Smartphones have turned out to be one of the essential needs in today’s world. We see how every one of us use our smart phones for literally all the types of needs. From the youngsters to the adults and from school works to office works we are in need of a smartphone.
Apart from using it for the communication purpose, we are today using it for plenty other purposes such from mobile banking to ordering food. A smartphone is today an all in one device with a camera, calculator, gaming device, video player, private data saver and much more. As the smart phone comes with the ability to fulfill a lot of needs and purposes, we need to highly secure and protect it. There are many people who save in all the important bank details, account number, pin numbers and also the social media account user id and the passwords in their mobile phones.
Not only that there are people who even save in confidential official data and so on. That is why we come across too many mobile lost or stolen cases. There are hackers or thieves who would be waiting for a chance to slowly steal your mobile and collect all the important data from it. Not only that, some hacker will not even need your phone, they will easily use a link or any such illegal ways and hack your phone to collect data.
When your phone data goes to another hand, it would be a great disaster as all the personal information can be leaked and all your accounts can go out of your hand. Using your bank details the stranger can withdraw money or even so online purchase before you could even take a step to stop or block it. That is why we should be very careful with our smart device in which there are too many important data saved in. we have to take safety measure to protect and safeguard our smart phone. There are a few ways that can be followed to protect your phone and the data in it. So come let us take a look at all of them.
Use The Android In-Built Security
Lock All Your Apps
If you have saved in important data in your phone then you have to make sure you setup an app lock for all the apps that contains confidential data. So when someone manages to somehow unlock your android device, you will still have another security measure to stop others from entering in. For that you have to make sure you don’t use the same password or code that you use to un-click the phone. Use a difficult password to unlock the apps.
There are plenty of app lock apps available in the playstore, you can get any of them for free and have a second layer of security shield in your android smartphone.
Connect To Secured Network
We always make sure our smartphone is connected to a network so that we can use the internet at all times. But when doing so we have to keep in mind that not all the networks are safe. It is always better to avoid connecting our phones to public wifi connections, as we have no idea how many hackers are eagerly waiting for a prey. If a situation where you can’t avoid but connect to a public network, then never login to your bank accounts or any such important accounts, as it can be an easy access for the hackers to get into your smartphone and get your passwords and other such data.
Create Multiple User Accounts For The Privacy Purpose
If you are someone who has to share your smart device with someone else, either your wife, kids, friends or even colleagues, then it is better to have multiple user accounts. So that when someone asks for your phone, you can switch to the other account which doesn’t have important data stored in and hand the phone over to them.
Okay, now we saw a few methods on how we can secure our data when in case the phone goes missing or is stolen. Apart from this there are also ways in which hacker some strangers can collect your data using general apps that we download to our device.
Encrypting The Android Smartphone
If you want to protect your android smartphone from apps that can be collecting details and data, then using the encrypting method is the best way to do so. When you encrypt your smartphone, all the private data and information that is in your android will be stored in an unreadable and scrambled form. Then the android operating system would use the dm-crypt, which is one of the standard encryption system to protect your android smartphone. So in that case, anyone along with the apps that doesn’t know your lock password will not be able to access your data.
The process of encrypting can take about an hour or so to complete the task. You have to have more than 80% of battery life to not have any inconveniences while the process is on the go. To encrypt you have to go to the ‘Settings’ > ‘Security’ > ‘Encryption’ and then you have to choose the ‘Encrypt phone’ option and follow the on screen options that would be provided to successfully complete the process.
Check For The Required Permission Before Installing Any Apps
We normally do not go to read all the permissions that an app requires while we install it, all we do is simply press on the ‘agree’ option and move on. Read the permission is asks for and provide only the needed ones. For example you should know that a music player app will not need your camera access, so in that way you have think before you give access to everything and install the app. Genuine app will only require the needed access and not all.
If you have already installed plenty of apps and is now insecure of what are the permission that you have provided them with to access your phone, then you can still check out for it now. The android operating system provides a feature where you can manage a single app’s permission. For this you have to have the latest version of the android or the android 6.0 marshmallow. To get this done, you have to
Open the ‘Settings’ option and then select ‘Apps’.
There you will have the list of all the apps that are installed in your android device. Then select the app and choose ‘Permissions’.
