5 ultimate security tips for Android
With so much sensitive information residing on your smartphone, there is
a chance that it knows more about you than your best friend does.
That’s why your pocket-sized Android device is a dream target for cyber
bad guys. Don’t put yourself at risk of being hacked – follow these 5
ultimate Android security tips right now.
#1: Don’t fall into a free Wi-Fi trap
What else, besides accessing the Internet, do you use your Android phone
for? Well, yes, calling is still a cornerstone but aside from that,
there’s not so much you can do without the Internet. And yet now you can
make calls online, as many instant messaging apps come equipped with
this feature.
Relying on mobile data to satisfy the “always online” need can be costly, so it seems wise (and practical) to hop on a wireless network
whenever there’s a chance. Especially when many businesses offer Wi-Fi
free of charge: coffee shops, shopping malls, airports, stations,
libraries, you name it. However, nothing good comes free – public Wi-Fi
networks are extremely vulnerable to hacking.
So here’s the harsh truth: you are never safe when using public Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals have their own methods to steal your private data
while you’re innocently posting a status update on Facebook or buying
that camera on sale while sipping your latte. The most common tactics
are man-in-the-middle attacks, fake hotspots and Wi-Fi sniffing. An
unsecured Wi-Fi network isn’t too challenging to crack even for an
amateur hacker, so you might end up giving away your banking details,
passwords, personal files and other sensitive information in a blink.
For this reason, a
VPN app is a must-have for your Android device. VPN stands for a virtual private
network. It saves the day by making your online traffic snoop-proof
through tough encryption. The most exciting part is that you can use
public Wi-Fi for anything you want without getting paranoid about your
personal info being stolen.
To get the Internet privacy you deserve, choose a trustworthy
VPN app that keeps no logs, is easy to use but carries advanced security
features under the hood. It also offers the functionality of automatic
VPN connection on Wi-Fi networks, which makes security on wireless
networks effortless.
#2: Download apps only from the Play Store
Installing apps from unofficial sources is risky, as you can easily get
malware slipped into your device. In the Android world, downloading apps
from anywhere but the Play Store is called “sideloading” and is
implemented by installing application package files in the APK format.
Again, by doing so, you can’t be sure if the file isn’t malicious or if
it’s set to serve the intended purpose.
To always stay on the safe side, make the Google Play Store your go-to place for getting apps. Google applies a strict screening and
reviewing process for submitted apps, and only credible ones should make
it to the Play Store. Nevertheless, hackers persistently try to push
their malicious apps into the official app store and sometimes they
succeed. In 2017, Google took down 700,000 dodgy apps from the Play
Store and announced of its improved models of detecting abusive
developers.
By default, Android has the sideloading option disabled. In case you have this security setting changed, you can manage it by going to
Settings > Advanced Settings > Security > Unknown sources.
#3: Pay attention to app permissions
Here’s one more advantage of getting apps from the Play Store: you can
review the permissions required by an app before you download it. So
never skip this step and dedicate a few seconds to take a look whether
there’s nothing oddly unusual before hitting the “install” button.
At first glance, some of the required permissions may look unrelated, for example, access to your camera for an instant messaging app. But
the reason behind this can be completely legitimate – to send pictures,
videos or make video calls. However, if a flashlight app requires access
to your contacts, it’s an alarming signal of malicious intents. In such
a case, don’t download the app.
Android allows you to manage app permissions after installing. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > (Select an app) > Permissions.
Also, if an app needs to use something you didn’t allow access to, you
will be prompted to choose whether to give that permission or not.
#4: Stop disclosing your location
Many cool app features are tied to location services. However, location
data is of the most intimate bits of data you can share, so think twice
whether certain functionalities are worth giving up your privacy.
There are apps that are completely location-based, for example, Google Maps. On the other hand, some apps may use your location to track
you and create your data profile without you even knowing.
Is there a compromise? There sure is. Android lets you choose a location mode that determines the accuracy of your location data. The
options are the following:
Use GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks (High accuracy)
Use Wi-Fi and mobile networks (Battery saving)
Use GPS only (Device only)
Select the location mode that feels right for you by navigating to
Settings > Advanced Settings > Location access. In the same
section, you will be able to disable location access completely.
On Android 6.0 and above, you can enable or disable location access per app. So if you’ve noticed that your flashlight app (oh, those
flashlights!) is using your location for an unknown reason, head to
Settings > Apps > (Select an app) > Permissions and disable the
location access.
#5: Never skip updates
It’s the shortest tip yet the key one! Android updates bring you not
only new features but bug fixes and patches for security vulnerabilities
as well. That’s why you should never skip these.
The same rule applies to your installed applications. The easiest way to always stay on top of the security game is to enable automatic
updates over Wi-Fi. To do so, go to Google Play Settings > General
> Auto-update apps.
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