Ways To Secure Your Android Smart Phone

By Author: Kelly Burby
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Android is the most popular mobile operating system. With it's openness, it provides several attractive
customizations. Apart from all pros, now-a-days it has become the lovable platform for hackers to attack.
Despite Google's claim that it's OS is secure, Android is being hit hard by severe attacks of malware. Trend
Micro, the security firm estimates that by the end of this year, a total of 1 million malware would be hitting
Android.

What malware can do?

Just like those over computer PCs, Android hackers and attackers can simply steal your personal
information and contacts, and sell them to hackers. Recent reports say that the most popular malware for now
is “Payloads”, which is acting a role of premium SMS application for stealing money from users.

How they enter your device?

Apps infected with malware get onto your device through “attack vectors”. This ranges from downloading
untrusted apps from the Play Store on your device. The other possible ...
... way of doing this is by tricking
the user with similar named applications on the app store. For example, every popular mainstream
application has a similar app on the store with slightly different name to fool users.

Tips to secure your device:

Opt for the built-in security option on your device: Protect your phone with a PIN code or a pattern lock.
Though newer versions of Android highly support a new feature named “Face unlock”, it may seem futuristic
to some users, but its not that safer as it can be breached through a normal photo as well. It's better going
with the pattern lock or PIN lock instead.

Install an anti-virus application: Get an anti-virus for your device. Modern anti-virus apps do a lot more
than just scanning your device for malware. The latest ones act as a multi-purpose tool and keep alarming
you from clicking over a malicious link or even track whether any of your device's applications are spying
over you.

Always think logically over the app permissions: While going for a new installation on your device,
always have a look on the permissions the application is asking for. If any of them doesn't makes sense, then
it would be better not installing the app at all.

Say NO to browsers asking to save credentials: When your browser asks for remembering the username or
password for further reference, just say a big NO.

Don't use public WI-Fi: Avoid using public Wi-Fi connection when you are about to make an online
transaction of money or doing online banking. While doing so anyone on the same network may sniff out
your packets.

Avoid applications from unknown sources:

Android apps are distributed as APK files. Some users use those packaged files for pirating apps not available on the Play Store. By default Android has been designed to download and install app from its own store but if you are installing apps from third party app stores, it is up to you for selecting trustworthy apps or staking the device .

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