Then a new window will open up and provide you all the permissions that you have granted the app with, like the access to camera, media, contacts and others. You can now revoke any permission if you feel unnecessary.
If you come across any negative reviews about the app or even about the developers who are already responsible for some shady apps, then better leave back the app without installing it and risking the security of your device.
Keep The Software Up To Date
We normally see how the operating system releases new updates ones in a while, but most of us think that it is not needed to have the app software updated for the security purpose of the phone. But it is very important to have the phone updates as they will have bug fixes, security patches that can fix loopholes and so on to protect your device from stealing your private data.
That is all, so now we have checked on a few steps on how to protect privacy and also we have checked on how to safeguard the personal data from apps being accessed that we install in our android smart device. All the information provided above can be a great help to secure your android smartphone in all possible way. I hope this guide would have been helpful for all of the android users out there.
When your phone data goes to another hand, it would be a great disaster as all the personal information can be leaked and all your accounts can go out of your hand. Using your bank details the stranger can withdraw money or even so online purchase before you could even take a step to stop or block it. That is why we should be very careful with our smart device in which there are too many important data saved in. we have to take safety measure to protect and safeguard our smart phone. There are a few ways that can be followed to protect your phone and the data in it. So come let us take a look at all of them.
Tips to Protect Privacy in Your Android Device
Do Not Save All Your Passwords
We have the habit of saving all our accounts and passwords in a particular app or file. We even save bank details and such important pins and passwords not for a second thinking of what might happen if in case someone steal your phone and unlock the apps. It will not be difficult for the person who took your phone to get the use of all the data in it. So make sure you do not save sensitive and confidential data in you mobiles.
Use The Android In-Built Security
If your device is running on the 'Jelly Bean', then you can have a screen lock and encryption enabled without any difficulties, as this method will help you have a better security system updated in your smartphone.
When you use the in-built security you can choose any of the screen lock options from, password, pin code, pattern lock and even there is the face unlock option available to choose from. Always remember, if you are going to setup a pin, password or a pattern lock don’t make it easily for others to guess.
Lock All Your Apps
If you have saved in important data in your phone then you have to make sure you setup an app lock for all the apps that contains confidential data. So when someone manages to somehow unlock your android device, you will still have another security measure to stop others from entering in. For that you have to make sure you don’t use the same password or code that you use to un-click the phone. Use a difficult password to unlock the apps.
There are plenty of app lock apps available in the playstore, you can get any of them for free and have a second layer of security shield in your android smartphone.
Connect To Secured Network
We always make sure our smartphone is connected to a network so that we can use the internet at all times. But when doing so we have to keep in mind that not all the networks are safe. It is always better to avoid connecting our phones to public wifi connections, as we have no idea how many hackers are eagerly waiting for a prey. If a situation where you can’t avoid but connect to a public network, then never login to your bank accounts or any such important accounts, as it can be an easy access for the hackers to get into your smartphone and get your passwords and other such data.
Create Multiple User Accounts For The Privacy Purpose
If you are someone who has to share your smart device with someone else, either your wife, kids, friends or even colleagues, then it is better to have multiple user accounts. So that when someone asks for your phone, you can switch to the other account which doesn’t have important data stored in and hand the phone over to them.
When you create another general account it will be a great way to secure data. You can do this easily by going to the ‘settings’ and then click on the ‘user’ option, under that you will have the option to create another user account.
Prepare Backup Of Your Data
Always make sure you have your phone backed up. This will be helpful in case when your phone get lost or stolen, you should be able to wipe off every data remotely, when you do so everything will be gone for always. When you have the backup process, you will not have to worry about that, as you can get them back in another device. You can backup your data or information to the cloud, your desktop or even to a flash drive.
Prepare Backup Of Your Data
Always make sure you have your phone backed up. This will be helpful in case when your phone get lost or stolen, you should be able to wipe off every data remotely, when you do so everything will be gone for always. When you have the backup process, you will not have to worry about that, as you can get them back in another device. You can backup your data or information to the cloud, your desktop or even to a flash drive.
Track Your Lost Device
When you lose your phone and have the backup prepared, you will get all the data but not the phone. So if you wish to also know a way to track lost devices then you can do so, for this you have to be prepared in advance. You can easily track your phone using the GPS when you have enabled the GPS option in it.
