When building apps with strict security requirements, developers often default to fully native or brownfield approaches, assuming that JavaScript-based solutions fall short. However, times have changed—many of the security blockers that once limited React Native have been overcome, allowing greenfield apps to achieve the same level of security as their native counterparts.

But security isn’t automatic. Developers must still take deliberate steps to safeguard their apps. By leveraging Expo modules, we can implement critical security features such as secure storage, encrypted networking with TLS pinning, and host whitelisting. Additionally, advanced protections like device assurance, runtime security, and threat monitoring play a crucial role in keeping our apps safe against modern threats—yet many React Native developers remain unfamiliar with them.

In this talk, we’ll explore the essential security technologies available to React Native engineers, demystify key security concepts, and showcase how you can build truly secure mobile applications—without sacrificing the benefits of React Native.

In this lightning talk we will dive into the emerging world of Passkeys – a revolutionary approach to authentication that promises to reshape our digital security landscape. We'll explore the fundamental workings of Passkeys: their underlying technology, how they differ from passwords, and their reliance on public key cryptography. The session aims to prepare the AmsterdamJS community for this upcoming shift in authentication paradigms, equipping developers with the knowledge to embrace and implement Passkeys in their future projects. Join me in this exploration of Passkeys, as we step into a new era of digital security and user authentication.

Stay ahead of the curve with the latest updates and upcoming improvements in Expo and React Native. What’s changing, what’s new, and why React Native remains a great investment after a decade.