While people are on an edge, hackers are taking advantage of the situation to scale up attacks. Malicious actors are publishing fake coronavirus apps to take control of Android systems. The apps in question cannot be found in the Google Play Store. They have been discovered on shady websites with the words "covid" or "coronavirus" in the domain name. Additionally, malicious actors are targeting Android apps with advanced SMS phishing techniques, tricking users into installing questionable settings that come in the form of configuration updates. 

Malicious actors are capitalizing on the COVID-19 crisis to attack mobile apps  

In spite of the fact that we are living difficult times, cyber criminals are doing what they know best. To be more precise, they break into systems to steal, change, or destroy information. The tactics that they resort to are so clever that they are almost impossible to identify. According to security researchers, Android is the one to blame for the current situation. There are numerous vulnerabilities in the system allowing hackers to gain access to apps. Broader attacks are possible and it is more difficult than ever to discover the hidden evil. The reaction to the forthcoming threat is essential when it comes down to protecting data. 

The question now is: What can we do? The only solution would be to introduce security early in the app development process. Reducing the risks early on limits the exposure to serious threats. If a hacker does succeed in breaking into a mobile system, they can take hold of personal information that they can use to their own benefit. Since they are interested in making a profit, malicious actors will use that information to apply for loans or credit cards. They do not hesitate in reselling the information to another party. The point that we are trying to make is that the world of mobile apps is not secure enough. 

What is the best way to keep hackers at bay? 

IT professionals are put in the situation of completely rethinking security as far as mobile apps are concerned. One possible solution to prevent phones from getting hacked is to integrate DevSecOps. If you are wondering what is DevSecOps, it stands for development, security, and operations. It implies making everyone accountable for implementing security decisions and actions so as to speed up the development process. Security becomes something of a culture and it needs to be practiced every step of the way. Taking into consideration the growing reliance on applications, it is paramount to take measures to ensure that everything is in order. 

The advantages linked to a DevSecOps approach include but are not limited to increased speed and agility for IT teams, responding quickly to change, and enhanced collaboration and communication. The automation can give way to security functions such as vulnerability scanning, firewalling, identity and access management, etc.   

DevSecOps has its rightful place in the software integrity environment. App development teams should use this in an effort to modernize their application security programs. It is necessary that the code is written in an efficient manner that does not lead to vulnerabilities. If done properly, DevSecOps will do the trick.