We all know very well that smartphones have become an important part of our daily lives. It contains a lot of confidential information related to our social media accounts, our synced files, important documents, emails, photos, and messages. We are totally dependent on our smartphones today, we use it for shopping, ordering food, booking cabs, movie tickets, making payments etc. But at the same time, Android users have also become a prime target of the hackers. Our entire information is traceable and downloadable and may be shared all over the World if we are not careful about its security. There are plenty of ways to keep your Android handset safe from security threats, so just read the below article How to Secure Your Personal Data on Android Phone
How To Secure Your Personal Data on Android Phone
1. Use a PIN/password on the lock screen
You are highly recommended to use a PIN or a password to protect your smartphone so even if your phone is stolen, you know your data is safe. To have a good old PIN remains the safest way. Fingerprints, patterns, voice-recognition, iris scanning, etc are all more breakable.
2. Lock Your Apps
It is very necessary to lock your apps, especially the ones holding private information. Some apps come with built-in locking feature while some mobiles also have built-in app locking facility. Also, there are numerous third-party security apps available on the Google Play Store for this purpose.
3. Keep your operating system up-to-date
As soon as your Android tells you an update is ready, download and install it. Many hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems.
4. Download apps from trusted sources
Always download apps from the trusted source i.e, Google Play Store. Android has a setting that blocks all apps that are not from the official Google Play app store. Tap Settings > Security, then toggle off the Unknown sources setting. You can always turn on the Unknown sources setting to install an app but once you are done, remember to turn off the setting again.
5. Read app permissions before downloading an app
Before you begin installing an app from Google Play, a list of requested permissions will pop up to show you what permission the app requires. Apps require permissions to do things but all of them are not necessary. You should give permissions which makes sense and correspond to the action what the app actually does. Eg, an alarm app does not require a permit to access your text messages. Thus, make it a habit to read the comments as well as the rating of the app that you are going to download.
6. Don’t Save Passwords in Browser
Make sure not to save all of your important passwords in online services and sites particularly when it comes to banking or payment apps.
7. Don’t use public/Free Wi-Fi
Always avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Make sure your phone doesn’t automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks when in their range. To make yourself safe use a mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN). It routes your traffic through a private encrypted channel, so even if someone is monitoring your traffic they won’t be able to see what you’re up to.
8. Download an Antivirus app
Always install a good antivirus app to keep your Android mobile safe from various types of viruses.
Click here for Antivirus Apps for Android
9. Configure Bluetooth settings properly
Make your device is set as ‘Non-discoverable’ in its Bluetooth settings otherwise, your smartphone is more prone to getting targeted by hackers. Just like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth should also be kept switched off when not in use.
10. Never root your device
Never root your smartphone. While rooting has its benefits, it also makes your smartphone vulnerable to malware and other such attacks.
11. Use two-factor authentication
To secure your phone use Google services as well. The best way of doing this is with Google’s own two-factor authentication.
How to Use Two-Factor Authentication in Android
Login-in to your Google account and go to the two-step verification settings page. Now, choose ‘Using 2-step verification’ from the menu. From there, follow the prompts. You will be asked for your phone number. You can get verification codes by voice or SMS on your phone. Enter this code into your web browser’s data entry box. Your device will then ask you if you want it to remember the computer you are using. If you answer, ‘yes’, that programs will be authorized for use for 30-days. Finally, you turn on 2-step verification and you’re done.
You can also make this even simpler by using Google Prompt. With this, you can authorize Google apps by simply entering “yes” when prompted on your phone.
12. Download Android Device Manager
You can use the Android Device Manager to track your lost device and even wipe it if necessary, but only if you’ve enabled a pair of settings first. Tap Settings > Google > Security> Find My Device. It will enable to remotely locate your device, and also remote lock and erase.
Now, even if you lost your Android Phone, you can still pinpoint its location (as long as it’s got a wireless connection and its battery holds out) and wipe its storage, including all your sensitive data.
13. Prepare A Backup Of Your Data
Always have a backup of your important data. In case you lost your mobile, you can perform a remote wipe. Without a backup, you will lose all your information on your device. If you have a backup you can restore your Android device back to its original state. You can choose to backup important information to the Cloud, your desktop or even to a flash drive.
14. Delete Browser History/Cache Regularly
The history and cache can store the cookies that might be containing your personal login details so it is better to clear them regularly. And sometimes, your friend also can check your history of the browser to get your personal details.
Final Words
So these all are the ways by using that you can Secure Your Android Smartphone From Being Hacked. If you follow up with all these suggestions, your phone will be safer then it is now. So guys go through the article once again to keep you and your Android mobile safe. In case of any doubts please do comment below, we are here to help you.
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