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Deployment Strategy and Security Considerations

This page details the deployment strategy, security measures, and update mechanisms implemented in DocuSnap-Frontend.

Build and Release Process

DocuSnap-Frontend follows a standard Android application build and release process:

1. Version Management

  • Version Number: 1.1.2 (versionName)
  • Build Number: 4 (versionCode)
  • Version numbers are incremented with each release
  • Semantic versioning is followed (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH)

2. Build Configuration

  • Compile SDK Version: 35
  • Minimum SDK Version: 33 (Android 13)
  • Target SDK Version: 35
  • Java Compatibility Version: Java 11
  • Build Types:
  • Debug: Used during development with debugging enabled
  • Release: Optimized for distribution with debugging disabled

3. Release Channels

  • Primary distribution through Google Play Store
  • Support for internal testing and staged releases
  • Enterprise distribution channels available
  • Alpha and beta testing programs for early feedback

4. Update Strategy

  • In-app update notifications
  • Regular feature updates and security patches
  • Forced update mechanism for critical security fixes
  • Phased rollouts for major updates

Data Encryption and Secure Communication

DocuSnap-Frontend implements multiple layers of security to protect user data:

1. Transport Encryption

  • HTTPS Communication: All network traffic uses secure HTTPS
  • RSA Public Key Encryption: 2048-bit keys
  • AES-CBC Symmetric Encryption: 256-bit keys
  • Encryption Modes:
  • RSA/ECB/OAEPWithSHA-256AndMGF1Padding
  • AES/CBC/PKCS7Padding

Example of the hybrid encryption implementation:

// Generate AES key
val aesKey = cryptoUtil.generateAesKey()
val encryptedContent = cryptoUtil.aesEncrypt(innerJson.toString().toByteArray(), aesKey)
val sha256 = cryptoUtil.computeSHA256(encryptedContent)
val encryptedAesKey = cryptoUtil.rsaEncrypt(aesKey, cryptoUtil.getPublicKey(settingsManager.getPublicKeyPem()))

2. Data Integrity

  • SHA-256 Hash Verification: Ensures data hasn't been tampered with
  • Digital Signature Verification: Validates data source
  • Tamper-proof Mechanisms: Detects unauthorized modifications

3. Local Security

  • Sensitive data is encrypted before local storage
  • Android KeyStore system protects encryption keys
  • Secure export mechanisms for data sharing

PIN Code Protection and Local Security

DocuSnap-Frontend provides additional local security mechanisms:

1. PIN Code Protection

  • Optional application PIN code protection
  • PIN codes are hashed before storage
  • Support for biometric authentication (fingerprint, face recognition)
  • Configurable security timeout

2. Session Management

  • Application automatically locks after a period of inactivity
  • Configurable session timeout duration
  • Data protection when switching applications
  • Re-authentication required for sensitive operations

3. Permission Management

  • Follows the principle of least privilege
  • Runtime permission requests with clear explanations
  • Permissions are requested only when needed
  • Users can revoke permissions at any time

4. Data Isolation

  • Application uses private storage
  • Content provider access control
  • Sandbox execution environment
  • No unnecessary data sharing with other applications

Deployment Optimization

The deployment strategy includes several optimizations:

1. Application Size Optimization

  • Resource compression
  • Image optimization
  • Unused resource removal
  • Language-specific resource packaging

2. Performance Optimization

  • Startup time optimization
  • Memory usage optimization
  • Battery usage optimization
  • Network usage optimization

3. Compatibility Optimization

  • Device-specific optimizations
  • Screen size adaptations
  • Hardware feature detection
  • Graceful degradation for missing features

Continuous Integration and Delivery

While not currently implemented, the following CI/CD improvements are recommended:

1. Automated Building

  • Implement automated builds for each commit
  • Run unit tests as part of the build process
  • Generate build artifacts automatically

2. Automated Testing

  • Run automated UI tests
  • Perform integration testing
  • Execute performance testing

3. Automated Deployment

  • Automate deployment to test environments
  • Streamline Play Store submission
  • Automate release notes generation

Security Recommendations

Based on the current implementation, the following security enhancements are recommended:

1. Enable Code Obfuscation

  • Enable R8 with full obfuscation
  • Implement ProGuard rules to protect sensitive code
  • Obfuscate class names, method names, and field names

2. Implement Certificate Pinning

  • Add SSL certificate pinning to prevent MITM attacks
  • Verify server certificates against known good certificates
  • Implement certificate rotation strategy

3. Enhance Secure Storage

  • Use EncryptedSharedPreferences for all sensitive data
  • Implement secure backup mechanisms
  • Add additional encryption layers for highly sensitive data

4. Security Monitoring

  • Implement runtime security checks
  • Add tamper detection mechanisms
  • Monitor for suspicious activities

These security measures and deployment strategies ensure that DocuSnap-Frontend is deployed in a secure, efficient manner that protects user data while providing a smooth user experience.