Protecting your Android device is a good way to protect yourself and your personal data from possible cyber threats. Here’s how.
It’s been months since Russia invaded Ukraine, but cybersecurity concerns continue to grow. Long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Americans were already accusing Russia of cyberattacks on Ukrainian websites, in particular, on the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, as well as on two banks.
While the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said there was no real cyber threat against the United States, the US agency also clarified that these potential cyber attacks would target infrastructure instead. CISA encourages everyone to prepare just in case. And securing your mobile device is a good first step when it comes to developing your cyber defenses. Here are six ways to protect your phone’s data.
Keep your OS up to date
The operating system update fixes known security flaws and other bugs. If this is not done, your device will become vulnerable to intruders and, therefore, your personal data will be exposed. Some people delay installing updates to avoid the bugs of earlier versions, but waiting too long can be very harmful.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second layer of security to your Android account in case your password is compromised. When using two-factor authentication, after entering your password, a second message is sent to the other device to verify that it is you trying to connect. This adds a bit of time to the identification process, but this extra security measure is definitely worth the cost.
Use a password manager
If you’re having trouble remembering multiple passwords and setting unique passwords for each of your accounts, a password manager can help. These utilities go hand in hand with 2FA, can securely store your passwords, and some even auto-fill login pages. They can also protect you from phishing attacks that can send you to scam sites in an attempt to recover your credentials.
Encrypt your Android device
Since 2015, Google has required Android smartphone manufacturers to offer an encryption method. Once a device is encrypted, all data stored on it is protected with a valid PIN, fingerprint, pattern, or password. Without this key, even Google will not be able to unlock the device.
Remove your data from Google
Android is a product of Google, so data from an unencrypted device can be stored on a Google server. You can check with Google what it has about you and ask Google to delete this data. The process can take some time and Google doesn’t guarantee it will agree to this, but the result is worth it – your data can’t be stolen unless it’s on a stolen system.
Erase your device as a last resort
If you lost your phone or it was stolen, you can wipe it remotely. The process is simple and fast. This erases all data on the phone. In other words, if you have any sensitive data that you absolutely don’t want to lose, make it a point to back up your phone on another device.