When you lose your phone and have the backup prepared, you will get all the data but not the phone. So if you wish to also know a way to track lost devices then you can do so, for this you have to be prepared in advance. You can easily track your phone using the GPS when you have enabled the GPS option in it.
There are plenty of app available in the playstore that would help you track your phone using the GPS and there is also apps that would turn on the GPS remotely. So having one of such apps in the phone to track your device when in case it is lost would be helpful.
Enable Remote Wipe
Being able to wipe off all the data from your smart device is something everyone should have in your phones. As in case you feel insecure about your lost phone and think that the thief can collect all the confidential data from it, then should be able to wipe off all the data remotely. Having this feature enabled will help you stay safe and have all your personal data protected from going into wrong hands.
Enable Remote Wipe
Being able to wipe off all the data from your smart device is something everyone should have in your phones. As in case you feel insecure about your lost phone and think that the thief can collect all the confidential data from it, then should be able to wipe off all the data remotely. Having this feature enabled will help you stay safe and have all your personal data protected from going into wrong hands.
Okay, now we saw a few methods on how we can secure our data when in case the phone goes missing or is stolen. Apart from this there are also ways in which hacker some strangers can collect your data using general apps that we download to our device.
So now let us take a brief look at how to protect our private data from android apps.
Encrypting The Android Smartphone
If you want to protect your android smartphone from apps that can be collecting details and data, then using the encrypting method is the best way to do so. When you encrypt your smartphone, all the private data and information that is in your android will be stored in an unreadable and scrambled form. Then the android operating system would use the dm-crypt, which is one of the standard encryption system to protect your android smartphone. So in that case, anyone along with the apps that doesn’t know your lock password will not be able to access your data.
The process of encrypting can take about an hour or so to complete the task. You have to have more than 80% of battery life to not have any inconveniences while the process is on the go. To encrypt you have to go to the ‘Settings’ > ‘Security’ > ‘Encryption’ and then you have to choose the ‘Encrypt phone’ option and follow the on screen options that would be provided to successfully complete the process.
Check For The Required Permission Before Installing Any Apps
We normally do not go to read all the permissions that an app requires while we install it, all we do is simply press on the ‘agree’ option and move on. Read the permission is asks for and provide only the needed ones. For example you should know that a music player app will not need your camera access, so in that way you have think before you give access to everything and install the app. Genuine app will only require the needed access and not all.
Review Permission Of Installed Apps
If you have already installed plenty of apps and is now insecure of what are the permission that you have provided them with to access your phone, then you can still check out for it now. The android operating system provides a feature where you can manage a single app’s permission. For this you have to have the latest version of the android or the android 6.0 marshmallow. To get this done, you have to
Open the ‘Settings’ option and then select ‘Apps’.
There you will have the list of all the apps that are installed in your android device. Then select the app and choose ‘Permissions’.
Then a new window will open up and provide you all the permissions that you have granted the app with, like the access to camera, media, contacts and others. You can now revoke any permission if you feel unnecessary.
That’s it, this way you can select other apps and check for all the granted permission.
Research The App Before You Install
Make a habit of doing a quick research of apps before you install them in your phone as doing so will save you from installing fake or virus filled apps. All you have to do is do a quick google search and there you will come across many details that you need. Check for the reviews others would have provided for it.
Research The App Before You Install
Make a habit of doing a quick research of apps before you install them in your phone as doing so will save you from installing fake or virus filled apps. All you have to do is do a quick google search and there you will come across many details that you need. Check for the reviews others would have provided for it.
If you come across any negative reviews about the app or even about the developers who are already responsible for some shady apps, then better leave back the app without installing it and risking the security of your device.
Keep The Software Up To Date
We normally see how the operating system releases new updates ones in a while, but most of us think that it is not needed to have the app software updated for the security purpose of the phone. But it is very important to have the phone updates as they will have bug fixes, security patches that can fix loopholes and so on to protect your device from stealing your private data.
That is all, so now we have checked on a few steps on how to protect privacy and also we have checked on how to safeguard the personal data from apps being accessed that we install in our android smart device. All the information provided above can be a great help to secure your android smartphone in all possible way. I hope this guide would have been helpful for all of the android users out there.