Android is considered by everyone to be a fairly secure operating system, thanks to the Linux base on which it is based and the numerous controls that Google performs in search of bugs, malicious apps and fixes to increase the security level of this mobile operating system. Unfortunately, its widespread use has made it one of the favorite targets for cybercriminals, who create modified apps, malicious crack and masked messages in order to cause damage to Android devices aiming both at the stability of the system and at the data entered by the user in the device. (there are numerous traps designed to drain the residual credit of the SIM or to steal sensitive data stored in the system files).
How can we make Android smartphones more secure "> Best Android security apps to protect your phone
1) Update the operating system and applications
The first advice we can give you is to keep the operating system constantly updated, always installing all the updates provided by the device manufacturer.
Many of these updates contain security patches and new versions of the kernel or Android system, which can significantly increase the protection level of the device.
To check if there are updates for the device we use, just open the Settings app and take us to Info on the Phone ; some smartphones have a separate update app or a dedicated menu item ( System updates ).
If the system finds updates, connect to a WiFi network and download the suggested package; it will be installed automatically after the phone restarts (it may take up to half an hour for the update to finish).
The smartphone we own has not received updates for months or years "> LineageOS.
If an updated ROM is available for our device, we can follow one of the many guides on Google to unlock the bootloader (necessary to change ROM), install a new recovery and finally obtain LineageOS as an updated operating system.
READ ALSO -> How to install a Custom Android ROM
2) Block unknown sources
Many of the harmful or dangerous apps for Android come from APKs installed on the device to get incompatible apps or to install crack and use free paid apps; we avoid downloading these dangerous apps by blocking the installation of unknown sources.
To make this change, open the Settings -> Security app and remove the confirmation mark from the Unknown sources item.
Now the only way to install apps on the Android device will be to use the Google Play Store, definitely safer than other stores.
3) Download only apps from official sources
In addition to the Google Play Store, other stores are also available which can be installed on Android to obtain legitimate and illegitimate apps; we recommend that you avoid installing apps from these stories, except those certified as safe.
In order to take advantage, for example, of the apps given by Amazon, we can easily install the Amazon App Store on the device and use it to get paid apps for free (when there is a promotion or a scheduled discount).
We can download the Amazon store app from here -> Amazon Appstore .
For the occasion, we can also authorize the installation from unknown sources, but make sure to disable it at the end of the installation in order not to leave the side of a malicious app.
4) Avoid the crack and keygen for paid games and apps
While it may seem smart and clever to download crack and paid apps modified to be accessible for free, there is very little clever because often these modified apps hide malware or exploits with which the attackers can tamper with Android and steal data stored on your smartphone, slow it down to completely block it, make advertisements appear out of nowhere or steal your phone credit.
We avoid using crack and keygen for apps on Android and if possible we legally purchase the apps that interest us.
We can also accumulate some money to use to buy paid apps in a completely legal way by responding to the surveys offered by Google itself, as indicated in the following guide.
READ ALSO -> Earn money to buy apps on the Android store with Google Rewards surveys
5) Keep Google Play Protect active
Even if it is not an antivirus, Google has brought a security system on all Android smartphones called Google Play Protect which is used to check the downloaded and installed applications to warn the user and block them if they are recognized as harmful.
6) Attention to the permissions required by the applications
When installing new applications, at first run, these may require some permissions to use internal phone functions and stored data.
For example, it is normal for the address book app to request access to the contact list, for Whatsapp to access the address book, for the camera to use the phone's camera, for the navigator to use GPS and so on.
In some cases, however, there may be requests that have nothing to do with the operation of the application, for example a game that asks for access to the call list.
In these cases you really need to pay attention, especially for access to things like the microphone and the camera that can be used from the outside to spy on the phone.
7) Block unknown contacts in chat or via SMS
If we often receive SMS messages with advertisements or that invite you to download new unknown apps, we can block them on Android using an app like Calls Blacklist, which blocks calls and SMS from reported contacts.
We can download it from here -> Calls Blacklist .
8) Install a light and effective antivirus
If we do not know how to keep our smartphone safe or have little computer knowledge we can rely on antivirus to increase the security of the Android smartphone.
Antivirus may slow down the execution of some operations and some apps, but it is better to have this type of protection than to have a smartphone unusable because of malware.
As seen in detail in another article, the best antivirus for Android that we can install are as follows:
- Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus
- Avira Antivirus Security
- Bitdefender Antivirus Free
- Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus
- AVG Antivirus Free for Android
- Norton Antivirus and Security
- Panda Antivirus and free VPN
The reported antiviruses are all free, try them all until you find the one that convinces you and that does not affect the performance of your Android smartphone too much.
READ ALSO: Securing the data of an Android mobile phone in 10 ways
