TECH UPDATE - How to Protect Your Android Phone from Being Hacked

 
      A couple of years ago, it’s been proven in research that Android is the most attacked mobile OS, and that is a number that has grown since. That doesn’t mean that you have to renounce all the benefits this OS carries with and switch to other. There are precautionary measures you can take in order to prevent your phone from being hacked. And you don’t have to be proficient in IT for doing it.
No matter if you have some confidential data on the phone or some private conversations, your phone is yours only and unless you hand it to someone to take a look at things you choose to show, data and media on it are for your eyes only. Here are few necessary measures to take in order to protect your data.  


 

• Be distrustful

Some of the simplest things you can do to protect your phone have one same distinction: don’t trust everything on the internet. Exposing your phone to sites and apps which can have a negative influence on your privacy is never a wise choice. No matter how trivial some app seems, always, but always, do your research on how secure that app and its updates are, to what level of privacy jeopardizing are you exposed. And yes, that means reading all the things that the app has access to before clicking on allow.

• Be well equipped

Being well equipped and well informed can do half of work for you. Acquiring mobile accessories that can help protecting your phone is essential. As there is a wide choice of those gadgets, you can seek advices from professionals in android mobile phones online shops, who can give you instructions in case of phone hacking or some measures for preventing this to happen. Visiting forums is also a good source of information because you can encounter with people with similar problems and their ways of dealing with them.

• Locked and safe

You’ve seen those movies when someone puts an obvious thing as a password (son’s birthday, wife’s name, etc) for a loath of money or confidential information? And that didn’t go as planned. So, what you should do is to use third-party software, to be completely hacker-proof. Also, when you are dealing with some sensitive data, make sure you have a backup of your passwords and data. Using the same password or the same system for all passwords is a big no-no if you want to be safe from attacks on your privacy, or business data.

• Use what you have

Using the security measures you already have on your phone is the simplest and most obvious solution, so don’t take this for granted. If your phone is running on Jelly Bean, enable screen lock and encryption to enhance the safety. Besides that, use all that you have on disposal in your Android settings, from passwords, patterns, pins to face unlocking. When setting these kinds of locks, try not to make it easy for the hackers.

• Have a second layer of security

Screen lock is not a magical protection and it can happen for it to be bypassed, so always have a second layer of protection. That goes for securing your private data memorized on various apps. There are various apps for this purpose, such as free Android application, App Lock, programmed to lock, not every app on the device, but the ones which contain information, e-mails, etc.

• Secure your network

   Sometimes using of public WiFi is necessary, but when you do that, try not to use it for important transactions such as banking. That way, you are making it easier for hackers to get to your personal information and passwords. If there is a genuine need for making payments while on the public network, try installing some apps for encryption of your outgoing connection and enhancing the security, like Hideninja VPN, WiFi Protector or SecDroid.

• Always be one step ahead

Don’t let yourself lag behind the technological changes. Try to keep up with security improvements that are happening. And make your smartphone keep up too, by regularly updating your safety protocols. Though we can’t argue the fact that manufacturers should find better ways of dealing with this issue, the biggest part of the job is still on you. As the phone owner, you should scan your smartphone using the vulnerability scanner which is designed for this purpose. After that, find ways of handling these problems. 

• When all is lost, wipe your data

When you are sure your phone is forever lost and you’ve already tried everything (using device tracking apps, calling the provider and the police), there is no need to cry over spilled milk. A phone is just a machine and you can buy a new one, but your personal data is your own and no one should be able to see it. So, just in case, before you’re in this kind of situation, install an app that enables remote wipe, such as 3CX Mobile Device Manager.
By following this advice, you can be sure your phone and all the information on it are yours alone. 

      

   

    

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