An elearning app is a major resource for businesses today when they have to ensure that the employee always keeps on grasping information. Mobile apps can also be hacked, and it can make a company suffer from a loss of goodwill apart from compensating clients because their data has fallen into the wrong hands. These are the ways that can be used by elearning app developers for preventing from it getting hacked:

- Use SSL certificates:

Once an elearning App has an SSL certificate, it can ensure that hackers can’t touch its code.

Hackers can access the code of an app when it’s installed on a user’s mobile phone.

SSL certificates are valid certificates issued by the certificate authority, and every app must have the installation of an SSL certificate on the server. So an SSL certificate makes sure that no malicious person can access the app. When a server has an SSL certificate, the user can easily trust that the data sent to the server is encrypted and viceversa.

The hackers can access all the data sent via HTTP Requests from an app to the server when there’s no SSL certificate installed. Hence, it’s the developers’ job to see that the SSL certificate is installed on its server before an app is launched.

These certificates are necessary for apps that take payments from users because when a certificate is not present, the data exchange between the app and the server is not concealed/encrypted.

- Use code signing certificate:

The code could have been altered by someone, but a developer can ensure that it does not happen with a code signing certificate. When such a certificate has been issued, it states that a genuine software developer has created the code.

These certificates include the timestamp when the code was converted into a .exe file and the developer’s signature and are used to sign apps by the developers before they are handed over to the client. Anyone should not install software that does not have a code signing certificate because it means it could be malware that has been used to modify the code of the elearning app.

Any software which does not have the code signing certificate will show a warning message on the user’s phone when it’s installed.

Moreover, with a timestamp, if the app was sold with a certificate, it will not show a warning message when the app is installed, even though the code signing certificate has elapsed. The code signing certificate can only be generated when the code is transformed into an executable file. Anyone using the app knows it from a trusted publisher even if the certificate has expired.

The timestamp is no longer valid when an error message is shown because someone has altered the source code and generated a new .exe file later than the original timestamp. If the user installs such a modified app containing malware on his system, it can access the server.

The developers can ensure that there is no chance of the server getting hacked by accessing the app. Hence the app should be tested right from the beginning of its development. When the server can be accessed through the app, many problems can creep in when the malware can be installed on the app, and then used to attack the server. Hence when malware gets installed on the server, it can block access to the secure files containing the data of so many clients. The developer should use the scanner to know whether the app is prone to hacking.

- Check the code for security:

Code scanning is used to check whether an elearning app’s code has any security-related problems. It’s because it can cause problems later, and hence it’s better to rectify them in the beginning only. But sometimes scanners are not such a great option, and hence manual assessment with regards to any security threats is also needed. There can be any attack on a server when it’s on the internet because its caters to HTTP requests. When a hacker has accessed the server, he can get sensitive data. The attacks can happen when a user enables those features which are not essential for the elearning app’s functioning.

Have a trustworthy LMS:

An LMS is the core of an elearning app. It makes sure that only authorized users can access it. Hence a company should get an LMS from reliable providers and avoid open-source LMS. They can ensure that the users are only allowed to log into the app after two-factor authentication, making them enter an OTP besides their password to log in to the elearning app.

An LMS with a good API will ensure that the user is only allowed access to the app through precise verification. Users must only be allowed to set strong passwords on the app, which is impossible without a good LMS. When the passwords are weak, hackers can use them to break into the app and access the server.

The e-learning is now seeing new demand owing to the pandemic. That’s why companies are just coming up with new platforms, not to be left behind. There are many e-learning platforms in the market; hence, the companies need to decide which one to implement, depending on the user preferences.

For example, a company can provide users with a mobile eLearning app that ensures easy accessibility and is also the preferred choice given the wide availability of smartphones.

The companies can choose an e-learning app based on the following parameters:

The companies can develop an e-learning app after knowing the content to be circulated. However, any business which wants an elearning app for its employees must take care of the following features:

Social media integration:
Social media integration should allow an employee to sign in to the app through his Facebook account. This way, he can also share any new training certification badge on his Facebook page so that his friends can see it. Then, when his friends compliment him on seeing an achievement, he feels proud.
Push notifications must also be there in an Elearning app that facilitates employee information sharing. This way, employees are aware when a new course is uploaded on the LMS. Employees can also be alerted when they have not used an app in a long time, reminding them it’s time to finish a course they have left in between.

Such notifications are handy when the employees are informed about the turbulent weather conditions to reach home after work safely. If there is no light in the stairwell, the push notification can also tell employees to turn on the mobile torch. The authorities also become vigilant about repairing such issues before they can cause any harm.
Search feature:
Also, there should be a Search Feature integrated into the app so that employees don’t have trouble finding any information. Enable this search feature to find any content containing keywords, images, videos, or text in the app.

The learners should have every kind of facility in the app, making it more usable; for example, they should have a Forget Password feature when they lose track of their credentials. They should set their profile picture and other account details on the home page. Every course must feature a course description number of lessons and be included in a category. Again, employees should have the option to download a lesson to read it without an internet connection.

The e-learning app must have private access once it’s for the employees of a company. It should not be accessible to anyone outside the network. It’s also the task of the app admin to see that the user profile is deactivated once an employee has left the company.

Also, even if someone gets access to the app through the Playstore with an employee’s credentials, he should not download the app on a nonrecognizable device.

Chatrooms:
Employees can solve any queries regarding the content on the app through a chat functionality managed by senior employees or chatbots. There can also be a chatroom functionality where employees can discuss their work-based problems with other employees if available online.

The technical features of the app are crucial because businesses must consider that employees are taught the latest. Competitors implement new technologies to train employees about better work practices, which you could also use.
Pop up quizzes:

Suppose the safety regulations have been updated at the workplace, but how to check employees for their knowledge. It is possible through pop-up quizzes that analyze employee retention about policy changes. Employees can also be rewarded as positive reinforcement through gift cards etc.

Providing information to employees through a mobile learning app gives them the safest way to access any precarious situation. They can get acquainted with the necessary protocol to be followed when near dangerous chemicals. Any accidents can be prevented when the information is within the most accessible reach of an employee. Hence, a mobile learning app acts as a pocket guide with immense knowledge for an employee.

How to ensure the app’s security?

Moreover, there should be controlled access to the mobile app, and its API should not contain any bugs. Finally, ensure that the developers who have developed the app use obfuscation to ensure that the hackers can’t decipher the code and reverse-engineer it.

In obfuscation, you can change the name of the variables and methods using unprintable characters, etc., but it does not alter the result of the program. Furthermore, since the code can’t be reverse-engineered through this technique, an app can’t be hacked.

Reverse engineering means that the executable file is broken down to get the source file because it is discovered how various functions are included in the source code. Here, a decompiler creates a source file from an executable file. It’s like opening a machine and then assembling it all over again.

For example, one can get the source code of an android app through so many free-cost tools. Hence, the app developers must obfuscate the source code to prevent it from being decompiled using one of these tools and reconstructing the app. But ensuring this is the responsibility of the eLearning companies USA hired for creating the app.

Hence, these are the benefits of using an e-learning app for a company.

Tag: ELEARNING APP

How can developers prevent the hacking of an elearning app?

Once an elearning App has an SSL certificate, it can ensure that hackers can’t touch its code.

How a company must develop an elearning app?

For example, a company can provide users with a mobile eLearning app that ensures easy accessibility and is also the preferred choice given the wide availability of smartphones.

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