PCI-DSS Compliance Checklist for Android Apps

#android #security #pci #fintech

PCI-DSS compliance in mobile applications is often assumed to be a backend-only responsibility. In reality, Android apps can significantly expand or reduce PCI scope depending on how payment flows, data handling, and security controls are implemented.

With PCI DSS v4.0.1, expectations have shifted toward secure-by-design mobile architecture, continuous risk management, and strong cryptographic controls across the entire transaction lifecycle.

What this checklist covers

🔐 PCI scope minimization

How Android apps can avoid entering the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) by eliminating direct PAN handling and adopting early tokenization strategies.

🔐 Secure storage practices

Why Primary Account Number (PAN) and Sensitive Authentication Data must never be persisted on the device, and how Android Keystore enables secure cryptographic key isolation.

🔐 Transport-level security

Enforcing TLS, blocking cleartext traffic, and applying certificate pinning while maintaining operational stability.

🔐 Secure SDLC for mobile

Threat modeling, dependency governance, build hardening, and security testing aligned with modern mobile security standards.

🔐 Runtime & logging hygiene

Preventing accidental data leakage via logs, crash reports, screenshots, analytics, and other secondary channels, while treating client-side signals as risk indicators rather than trust mechanisms.

This guide focuses on practical Android-specific controls, audit-ready checklists, and real-world security techniques that help reduce both compliance risk and breach impact.