• It can identify vulnerabilities in the code that may be exploited by attackers.
• It can fix these vulnerabilities before they are exploited by real-world attacks, saving time and money on repairs after an attack has occurred.

However, there are some cons to using this type of security testing:

• This type of security testing can be expensive and time-consuming; it may not always be feasible for smaller projects with limited resources or budget constraints.
• DAST tests take longer than other types of software testing because they require more setup time and hands-on involvement from both developers as well as testers (i.e., manual input rather than automated processes). However, if done correctly, these costs will ultimately pay off by preventing costly outages and data breaches.

Tools Available for Performing DAST Security Testing on Android Applications

There are several different tools for performing DAST security testing on Android apps. Here we will introduce a few popular options:

Astra’s Pentest: Astra’s Pentest is a commercial tool that you can use for performing dynamic security testing of Android apps. It includes features such as code analysis, vulnerability scanning, and reporting.

OWASP ZAP: OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is an open-source, cross-platform tool that you can use for performing manual penetration tests against web applications. It includes scanning, crawling, and spidering and is free to download from the OWASP website.

Burp Suite: Burp Suite is an effective tool for performing manual security assessments on web applications. It has a variety of capabilities, including spidering, scanning, crawling, and fuzzing. It is also cross-platform and can be downloaded for free from the Burp Suite website.

AppScan: IBM’s AppScan is a commercial security testing tool that you can use for performing dynamic security tests against Android apps. It has a wide range of features, including vulnerability scanning, software penetration testing, and malware detection. You may test out a free trial edition of the program from the IBM website.

When deciding whether or not to use DAST security testing for your Android app, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully to determine which option is best for your specific needs. However, given its ability to identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers, DAST should be considered an important part of any comprehensive security testing program.

Conclusion

In this post, we have explored the importance of DAST security testing and discussed the pros and cons of using this type of security testing for Android apps. We have also introduced some popular tools that you can use for performing DAST security testing. So, what are you waiting for? Start using these tools today to help secure your app!