How To Keep Your Android Device More Secure

1. SCREEN  LOCK

This is the basic idea everyone do. You can set either a PIN code, pattern or password as screen lock. Some latest devices support fingerprint and eye scanning lock. Setting a screen lock is so simple. Go to Settings > Security > Screen lock.

2. LOCK YOUR APPS AND FOLDERS 

You can get apps such as app lock or vaults from the Google play store to lock individual apps and medias or any folder which you wish to give extra protection. After setting up an app lock you will need a password or pattern to open locked folders and apps. This also provide a secret vault to hide your photos and videos. 

3. DOWNLOAD APPS ONLY FROM GOOGLE PLAY STORE

Its always better to download apps from trusted sources. So avoid getting apps from other than the play store. By default Android devices prevent the download from outside play store.

4. UPDATE YOUR OS AND APPS 

Whenever an update is available to your devices OS and the apps which you use, update it as soon as possible as the update may fix bugs and security vulnerabilities. Remember that updates are not just to add new features. Allow auto update of apps over Wi-Fi. ( Play store Settings > General > Auto update apps)

5. USER ACCOUNTS

It is possible to add different user accounts in your Android Lollipop device. This option is much useful when you have to share your phone or tablet with anyone else, especially your family. You can enable them to see only some area of your device through this option.
 Create a user account by going to Settings > User > Add Accounts.

6. BE CAREFUL WITH APP PERMISSIONS

When you download an app from Google Play Store, it clearly tells you which all apps it need access to. You may wonder why some apps asks permission to access contacts and camera. Some games need access to your contacts so that you can compete against your friends in the game. Some messaging apps need access to camera and photos so that you can send photo and video messages . But be careful when some apps asks access to any facilities without any reason. Avoid such apps.

Now its possible to manage App permissions and control what an app can or cant do after installation. This option is availble in the latest Android Marshmallow. Go to Settings > App permissions > apps .

7. CONTROL WHAT YOU SHARE

Just think, aren't you sharing too much of your personal data in your Android device ? We all use Chrome browser in our device and all our logins, passwords and other data will be synced into your Google account. This is definitely a good time saver. But this can also do us bad if we accidently lose our phone and it gets into wrong hands.  All your passwords and Emails can be accessed by them.

So control what you store in Chrome by launching the browser > 3 dot at top right corner > Settings > Basics > Save passwords. Also keep a check on what is synced with your account.

Browsing through Chrome's Incognito mode is also another good option to browse in privacy.

8. DEVICE INSURANCE

Device insurance is available nowadays. In case you lose your phone or tablet, you would get insurance of a particular amount each month.

9.REMOTE TRACKING AND WIPING

Get Android Device Manager from Google Play store for free and set up remote tracking. So in case you lose your phone or tablet you could track or wipe down the lost device.

10. BACK UP YOUR DEVICE

Keeping a back up of your device is always an excellent idea. You don't even think about losing all your personal datas including photos. Yeah it may happen in case you lose your phone or when the phone experience some unexpected error including breakage. Backing up will be also useful when you buy a new phone or tablet and want to get all those datas from the old phone. After doing a back up of your device,  you could access all the datas through your Google account.

11. USE ONLY SECURE WIFI CONNECTIONS

We always have the habit of connecting to any open source of Wi-fi near to you especially in public places. Avoid getting connected to all those unsecured Wi-Fi connections. Sometimes the Wi-Fi 'provider' may be taking a big advantage from you.

12. BEWARE OF ANDROID VIRUSES AND MALWARE

Never ever click on links in emails and messages from unknown senters and stop giving too much of personal data to download a dodgy app. All this may bring viruses and malwares to your device. Getting an anti-virus  app and downloading apps only from Play store can help you to keep those viruses away.

13. CHOOSE THE RIGHT MESSAGING APP

 Be sure to choose the right messaging app. Your messages may not be safe in some messaging services and it may be snooped by others. The most popular messaging  app Whatsapp now offers an end to end encryption.

14.ENCRYPT ANDROID

Have you noticed the encryption option in your Android device ? Go to Settings > Security > Encryption. If your phone contains extra secure datas, you may this one. Encryption scrambles all data on your phone until you enter the decryption password. But this process may take some time.

Try these 14 tips and tell us how you feel.

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