Lock your device.
- Lock your device. A password or pin is a good way to ensure that only you can access your phone. You should also make sure that you don’t use the same password for all of your devices, as this makes it easier for hackers to break in if they get one device unlocked.
- Do not use biometrics. Some phones have fingerprint sensors, which are another type of secure lock. However, these can be easily bypassed by someone who has access to your phone for long enough (a day or so) since the sensor itself is stored on the device and not in a separate database that would require more effort to hack into – meaning if someone has physical access to your phone, they won’t need any passwords or pins! It’s better just sticking with passwords/pins instead of relying on biometrics.
Keep your operating system updated.
It’s important to keep your operating system up to date in order to protect yourself from hackers. The good news is that it’s easy to check for updates on Android. Go into your Settings app and select “About Phone” or “About Tablet.” Then tap Software Update, which will show you if there are any pending updates available for your device.
If there are security fixes available, it’s possible that they will be installed automatically by the system once you reboot your phone after updating the software. However, this may not always be true due to apps that require a certain version of an OS—in some cases an older version—to run properly. It’s always best practice, though, regardless of whether or not an app requires it, to keep everything up-to-date just in case!
Use unique, complex passwords.
- Use unique, complex passwords.
Passwords are the gatekeepers to your data and identity, so it’s important to use a different password for each website. If a hacker gains access to one of your accounts, they could easily use that information to access other accounts because most people use the same password across multiple sites. While this may seem like a hassle at first, there are applications like Dashlane or LastPass that can make managing multiple passwords easier by generating them automatically and storing them in an encrypted database on your device’s internal storage or SD card. Use these apps whenever possible so you don’t have to memorize all of those complicated strings of letters and numbers yourself!
Turn on two-factor authentication.
- Turn on two-factor authentication.
A basic way to protect your account is by turning on two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA). This adds an extra step to the login process by requiring a passcode generated by an app or text message after entering your username and password. The idea is that even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your account unless they also have access to one of those other devices.
- Set up advanced options for 2FA.
Many sites let you choose how long it takes after entering both passwords before sending the second code—you can set it anywhere from 30 seconds up to 1 hour, depending on how much time you want to spend waiting when someone needs access to your account. If you’re using Google Sign-in on another device, make sure all three (web browser, smartphone app) are synced up before logging in so everything goes smoothly when using them together later down the road.
Difference between 2FA vs. Two-Step Verification
2FA requires two separate pieces where one piece could be something physical like an id card or smart card while another piece could be just something digital like a pin number which would generate itself whenever needed through software already installed into most laptops/desktops anyways
Encrypt your data.
Encrypting your data is the most important step in protecting your phone. Encryption scrambles data so it can’t be read unless you have the key to decrypt it. You should use a password or PIN to encrypt your phone’s storage in Settings > Security > Screen Lock (or similarly named section).
Back up your data.
You should back up your Android smartphone before it can get hacked. If you lose your phone, you’ll be glad to know that all of your data is safely backed up in the cloud.
Cloud storage services like Google Photos, Dropbox, and Amazon Cloud Drive are great ways to store files (and photos) in the cloud. These services allow you to access those files from virtually anywhere with an internet connection, so if you ever lose or break your device, your data will be safe!
Install a reliable security app.
- You should install a reliable security app.
- Set up the app to scan regularly and make sure it’s updated.
- Don’t install security apps from unknown sources (e.g., websites or third-party app stores).
- Ensure that the security app is compatible with your device
Only install apps from Google Play and the App Store.
By default, your Android smartphone comes with a setting that prevents you from installing apps outside Google Play or Apple’s App Store. This is a good idea because it helps protect you from malware—programs designed to damage or gain access to your device without your knowledge.
If you wish to install an app that isn’t available in either the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, then you can enable the Unknown sources setting on your phone by following these steps:
- Open Settings on your smartphone and tap Security & location (or similar).
- Tap Unknown sources at the bottom of this screen so that it turns green.
Use a VPN service when connected to public WiFi.
- Use a VPN service when connected to public WiFi.
- VPNs encrypt data before leaving your device, making it harder for hackers to intercept and decrypt the information.
- The location of the VPN’s headquarters should be a major consideration in selecting one: look for those based in countries with strong data privacy laws, like the United States or Switzerland.
There are things you can do to minimize the risks of hackers getting into your phone.
You can do a lot to minimize the risk of hackers getting into your phone.
- Keep it updated. The best way to protect yourself from hackers is to keep your device running the latest version of Android, designed with security in mind. Check for updates regularly by going into Settings > About Phone > System Update and following the prompts if there’s a new version available.
- Keep apps up-to-date too! Most modern apps will let you know if there’s an update available, so make sure that you update them regularly—especially those that send messages or access sensitive data like passwords or photos (like email apps). If an app doesn’t have any updates available, then uninstall it because old versions are vulnerable to vulnerabilities that have since been patched in newer versions.