HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF SMART LOCK AND SECURE YOUR ANDROID PHONE.
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Android users are now facing more threats than ever as a result of activities of hackers, malware, and thieves. As such, the security of your device is essential. Here are some of the best phone protection practices for securing your phone which can make your life easier.
ENABLE REMOTE LOCKING, TRACKING AND WIPING
The prospect of having our smartphones stolen or losing it fills us with fear. For those who do not lock their devices, it brings the risk of someone accessing their accounts for a villainous purpose. This is more reasons why we should use Android Device Manager App.
Once it’s configured, you can find your phone if the wireless signal is enabled. This is a feature that you will be grateful for if the worst happens.
KEEP EVERYTHING UPDATED
This may sound simple, but you’ll be surprised how many people are still not upgrading the operating system on their phone.
By doing this, Google can fix newly discovered vulnerabilities in the operating system, and devs, on the other hand, will remove bugs and protect their apps.
From Play Store, go to Settings> Auto update and select to update at any time or Wi-Fi only. For your android to be updated, search for the software in the setup menu and make sure Automatic downloads are enabled.
BE CAUTIOUS WHEN DOWNLOADING APPS FROM OUTSIDE OF GOOGLE’S STORE
There are other trusted third party sites and app store outside of Google, such as the Amazon App Store, but there are places where downloading might be a significant risk. Google on their part, work hard to prevent a malware loaded app from their store.
This is the reason why “Allow unknown source option” that blocks downloads from other sites is disabled. Unless you are 150% sure, you might want to avoid side loading.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMART LOCK
Smart Lock is perhaps one of the most useful features of Android, but yet underutilized. It offers some ways to keep a device unlock automatically without using a fingerprint, pin or pattern.
How to get it varies depending on the version of Android, but in the latest OS version, it’s under the lock screen and security> Secure lock settings.
There are different unlocking offer, but the following are recommended;
On body detection:
When you’re out and about, it’s helpful for your handset to stay unlocked.
Trusted places:
This allows owners to designate locations where a handset will remain unlocked while it’s in the relatively close vicinity.
Trusted device:
This keeps your Android device unlocked whenever it is near a chosen device.
OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT
Enabling two factor authenticator and using Google Authenticator is always a good idea for important accounts. Make it a habit not to connect to an unknown Wi-Fi.
Finally, although we are not big fans of antivirus on phones, we need to know that there are many free and paid from big names like Kaspersky, Norton, BitDefender, and Avast. Along with excellent less known products like AVL and Sophos.