The most severe issue you should be concerned about is the security surrounding your accounts and devices. Ensuring that your system is secure only takes twenty minutes once a year. Take a few minutes now to run through this checklist, and you’ll be able to relax for the rest of the year knowing that you are in a perfect configuration — and that the malicious Android virus and malware would not be knocking on your digital door anytime soon.
Application intelligence
Examine all of the services and applications associated with your account.
You have likely allowed numerous applications permission to aspects of your Google account, which isn’t a big concern generally. Still, it is wise to remove any applications you are not currently using.
Verify the permissions of your Android application.
It is too simple to provide application access to data without much attention during the initial installation. That is why it is essential to check in on your device’s applications from time to time to remind yourself what permissions they have — and to see whether any of them go against what appears fair or essential.
Make sure you are using the Android application scanning tool.
Without the use of third-party add-ons or applications, Android constantly could monitor your device for malicious software or inappropriate activity. Whereas the program should be allowed by default on any relatively current machine, it is a wise option to double-check that everything is on and running correctly (regularly), if only to remind yourself that this system exists and is functioning on your behalf.
Evaluate your ability to download applications.
Since we are on Android security, take a small step forward and commit to allowing rational thinking to guide your application downloading decision. Do not download any app without checking its source, vendor, compatibility, privacy, T&Cs, and, most notably, its reviews.
Authentication and Passwords
Make sure you’re familiar with the fundamentals of security.
A brief cheery pie that is worth mentioning: If you do not use security PIN, password, pattern, or biometric verification on any of your phones, you should start now. They add an extra, more secure layer to access your phone, making it 67% more challenging for hackers to break in and steal your data.
Examine the passwords you’ve saved for Smart Lock.
The smart lock is one of the prominent features of Google’s security mechanism, and it is the potential to retain credentials for applications and websites accessed through smartphones. Examine the list of stored credentials Google maintains for your account as part of your regular review.
Examine your password management strategy.
Although Google’s password management solution is good, employing a specialized password management solution will provide you with higher security guarantees, more complex and helpful features, and broader compatibility for in-app credential filling.
Examine your situation with two-factor authentication.
These days, protecting a critical account with a single password is not sufficient — especially one as valuable and extensive as your Google account. When you use two-factor authentication, you must enter a unique time-sensitive code in addition to your credential whenever you attempt to log in. You had required both your physical presence and password of your code-generating device (most probably your mobile) to access and break in your private data. It significantly improves your mobile security level and reduces the chances of anyone ever accessing and cracking your data.
Enhance the security of your lock screen.
Your mobile lock screen is the gatekeeper, and there are a couple of things you can do to bolster its strength and ensure it’s up to the task.
First, consider the types of alerts you receive and how much of that information you need to see on your lock screen – anyone with access to your device might pretty easily view all of that information. If you frequently get critical messages or wish to improve your Android phone privacy and security, go to your device’s display section and click “Lock screen display” or “Lock screen”. (On a few phones, you may require to hunt for a matching option in the Security area or a separate “Lock screen” section of the settings.)
Device access
Connected devices clean up
When you login into a new phone with your Google account, whether it is a Chromebook, Android phone, or just the google browser on a typical Computer, that system is put to a list of approved devices and linked to your account.
Go to this tab on Google’s settings page and double-check your list. If you find any old devices you do not use anymore, select them and then click the “Sign Out” option that appears to ensure they don’t have permission to your account anymore. Delete any devices you have not used in a long time, and update your account credentials as soon as possible.
To clean up the devices in Google Play Store
Although this is not security-related, it is a great deal of housekeeping to do while you’re cleaning: Check through your set of connected devices in the Play Store’s setting. These are the devices that appear as options when you download a new application from the Google Play online interface, as well as in Google’s Find My Device tool.
Uncheck the option under “Show in settings” for any devices you don’t use anymore. If you come across any gadgets with obscure codenames, press the “Edit” icon next to them and change their name to something you can understand.
Ensure that your device is ready for the worst-case scenario.
You may not notice it, but Google have its tools for locating, tracking, and remotely erasing an Android smartphone if you misplace it – and it’s all integrated right into the os.
So, what do you have to lose? Now is the time to register all of your tablets and phones until it’s too late. Go to the device settings menu Google page, press “Find My Device,” and ensure the option at the head of that section is turned-on.