Main Key Points 
  • Find My Device - By Enabling this option  
  • Lock screen preferences
  • Lockdown mode
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Application permissions
  • Google Play Protect
  • VPN
  • Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

We have an app for every aspect of our lives, from online banking to social media. Since our smartphones contain so much confidential information, it is important to protect them. Let's review Android security and how we can improve it.

How safe is Android?

Android has many security features to protect your smartphone from all possible threats. Data breaches still occur and malicious apps appear on the Play Store from time to time, but properly used Android built-in security settings can minimize the risk.

However, the security of your mobile device also depends on your common sense: there are things you should follow and should not follow to stay protected.


How to secure your Android phone from hackers

Find my device

We pay bills, write emails, and store a lot of private information on smartphones; This also puts our digital identities at risk in the event of theft. Fortunately, you can track your device, lock your screen, or erase your data with the Find My Device feature. It's enabled by default on Android phones, but we recommend making sure it's turned on anyway. To access your phone, it has to be:

  • Turned on.
  • Signed in to a Google account.
  • Connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi;
  • Visible on Google Play;
  • Have Location turned on;
  • Have Find My Device turned on

Lock screen preferences

Android mobile security starts with the lock screen - you can protect your device with a PIN, password, pattern, or fingerprint (depending on your smartphone brand). Avoid using simple PINs, such as 1234 or 0000; create a strong password instead.

Android also offers a smart lock feature that leaves your phone unlocked when in a secure environment like your home, office desk, car, or pocket. When Android detects that you are no longer in the familiar place, the phone automatically locks. This feature is convenient, but we don't recommend it if you want maximum security.


Lockdown mode

When activated, the lock mode locks all smart lock functions, such as fingerprint or face recognition, and requires your PIN, password, or pattern to log in.

The lock works only once - if you enabled it and entered the PIN, you will have to re-enable it to activate the feature one more time.

In the worst case, if someone tries to force you to unlock your phone, it is easier to do so using your biometrics. A PIN may be more secure in this situation because it requires your conscious consent. Hopefully, you will never need this feature, but you better be prepared.


Two-factor authentication

If you want to add an additional layer of security to your Google account, please enable two-factor authentication. In addition to your password, two-factor authentication will ask you to enter a security code or other information.

Even if someone hacks your password, enabled two-factor authentication will still protect your information. It won't make your device more secure, but it will improve the overall security of your data.

We recommend 2FA in almost any service or application that offers it. Here's how to enable two-factor authentication for your Google account:

  • Go to your device Settings> Google> Manage your Google account.
  • Click Security and look for two-step verification.
  • Login to your Google account, click Get Started, and follow the steps on the screen.

Application permissions
Apps always ask permission to access your camera, contacts, location, or microphone. Some of them want this data for no reason and could do their job without it. We often approve these requests without even questioning them, inviting trackers to sniff out our confidential information.

Fortunately, checking and changing permissions is easy:
  • Go to Settings and tap on Applications.
  • Select Permissions.
  • You will see a list of different types of permissions that you have given to your applications.
  • Select the one you want to review and see which apps have it.
  • Turn off the permissions for any app that you don't trust or that you think doesn't need those permissions.
Always check the reviews of every app you install and do your research online. Avoid downloading apps from unknown sources, other than Google Play Store.

Google Play Protect
Play Protect scans over 100 billion apps every day for malware and suspicious activity. It also scans all the apps on your phone and warns you if any are out of date. The user can then decide whether to continue using the application or to look for alternatives.

Google Play Protect is enabled on Android devices by default. To find this feature:
  • Open the Play Store application on your device.
  • Touch the three horizontal stripes.
  • Select Play Protect.

VPN
Many smartphone users connecting to public Wi-Fi networks don't know how easy it can be to hack into them and steal confidential data. When VPN encrypts your traffic, you can connect to a public Wi-Fi network and stay safe. It also allows you to avoid geographic restrictions and provides anonymity online.


Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
When not in use, always turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your device. This not only saves battery life but also makes it safer. When Bluetooth is on, your device is always looking for potential connections.


An Article by Munna Suprathik