It is hard to imagine spending a day without our
smartphones, but did you know that using one creates a serious risk to
our privacy?
Times when losing or getting your phone hacked only
meant losing your contacts, numbers and messages are behind us. Today,
everything is exposed: your photos, messages, social media and email
accounts, documents, and important synced files.
Ever since the Uber’s “God View”, the software that
enabled Uber to track their customers in real time through their
smartphones, was brought into the public eye, many concerns regarding
our online privacy arose.
Since there are many android smartphone users surfing
the internet on a daily basis, we have decided to give you six simple
ways to improve the security on your android device.
Use Lock Screen, It’s There for a Reason
If you want to improve security on your android
device, the lock screen feature is the first safety measure that you can
refer to. Lock screen is a protective barrier protecting all of your
data should your phone get stolen.
You can access this option if you go into the main Settings menu by choosing Security and then Screen Lock submenus. There are several Lock Screen options – fingerprint (if your device supports it), password, PIN and Pattern.
If Lock Screen takes too much of your precious time,
you can use the Smart Lock feature to bypass it. This feature is
accessible on phones with Android version 5.0 and above. You can access
it by visiting the
Security menu and choosing the Smart Lock option.
You can set up a trusted device, place, face and
voice, so that you don’t have to unlock your screen when your device is
in a trusted environment.
App Permissions Should Not Be Taken Lightly
Now, most people automatically press next and allow buttons
when installing apps on their smart devices, without paying attention
to what are they actually allowing an app to do. Giving permissions to
an apps is a necessity, but it is important to keep track of what an app
is asking for.
If you notice that an app is asking for permission
for something that doesn’t correspond to what that app does, you should
be concerned. If you want to check the permissions for your already
installed apps, you can use the Permission Friendly App to rate the apps
by their level of intrusiveness. Risky apps will be given a higher
score by this app.
Before installing an app on your device, make sure to
read a list of requested permissions. This way you will avoid
inconveniences, such as your private data getting downloaded and shared
online.
Furthermore, you can increase your security by
enabling Verify Apps option in your phone’s security menu by choosing
the Device Administration option. Tick the Verify app option and you are
set.
Read Comments on Play Store
Before trying an app for the first time you can protect your privacy online
by simply reading the comments for the app in question on the Play
Store. In the comments you can find valuable information about how an
app performs on specific devices and the user experience regarding the
app and its permission requests.
While you are at it, make sure to check the app
rating and number of downloads. The higher the number on these two
factors, the more reliable the app source (developer firm) is.
Restrain from Saving All of Your Passwords
It is very convenient to get your passwords saved for
website accounts and online services. You should know that this is a
double-edged sword. When you lose your phone or it gets stolen, all of
your online accounts are compromised. If you cannot lose this habit,
make sure to at least stop saving passwords for your banking and payment
apps.
Encrypt your Phone
In the Security menu you can choose the Encrypt phone
option. Make sure that your phone is fully charged before you start the
encryption process, since it lasts for approximately an hour. After it
is completed, all of the data on your phone will be unreadable, and
therefore useless to anyone who tries to access it from the outside,
even you.
When you unlock your screen, the phone triggers a decrypt method and all of your data becomes readable again.
Use Root Management App
If you are using a rooted device make sure to prevent apps from taking control of your device without your consent by installing a root management app. When you have this app installed, it will monitor the root requests of other apps. Whenever such an event occurs you will be asked if you want to allow or deny it.
These precautions will minimize the damage, should you lose your smartphone or someone hacks it. Make sure to stay updated with the latest news regarding online privacy and smartphone security, because things in this field develop at a very rapid pace. When you are looking information online make sure to read authoritative blogs where experts share tips and tricks for enhancing the online security of mobile users.