Thanks to new security and privacy safeguards built into the software, users now have more control over how and when Google accesses Android-related data. To help you protect your valuable data, we’ve prepared a few hacks that will future-proof your privacy.
1. Strong Passwords
A very simple mantra – Strong Password, Strenuous Privacy, Poor Password, Popular Virality. Are you still using your best friend’s name or birth date in your password? Refrain. Passwords like 123456, iloveyou, and indya123 are universally popular, and for German speakers, it’s “passwort”; “qwerty” is replaced with “azerty” in France, and this list is endless. A recent survey by ExpressVPN’s study on poor passwords reveals that most people use easy guesabble passwords that can put their accounts in danger. The key takeaway is to activate your creative senses and to cover up your privacy with the toughest password you can ever create.
2. Uninstalling unused and unnecessary apps
Do you use all your Android apps? There is a good chance that you don’t. These apps can continue to run in the background, gather data, and then divulge it, even if they aren’t being used. All that is required is to visit the Google Play Store, touch the Menu, post that select the drop-down button, and choose the ones that you wish to remove.
3. Ensure privacy while browsing
You can activate the feature via Chrome’s three-dot Menu in the top right, then go to Settings > Privacy and security > Safe browsing. Activate the Enhanced Browsing feature. Alternatively, switch to a different browser, including Brave, Firefox, or another privacy-focused one available on Google Play. Additionally, the first steps toward securing your device are to set a strong password – or, better yet, an alphanumeric code.
4. Block the lockscreen notifications
As a default setting, Android displays all notifications on the lock screen. Thus, sensitive information such as private messages and two-factor strong passwords is accessible without entering the device’s PIN or passcode. Go to Privacy>Security in Settings>Notifications on Lock Screen to limit the information displayed. This can be a game changer; you can even filter it further by choosing not to show any notifications.
5. Double authentication
Two-factor authentication is also a great way to ensure protection against well-resourced hackers. The built-in app scanner on Android, Google Play Protect, protects the device against malicious apps by default. Verified boot and other security features built into Android ensure that the device’s firmware hasn’t been tampered with by malware. Being safe is easy however needs a bit of active effort and awareness. Concludingly, privacy is your biggest asset. Strengthen your knowledge and secure yourself from unnecessary and uncalled troubles
