DevSecOps: The Answer To Mobile App Fraud

Mobile applications may become hubs of scams and fraudulent activities if proper steps are not taken to ensure their security, right during the app development process. These often work in volatile environments, in tandem with other apps that may inject malware into the mobile device. In such scenarios, the user’s valuable data is compromised, making them vulnerable to identity thefts and substantial financial losses. 

Why Are Mobile Apps So Easy To Tamper With?

Experts believe that there are several reasons which make the mobile apps of today vulnerable to fraudsters:

 

  1. Many mobile apps don’t adhere to the best security practices.
  2. While a few may have basic security features, they can be bypassed because they are not up to date. Hackers and threat actors can break into them with a wide range of readily available tools.
  3. Most mobile app fraud prevention tools are crafted to prioritize the safety of network resources, which means that end-users may end up bearing the brunt of an attack.

A Multi-Layered Approach To Fraud Prevention

A mobile app should be fortified using a wide range of prevention tactics and approaches, which include, but are not limited to, app shielding, code obfuscation, rooting prevention, and machine-in-the-middle attack identification. While one can quickly obtain these from 3rd party libraries as well as from commercial software development kits, there are still going to be significant problems. For starters, these require weeks, if not months, of your development team’s time. Moreover, they may not gel well with your chosen programming language.

The Solution To Fraud Prevention — DevSecOps

With mobile app development projects taking place on the cloud and the pressure of quick, ceaseless development lifecycles, many organizations try to get around mainstream security processes. Thus, issues come in-built because of this approach to creating and launching the mobile app in question, which hackers may take advantage of. This is where DevSecOps proves to be a blessing in disguise.

 

DevOps is a combination of practices that combines software development with IT operations. Its primary goal? Reducing the time taken in the development phase while ensuring seamless project delivery without compromising on quality. Standing for development, operations, and security, DevSecOps factors in the subject of security and compliance, right from the initial phases of the development process. This plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of fraud and scams when the app is launched for public use.

 

In traditional methods, pen tests and the examination of security gaps and potential weaknesses are done AFTER the developers make the final touches. But, in the case of DevSecOps, all these assessments are an integral part of the continuous integration/continuous delivery pipeline.

Cautionary Note

As we know at RNF Technologies, ensuring the security of mobile applications is a continuous process. There is no one-stop scam prevention solution because hackers constantly work on new ways and means through which they can bypass your app’s security walls. To be on the offensive against threat actors, your approach must be multi-faceted and include a wide range of measures, including automation and the adoption of AI and ML fraud detection frameworks.