Cyber ​​Security Tips for Android Users

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, there are more opportunities for our data to be hacked and stolen. Already, any given person likely has multiple apps on their phone that contain personal information such as home address, email address, family information, and financial information. The cyber security field is here to help reduce the risk of having such personal information hacked and stolen. Check out the following tips to ensure your Android device is protected from cyber threats.

Keep your phone locked

Although it may seem like a common thing to do, not everyone keeps their phone locked with a password that makes data on their phone accessible to everyone. Also, many use an always-on function where the phone is not locked unless it is manually locked. This too can cause a phone to always be unlocked.

To keep your personal information safe, always lock your phone with a password. Depending on your Android phone model, you can lock your device with a password, fingerprint, or FaceID. If you use a password, be sure to use a strong password that you don’t use for other personal accounts.

Use a password manager

An unfortunately common habit for many people is to use the same password for all their accounts. Doing so is a cyber security risk. If one account is hacked, the hacker has immediate access to all your other accounts. That’s why it’s important to use unique passwords for all your accounts.

To keep your Android phone and your accounts safe, use a password manager that stores all of your unique passwords. Then all you need to do is remember a secure password.

Update your phone’s software

Software is never a complete product; there will always be software updates. As companies grow and innovate, they update their software to add new, interesting features to improve the user experience. However, software updates aren’t just for adding cool features – they’re there to improve your phone’s security.

As software exists longer in the public domain, cybercriminals can experiment with methods to get around firewalls and security features. This is where software updates are important from a security point of view. Updating your Android device software means your phone has the most up-to-date security measures in place to keep your phone safe from cyber threats.

Use a VPN

When you go to a web browser on your Android phone, you connect to the internet either through a WIFI network or your internet service provider. All your data is then available to that internet provider. They can see which websites you visit, what you search for and where you access the internet. If you connect to a public WIFI network, there may be cybercriminals monitoring the network and trying to obtain personal data from connected devices.

To prevent cybercriminals, ISPs, or internet trackers from accessing your data, use a VPN. Virtual private networks encrypt your browsing data and hide your IP address, giving you optimal data protection. The best VPN providers will block trackers and malware, ensuring that your personal information is safe from all cyber threats.

Use only the Google Play Store

When people get a new phone, one of the first things they do is install a bunch of applications. Between music apps, news apps, social media apps, banking apps, and productivity apps, many Android devices have ten if not 100 programs installed. Although installing programs is fine, you should only install a program from safe sources.

If you have an Android device that comes with the Google Play Store, only install apps from that store. Google has strict guidelines for what it allows on its platform, and it ensures that the apps available in the Play Store meet specific requirements. Installing application files from the Internet is risky as the applications cannot be verified to be free of malware or security risks.

Use antivirus software

When people think of antivirus software, they probably think of software that comes standard on their computer or laptop. Although antivirus is more common on such devices, installing this software on your Android device can help ensure that your phone and data are protected. This software works to stop malware from getting onto your device and helps block phishing scams and malicious websites.

Several antivirus options are available for Android devices, but it is recommended to use reputable software. Names like McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, Avast and Bitdefender are all popular antivirus solutions that have software specifically made for Android devices.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be considered an editorial endorsement

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