This is hardly an overstatement that, these days, cellphones are the most private gadgets. But you constantly have your phone near you, and it holds a lot of information about you. Your mobile knows practically every secret, and you can’t conceal your everyday life routine from your smartphone. It has been monitoring your location, internet activity, your searches, preferred applications, and all of your recordings.
Yeah, these days, smartphones are advantageous in every element of life, and we can’t dispute how our quality of life is growing due to smartphones. Google, on the other hand, is likewise incredibly secure because of the newest methods of data encryption. But you still need to take some additional security steps. Below are some safety recommendations on preserving control of all that vital information and making sure you don’t have to give it up confidentially.
Activate the screen lock
This is one of the crucial things that Android users should bear in mind. After a brief period, the screen lock must be enabled automatically, and you may manually specify the duration (i.e., 30 seconds). This is not just for your smartphone to activate the screen lock for tablets, computers, and all your devices. It is the easiest way to keep people away from invading.
- Do not use the pin code to lock the device. This is the easiest one to crack since someone has to look when your phone is unlocked.
- Use a unique password to unlock your smartphone, and the password must comprise symbols, letters, and digits.
- Fingerprint and facial recognition technologies are the safest and most convenient methods to unlock the lock screen, as well as the most modern.
- You may also utilize a pattern, but the design should not be simple or straightforward.
- After 10 failed login attempts, it is also required for the device to automatically erase all data, since it is impossible to predict when and by whom a lost mobile device will be discovered.
Utilize two-factor authentication
Using 2-factor authentication is one of the greatest methods to safeguard your Android smartphone. Enable this authentication to access online financial accounts and social media sites since these platforms contain the most vital information. By enabling 2FA on your Google account, Android devices may be protected. If 2FA on your Google account is active, you will receive a security code every time you sign in from any device.
If you see any questionable behavior, you can always comprehend the situation and respond accordingly. This step is necessary since your Google account stores all of your activity history. Therefore, you must add a layer of protection.
To activate 2-step verification on your smartphone, select “My Account” and then “2-step verification.” Choose one of several ways of verification, and then activate it.
Always utilize the Play Store to get apps
It is risky to download software from unapproved websites, since malware may be readily installed on your device via these websites. The process of downloading programs outside of the Google Play Store is known as “sideloading.” In this instance, program files are installed in APK format, and it is unknown if the folder is malicious or meant to perform the desired purpose.
Always get applications through the Google Play Store. Google submits applications to a rigorous testing and verification system, and only authenticated apps may be uploaded to the Play Store. However, criminals continue to place malware in official app shops and sometimes succeed.
Google eliminated over 700,000 useless applications from the Play Store in 2017. Google also disclosed their improved misdetection pattern.
Constantly examine the app’s permissions
After installing applications, pay special attention to the permissions the program requires. Never bypass the button to provide permission. It may take some time, but you will have a thorough understanding of the app’s legitimacy. Install the applications only after verifying their permissions.
Some messaging applications request permission to use the camera on your mobile device, which may seem unconnected and strange, but the rationale may be genuine. The majority of messaging applications need access to your camera to share photos and videos. You must thus enable such applications, but a flashlight that requests access to your gallery is not an acceptable request. Do not allow these applications to access superfluous or additional folders on your device.
Refrain from disclosing your whereabouts
Several fascinating application features are tied to the location. However, your location information is the most sensitive data you can provide, so carefully consider if some activities merit your privacy.
Without your knowledge or approval, some applications monitor your activity and compile a detailed profile of your personal data. Since your information has been hacked, these applications may pose a hazard to you. On the other hand, location-based programs such as Google Maps are available. These applications are necessary for daily living. Therefore, always share your location with authorized applications.
Bonus Suggestion: Avoid utilizing public wifi
Free wifi is always appealing to most users. They connect to public wifi to access their social media and financial accounts. Using public WiFi without a VPN service is very unsafe, and the results may be stunning since most hackers utilize public WiFi networks to distribute malware. They can also steal your data packets, implying that they can track your digital traces.
In contrast, Virtual Private Network is the best app for accessing public wifi. It totally encrypts your data, making it impossible for hackers to track you online. NordVPN is one of the safest and most reliable VPN services that encrypts your traffic and conceals your IP address. You may connect to one of NordVPN’s numerous servers and it will assign you an IP address based on the server you choose. No one will be able to track you or your device, and you will be able to access all restricted websites and online content.