Here are 10 tip for you to protect your android device from harmful things.
Android is the most popular mobile platform in India and worldwide. One of the major reasons for its popularity is the flexibility it offers in terms of customization and the abundance of third-party apps.
Apps can even be side-loaded, bypassing Google's Play Store app marketplace. However, all this also makes Android vulnerable to security threats and malware.
Moreover, with our increasing reliance on smartphones and tablets, we're storing more private data than ever before, leaving us more vulnerable to data thefts.
So how do you protect yourself from losing precious personal and work data accessed via Android devices?
Here are 10 tips to help you secure your Android gadgets!
1. Use a pin, password or pattern to lock your phone.
The most basic security measure for every Android device, a screen lock allows you to guard the device by using a pattern, PIN or password.
Setting this up is easy: On many Android devices, go to your Location & Security Settings for instructions. On phones equipped with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), you can even set the phone to recognize your face and unlock the screen. You can also adjust the delay before the security lock turns back on.
2. Encryption Of Device.
Android allows you to encrypt all the data on your device.
You'll need to key in a password or PIN each time the device is turned on to decrypt all the data.
If the phone gets into the wrong hands, there's no way to access the data without a password or PIN if the device is restarted.
This way, your sensitive data stays safe though the device becomes a little slow.
It can be activated through the Android device's Security Settings.
3. Backing Up Your Data.
This is more about protecting and restoring your information should disaster strike. With various apps available on Play Store you can back up and restore your data, for example, you can save your contacts, music, pictures, videos and documents to the cloud, or you can save all your files to your SD card to be retrieved later.
4. Activate Google Android Device Manager Feature.
Even if you lose your device, the Android Device Manager feature allows you to track a (connected) device on Google Maps.
It also enables you to ring the device at full volume for five minutes and even erase all the data.
To verify if it's enabled, you can go to the Settings menu on your device and tap on Security.
It can be enabled through the Device Administrators setting under Security Settings.
5. Don't Store Sensitive Information On Phone SD Cards
Make sure you don't store sensitive information such as copies of credit cards and personal IDs on external storage cards since it is easy to remove them and access the data stored.
If you need to store important information, keep it on internal storage(Only If No One Else Uses Your Phone).
If you bank or shop from your smartphone,this is a good practice to log out of those sites once your transactions are complete.
6. Install Trusted Apps Only.
While apps on the Google Play Store are not curated as diligently as Apple's App Store, it is still the safest place to download and install apps on Android platform.
Installation files (APKs) sourced from third-party sites should be dealt with caution as they might hide malware or spyware.
On Android phones, you can visit the Applications Settings and tell your phone not to install apps from unknown sources.
Apps can be used from Unknown Sources but make sure it is safe to use the application and what permissions that application require before installation.
7. Install Locking Security Apps.
You can use additional protection for apps like Gallery and Messaging to protect private data.
A number of apps are available on Play Store that offer an additional level of protection for individual apps.
Such apps ask you to set up a password or PIN code that needs to be entered whenever you open the particular protected apps.
8. Get To Know The Root Feature.
By rooting your phone, you can install custom Android ROMs and even some incompatible apps.
However, apps with root access get unhindered access to your device's file-system, exposing it to more damage in case a malicious app is installed.
It also voids your phone's warranty.
9. Keep your operating system and apps updated.
There are typically periodic updates to both of these that not only add new features, but also offer tightened security.
Bugs, errors and other vulnerability are removed with new updates. So always keep your
apps and OS Updated.
Android is the most popular mobile platform in India and worldwide. One of the major reasons for its popularity is the flexibility it offers in terms of customization and the abundance of third-party apps.
Apps can even be side-loaded, bypassing Google's Play Store app marketplace. However, all this also makes Android vulnerable to security threats and malware.
Moreover, with our increasing reliance on smartphones and tablets, we're storing more private data than ever before, leaving us more vulnerable to data thefts.
So how do you protect yourself from losing precious personal and work data accessed via Android devices?
Here are 10 tips to help you secure your Android gadgets!
1. Use a pin, password or pattern to lock your phone.
The most basic security measure for every Android device, a screen lock allows you to guard the device by using a pattern, PIN or password.
Setting this up is easy: On many Android devices, go to your Location & Security Settings for instructions. On phones equipped with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), you can even set the phone to recognize your face and unlock the screen. You can also adjust the delay before the security lock turns back on.
2. Encryption Of Device.
Android allows you to encrypt all the data on your device.
You'll need to key in a password or PIN each time the device is turned on to decrypt all the data.
If the phone gets into the wrong hands, there's no way to access the data without a password or PIN if the device is restarted.
This way, your sensitive data stays safe though the device becomes a little slow.
It can be activated through the Android device's Security Settings.
3. Backing Up Your Data.
This is more about protecting and restoring your information should disaster strike. With various apps available on Play Store you can back up and restore your data, for example, you can save your contacts, music, pictures, videos and documents to the cloud, or you can save all your files to your SD card to be retrieved later.
4. Activate Google Android Device Manager Feature.
Even if you lose your device, the Android Device Manager feature allows you to track a (connected) device on Google Maps.
It also enables you to ring the device at full volume for five minutes and even erase all the data.
To verify if it's enabled, you can go to the Settings menu on your device and tap on Security.
It can be enabled through the Device Administrators setting under Security Settings.
5. Don't Store Sensitive Information On Phone SD Cards
Make sure you don't store sensitive information such as copies of credit cards and personal IDs on external storage cards since it is easy to remove them and access the data stored.
If you need to store important information, keep it on internal storage(Only If No One Else Uses Your Phone).
If you bank or shop from your smartphone,this is a good practice to log out of those sites once your transactions are complete.
6. Install Trusted Apps Only.
While apps on the Google Play Store are not curated as diligently as Apple's App Store, it is still the safest place to download and install apps on Android platform.
Installation files (APKs) sourced from third-party sites should be dealt with caution as they might hide malware or spyware.
On Android phones, you can visit the Applications Settings and tell your phone not to install apps from unknown sources.
Apps can be used from Unknown Sources but make sure it is safe to use the application and what permissions that application require before installation.
7. Install Locking Security Apps.
You can use additional protection for apps like Gallery and Messaging to protect private data.
A number of apps are available on Play Store that offer an additional level of protection for individual apps.
Such apps ask you to set up a password or PIN code that needs to be entered whenever you open the particular protected apps.
8. Get To Know The Root Feature.
By rooting your phone, you can install custom Android ROMs and even some incompatible apps.
However, apps with root access get unhindered access to your device's file-system, exposing it to more damage in case a malicious app is installed.
It also voids your phone's warranty.
9. Keep your operating system and apps updated.
There are typically periodic updates to both of these that not only add new features, but also offer tightened security.
Bugs, errors and other vulnerability are removed with new updates. So always keep your
apps and OS Updated.
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