Ways to protect API tokens in a mobile app
The shortest path to protecting a token is using a ready-made proxy service. If you solve it yourself, it goes layer by layer:
- authentication
- device check
- HMAC (with a salt)
- SSL pinning
- body encryption
- request chaining
- signature URL
The more layers you add, the safer — but each layer also means cost and latency. The right balance depends on your app’s risk profile.