Your Android habits will make your experiences using your device better or worse — so why not take control over any mistakes you could be making? The truth is: many of us forget to perform occasional upkeep on our phones and we don’t notice that anything is wrong until it’s too late. If your phone’s battery begins to conk out or you notice strange activity on your phone that could indicate it has been hacked, you may have slept on a few important steps to take on your device that beef up its security.
And the better news is that if your Android seems well and good right now, there has never been a better time to make changes that ensure your privacy and security remain strong. These three mistakes can put your Android at risk of malware and hackers.
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1. Not Updating Your Software
Whether you own an Android or iPhone, your phone requires software updates when the developer deems it important to issue them. These updates can address any security bugs and issues that may have been detected and improve upon your phone’s features, battery life, and performance issues. Not updating your software puts your security at risk, but it also means living with a less-than-optimized device that may run slower or not perform tasks the way it usually does.
2. Weak Lock Screen Security
Stop using “1234” and “password” as your Android Lock Screen security passwords — this bad habit can easily lead to your phone getting hacked. So many passwords are guessable that if you aren’t creating truly complex strings of letters, numbers, and symbols, it can be very easy for hackers to crack the code and gain entry to your device and data. Use a strong password or consider enabling biometric authentication that uses your fingerprint, facial recognition, or both.
3. Downloading Apps Found Outside Google Play
Google Play is Android’s official apps store and the only place that it can guarantee various apps have been vetted. Any time you make the choice to download apps outside of Google Play, you’re taking on a risk that the app could be one created with malicious intent. Once your download the app, it may introduce malware and spyware to your device. Always read reviews and ratings for apps and only download them from Google Play to be safe.
