Not only computers, mobiles are also susceptible to viruses and malwares. But, the good news is that your Android phone or tablet is not defenceless. You can protect it in many ways. Even though nothing can guarantee absolute safety, still the risks will be immensely reduced. So, here we bring to you the top tips to protect your Android devices. Keep reading!
Contents
Keep Your Android OS Up to Date
Android OS for mobiles and smartphones comes with various built-in security and protection system that is quite capable of handling a wide range of threats including malware and viruses. The developers also keep identifying new threats and vulnerabilities and keep providing updates with security patches.
So, if there is a new firmware rollout for your device, make sure you install it as soon as possible. This is indeed one of the best ways to keep your device protected from malwares and other types of threats. Whenever the update is available for your device, the users are notified and you can tap the notification to continue with the update. Many users tend to ignore these updates which results in more problems.
Keep an Eye on the App Permissions
When you install any app and run it for the first time, you would have noticed that it asks for certain permissions. The type of permissions requested by the app depends entirely on its functions and purpose. For instance, apps like WhatsApp will ask you permission to access your contacts, messages, camera etc.
Apps may also ask the permission to access location services. Some apps request access to files and folders. If you want to use all the features of an app, you will need to grant all the permissions it is asking for. It is okay to allow access to the app as long as you trust that app. For example, apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger etc are trusted and they will not cause any harm to your Android smartphone or tablet.
But, if there is an app you haven’t heard of and is asking to access your private information or the hardware related details, and you are not sure what to do, it is best to kill the app and not grant it any permission. If you have something like Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android then probably you don’t have to worry much as this antivirus is especially designed to keep your mobile safe.
If you have already given some permissions to a certain app but now wish to revoke them, you can go to ‘Apps & Notifications’ or simply ‘Notifications’ in the Settings and remove the permissions. Do remember that there are some legitimate apps that will require all permissions.
Disable Unknown Sources
Google Play Store is the official app store for Android devices. There are other recognized and authorized app stores as well, such as Amazon Store and MI Store. You will find almost all the apps you need in these stores. It is always safe to download and install the apps from them.
But, there is a way to install apps from the third-party sources as well by using the method called side-loading. In this method you need to find the APK file of the desired app from an external source and install it manually on the Android device.
Android does not permit such installations by default. In order to install such apps you need to enable Unknown Sources. You can find this option in the Security section in Android Settings.
Android will install any external app as long as Unknown Sources is enabled. However, it is not a good idea to install external apps. They may cause more harm than good. The unverified apps may contain malicious programs.
So, I would recommend you to disable the Unknown Sources option and always stick to Google Play Store or any other authorized store for your app needs (unless of course you know exactly what you are doing). Even if you have Bitdefender stick to authorized apps.
Install an Antivirus Program
One of the best ways to keep your device safe is to install the antivirus software for mobiles. For example, Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android is the viable solution to keep your device protected. The objective of an antivirus program is to detect any threats and to eliminate them promptly.
These tools are updated with the virus definitions and provide all round security to the device. Most of the antivirus programs also have a free version available. Same is the case with Bitdefender. You can download the free version and have the peace of mind.
It is also important to keep the antivirus up to date. The viruses and other threats keep evolving and your antivirus must be prepared to deal with them.
Do not Download Suspicious Files
While browsing the web on your mobile phone, refrain from downloading any files from a suspicious or rogue website. You don’t know what you may end up with. And, if you have downloaded any file, always scan it with an antivirus such as Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android.
CONCLUSION
Our mobile devices are always connected to the internet and thus they are also now more vulnerable to threats. It is important to follow the above security measures in order to keep the device safe. This will help you protect the device and will make the data safe.