How do you use Ionic storage and secure storage to protect user data and tokens?

2 What is Ionic Secure Storage?

Ionic Secure Storage is another plugin that provides a more secure way to store sensitive data, such as user credentials, tokens, or encryption keys. It uses the native encryption features of each platform, such as Keychain on iOS or Keystore on Android, to encrypt and decrypt data. It also requires the user to unlock the device with a PIN, fingerprint, or face ID before accessing the data. To use Ionic Secure Storage, you need to install the plugin and import the SecureStorageObject class in your app module. Then, you can create a secure storage instance with a unique name and use the get, set, remove, and clear methods to manipulate data. For example, to store a user token securely, you can do something like this:

// Import SecureStorageObject class in app.module.ts
import { SecureStorage, SecureStorageObject } from '@ionic-native/secure-storage/ngx';
@NgModule({
  // ...
  providers: [
    // ...
    SecureStorage
  ]
})
export class AppModule {}
// Inject SecureStorage service in auth.service.ts
import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
import { SecureStorage, SecureStorageObject } from '@ionic-native/secure-storage/ngx';
@Injectable({
  providedIn: 'root'
})
export class AuthService {
  private secureStorage: SecureStorageObject;
  constructor(private secureStorage: SecureStorage) {
    // Create secure storage instance with a unique name
    this.secureStorage.create('my_app')
      .then((storage: SecureStorageObject) => {
        this.secureStorage = storage;
      });
  }
  // Store user token securely
  async storeToken(token: string) {
    await this.secureStorage.set('token', token);
  }
  // Get user token securely
  async getToken() {
    return await this.secureStorage.get('token');
  }
  // Remove user token securely
  async removeToken() {
    await this.secureStorage.remove('token');
  }
  // Clear all data securely
  async clearStorage() {
    await this.secureStorage.clear();
  }
}        

3 What are the benefits of Ionic Secure Storage?

Ionic Secure Storage offers some advantages over Ionic Storage when it comes to storing sensitive data. First, it encrypts the data with a strong algorithm and a unique key that is stored in the native platform's secure enclave. This means that even if someone gains access to the device's file system, they cannot read the data without the key. Second, it requires the user to authenticate with the device's biometric or PIN before accessing the data. This adds an extra layer of security and prevents unauthorized access. Third, it is compatible with most platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and browser.

4 What are the limitations of Ionic Secure Storage?

Ionic Secure Storage also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it. It has a limited storage capacity, depending on the platform. For example, on iOS, it can only store up to 4KB of data per key. This means that you should not use it to store large amounts of data, such as images or videos. Next, it has a performance overhead, as it needs to encrypt and decrypt data every time you access it. This can affect the app's responsiveness and user experience. Be aware that Ionic Secure Storage may not work on some older devices or browsers that do not support the native encryption features.

5 How to choose between Ionic Storage and Ionic Secure Storage?

The choice between Ionic Storage and Ionic Secure Storage depends on your app's requirements and use cases. If you need to store non-sensitive data, such as user preferences, settings, or app state, you can use Ionic Storage, as it is simple, flexible, and fast. If you need to store sensitive data, such as user credentials, tokens, or encryption keys, you should use Ionic Secure Storage, as it is secure, encrypted, and authenticated. However, you should also consider the storage capacity, performance, and compatibility of each plugin and test them on different platforms and devices. You can also use both plugins in combination, depending on the type of data you need to store.

6 Here’s what else to consider

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