• Republished: Verification, Validation & Testing

    Originally published on Benscomputer.no-ip.org Jan 2010.

     

    Verification, Validation and Testing has become an intrinsic part of the Software Development Life Cycle, the importance of Testing throughout an applications development has been recognised with most companies now designing their processes by using the 'V' Model.

    Recognition of the importance of formal testing and planning is only a relatively recent development in comparison to the art of programming itself. Not so many years ago, software was designed on the back of a cigarette packet in the pub, and then implemented, there was litle to no documentation, and very little structured testing.

    Contrary to Popular Belief, Testing is not just about seeing if the end product works, if Testers are involved as soon as the Initial Specification is written, they can begin to plan later tests and also pick up on requirements that may have been omitted from the Specification. If a requirement has been incorrectly stipulated, badly defined or omitted it is far more expensive to rectify once the Implementation stage has been passed.

  • The State of Mobile Banking (in the UK)

    News recently broke that Tesco Bank's Android App refuses to run when Tor is also installed on the handset, presumably in the name of security.

    So, out of morbid curiousity, I thought I'd take a quick look at just how effectively various banking apps were secured. Banks, after all, should be at the forefront of security (even if they often aren't)

    To start with a disclaimer - personally, I think using banking services on any mobile device is a bad idea from the outset, and some of the results definitely support that idea. I've only taken a cursory look, and not made any attempt to dis-assemble any of the apps.