Decentralized apps (dApps) are apps that operate on a blockchain or peer-to-peer computer network instead of a centralized system. These apps operate outside the sphere of a centralized authority.
Ethereum is the most popular blockchain for building decentralized apps. A dApp audit ensures the app is free from detected vulnerabilities malicious actors could easily exploit. It also ensures the app complies with industry security standards and works as intended and without known errors.
During a dApp smart contract audit, our team of expert auditors manually and also using appropriate tooling review the contract’s code, logic, and architecture to identify security vulnerabilities and architectural inefficiencies. Afterwards, we provide suggestions on fixing any issues we detect. Our company has skilled auditors who have previously worked with dozens of clients while garnering positive reviews.
Our collaboration with Pessimistic since 2017 has been marked by a level of professionalism that’s hard to come by. Their work, especially in auditing our DeFi SDK smart contracts, consistently exceeds expectations and aligns closely with our business objectives. Their suggested solutions are not just effective but also tailored to our long-term goals.
Working with Pessimistic is seamless and enjoyable. Clear communication, timely deliverables, and unquestionable expertise. Highly recommended.
We've had the pleasure of working with Pessimistic since 2021, and their integrity and consistency have truly impressed us.
Not only do they deliver on their promises, but they also maintain a high standard of work throughout the project.
It's a partnership we value and continue to interact with on a regular basis.
Audit companies space can be pretty wild - there are loud names that provide sub-par services and there are ones that take ages to finalize the reports (delaying the product launch!)
After running through an extended search quest, we made the right decision to go with Pessimistic. Quality, responsiveness, vibe - everything was great.
They walk an extra mile to make you confident everything is going to work as it should!
A dApp is an application that operates autonomously, via smart contracts, on a peer-to-peer computing or blockchain network. Traditional apps rely on centralized servers for data storage and code execution, but dApps operate on a decentralized computing network.
dApps are decentralized applications hosted on a blockchain network or peer-to-peer computing network. Smart contracts are self-executing programs deployed on a blockchain.
A smart contract is an element of a dApp. The dApp is the entire application, while a smart contract is the code that allows the dApp to interact with the blockchain.
There’s no exact timing for a dApp audit. The timing depends mainly on the volume of code, its complexity, and the number of issues we detect in the dApp; we typically review 200-250 lines of Solidity code daily. However, if you’re on a tight schedule, we can shift your audit to the priority track and handle it as quickly as possible.
The cost to audit a dApp depends on the volume of code and the dApp’s features.
Our simplified formula for estimating dApp audit costs is Number of lines of code / 200 * 1.5 * the cost of one working day of the team.
Our estimate is usually accurate and doesn’t differ from the final pricing by over 10%.
We audit many types of decentralized applications, ranging from portfolio management to social platforms, online games, staking platforms, and more.
You should get your decentralized application audited when preparing to release it to the public. After the public release, you should also get it audited before any major update. Likewise, you should request an audit if you observe unpredictable behavior from your dApp, allowing you to detect and resolve problems before they cause severe consequences.
The main appeal of dApps is that they enable platforms to run efficiently outside the purview of a centralized authority. There are many use cases for dApps, ranging from decentralized exchanges to online games, social networking, communication, and more.
For example, decentralized exchanges can operate without a centralized authority, allowing users to trade directly with others.
Yes, we provide recommendations to address security risks we identify during the audit. We typically alert clients to any issues as soon as we discover them, allowing the client to rectify the issue as soon as they can with our recommendations.
The primary risk of using dApps revolves around security. Poor design and security bugs can allow malicious actors e.g. to siphon user funds. Because there’s not always a centralized authority in charge, losing your tokens on a dApp means they’re likely gone forever. This risk underscores the utmost importance of an audit to ensure your app isn’t riddled with security bugs and design flaws.
Solidity is the most popular programming language for decentralized apps because it was created specifically for blockchain programming on the Ethereum network. Developers also use other programming languages like Rust, Go, and JavaScript to build decentralized applications.
Smart contracts are self-executing programs that automate the action required in a blockchain protocol. They allow decentralized apps to operate autonomously without relying on a central authority. The smart contract code defines the rules and conditions, providing users more transparency.
dApps face the possibility of human errors that unknowingly introduce vulnerabilities. Developers are prone to making mistakes and might unknowingly create bugs that malicious actors could exploit.
dApps are open-source by nature, which ensures transparency but also poses a security risk. Malicious actors can monitor every aspect of the open-source system to look for errors to exploit, unlike closed-sourced systems where the code is only known to the developers.
Developers should follow industry security practices, including regular security audits and bug bounty programs. Developers should also implement advanced encryption algorithms, e.g., Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), to secure user data.
Of course, there should be regular audits by skilled experts to identify and help resolve security issues in the smart contract.
Yes, it’s possible to conduct an independent dApp audit. You can enlist the services of a skilled auditing team to manually review your dApp for security bugs and design flaws. An independent review gives unbiased feedback and offers more credibility to your users.
