This research paper investigates the integration of blockchain technology to enhance the security of Android mobile app data storage. Blockchain holds the potential to significantly improve data security and reliability, yet faces notable challenges such as scalability, performance, cost, and complexity. In this study, we begin by providing a thorough review of prior research and identifying critical research gaps in the field. Android's dominant position in the mobile market justifies our focus on this platform. Additionally, we delve into the historical evolution of blockchain and its relevance to modern mobile app security in a dedicated section. Our examination of encryption techniques and the effectiveness of blockchain in securing mobile app data storage yields important insights. We discuss the advantages of blockchain over traditional encryption methods and their practical implications. The central contribution of this paper is the Blockchain-based Secure Android Data Storage (BSADS) framework, now consisting of six comprehensive layers. We address challenges related to data storage costs, scalability, performance, and mobile-specific constraints, proposing technical optimization strategies to overcome these obstacles effectively. To maintain transparency and provide a holistic perspective, we acknowledge the limitations of our study. Furthermore, we outline future directions, stressing the importance of leveraging lightweight nodes, tackling scalability issues, integrating emerging technologies, and enhancing user experiences while adhering to regulatory requirements.
Keywords: android; blockchain; blockchain based Secure Android Data Storage (BSADS); challenges; current practices; data storage; future directions; mobile applications; survey.