Retail’s App Explosion: Why Android Security is Cracking Under Pressure

Retail has become a frontline battleground for digital transformation and Android sits at its core. Today, 68 percent of frontline retail devices run on Android, powering everything from mobile point-of-sale (mPoS) systems and inventory apps to customer engagement platforms. This shift has unlocked efficiency and agility. However, it has also opened the door to unprecedented risk.

Over the past five years, app usage on Android-powered retail devices has surged by 86 percent. Businesses are moving fast to digitize, but in the race for productivity, security often becomes an afterthought. According to Hexnode’s recent survey, 42 percent of organizations state that they're not ready to battle cyber threats. This highlights a critical issue: retail’s digital adoption is outpacing its security measures.

Multi-App Vulnerabilities: The Silent Breach Lurking in Plain Sight

In the rush to streamline operations, retailers often deploy multiple business apps on a single device — each one expanding the attack surface. Most organizations underestimate how these apps can interact in unexpected ways, leaving communication channels exposed.

Malicious actors are targeting these inter-app pathways to exfiltrate sensitive data (e.g., customer profiles, payment credentials, and internal business records) without raising alarms. Trojans disguised as productivity tools, spyware embedded in communication apps, and malware targeting mPoS systems are active in the wild.

What’s worse, most retailers have limited visibility into app permissions and behavior, making it nearly impossible to spot the breach before the damage is done.

Related story: Strengthening Security for E-Commerce With Reauthentication

The Biggest Risk? Reliance on Unpatched Devices

Unlike traditional desktops, frontline Android devices often fall through the cracks of centralized IT management. Many do not receive timely security updates and some aren't patched at all.

This patching gap in Android is a critical weakness. Known vulnerabilities go unaddressed for weeks or months, offering an open invitation to cybercriminals. In connected retail environments, where a single device syncs real-time data across inventory systems, order platforms and customer records, one breach can derail entire operations.

Retail Leaders Must Get Ahead of the Chaos

The first step toward securing Android-driven frontline devices involves keeping operations simple. At the outset, retailers should implement app clutter reduction by verifying business-essential tools while restricting nonessential apps from installing. Fewer applications in the system lead to fewer known vulnerabilities and easier oversight because there's less shadow IT to deal with. With streamlined deployments, businesses can focus on tools that deliver value without adding exposure.

With the basics in place, the next step is to bring structure and consistency across all stores. Android devices used by retail teams should behave predictably — whether they’re checking inventory in New York or scanning barcodes in Los Angeles. Retailers can use Android’s built-in management features to lock down settings, prevent unauthorized app installs, and keep devices focused on specific tasks. These small controls reduce distractions for staff and tighten the grip on everyday security threats.

However, as device counts grow, retailers need smarter ways to stay on top. This is where solutions like unified endpoint management (UEM) platforms come into play — not to complicate the process, but to centralize and streamline it. Whether it’s pushing updates remotely, applying critical patches, or locking devices into kiosks or digital signage, Android management backed by the right tools like UEM makes life easier for lean IT teams spread across locations. It's less about bells and whistles and more about ensuring devices stay productive and protected without constant hands-on effort.

In a retail world that runs on speed and availability, downtime isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s lost revenue. Taking control of Android device management isn’t a tech upgrade; it’s operational insurance.

Apu Pavithran is the founder and CEO of Hexnode, the award-winning Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform.