Reverse Engineering Attacks on Android Applications: Techniques, Case Studies, and Defense Strategies

Abstract

Reverse engineering remains a critical threat to the security of Android mobile applications due to the platform’s open-source nature and the accessibility of its application packages. This paper investigates the technical vulnerabilities that expose Android applications to reverse engineering, including the ease of decompiling APK files and extracting sensitive logic and data. It explores both static and dynamic analysis techniques, runtime manipulation, and code modification, which are commonly used by attackers to bypass security mechanisms or alter application behavior. Drawing on real-world case studies, the paper illustrates how these techniques have been exploited in practice, compromising application integrity and user privacy. In response, a range of defense strategies is evaluated, such as code obfuscation, string encryption, native code protection, root detection, and runtime integrity checks. The study also considers the legal and ethical implications of reverse engineering, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property protection and compliance with international regulations. The findings highlight the necessity of a multi-layered defense approach that integrates technical safeguards with legal awareness to effectively mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of Android applications.