The age of smartphones is definitely at its peak and when we’re talking about that topic, Android, as a mobile platform, inevitably follows. Why is it extremely popular? Well, basically, it’s because of flexible customization and abundant 3rd party apps.
These apps can actually be side-loaded, which means you can pretty much bypass the Play Store app marketplace of Google. The catch though is this causes Android to be prone to security and malware threats. Furthermore, because we now store more sensitive data on our phones, there’s greater chances of being victims of data thefts.
So what are the ways of protecting yourself from such grave scenarios? Well, we’ve got the tips to securing your Android gadgets right here:
1. Employ a Screen Lock
With the function of guarding your device via password, pin or pattern, this is actually the most basic measure of security every Android gadget has. You can activate the lock through Security Settings. After lock activation, you can set it to lock automatically after a preferred time duration or by a simple press of the power key.
2. Encrypt your Gadget
With Android, you have the means to encrypt all data from your device. You’ll need a pin or password though for every time you turn your gadget on in order to decrypt the data. Should your phone be stolen, there’s absolutely no means of accessing your data without the pin or password even if it’s restarted. This is a sure way to keep your data safe but be informed though that this can slow down your gadget a bit. You can activate this via Security Settings.
3. Seek Advice from your IT if Using your Device at Work
Security solutions company ESET reports that about thirty to forty percent of gadgets in offices or workplaces are at risk to threats. This can be avoided though if you educate yourself about what these risks are. If you’re using your personal phone for work purposes, it would be wise to seek advice from your IT personnel first before doing any configuration to store or access any data.
4. Never Store Sensitive Data on SD Cards
Ensure or avoid storage of very sensitive and risky information like copies of personal IDs and credit cards on SD cards. These are easily removable and accessible. For such data, it would be wise to use internal storage for safekeeping.
Photo from www.sokayu.com.
5. Avoid Installing Apps from Unknown Sources
For utmost safety, always download and install apps from Google Play Store. Caution must be exercised when installing files coming from 3rd party sites as they may contain hidden malware and spyware.
6. Install Locks for Your Apps
For even more protection of your private data, you can make use of apps that offer additional protection for individual apps such as Messaging and Gallery. You will be asked to set up a pin or password that you need to enter when accessing a specific protected apps.
7. Activate Google’s Android Manager
In cases of lost or stolen devices, you can still track their whereabouts on Google Maps through the Android Device Manager. It likewise allows you to ring your device at the fullest volume for a five-minute duration and delete all your data. For verification, go to Settings menu and choose Security. You can have this enabled via the Device Administrators under Security Settings.
If you need help in installing these steps to your android device, Compushooter is always happy to be of service. Just call us at 480-464-0202 and our competent technicians will handle everything for you.
