Since smartphones are real computers and since they are used to manage sensitive information and the accounts of the main online services, they must be protected. The data security of the mobile phone concerns passwords, messages, photos, emails and files saved and synchronized in cloud applications.
A smartphone can be lost or stolen at any time or even left unattended in the home of someone who can spy on any information
This puts your privacy and, in certain cases, your wallet at risk (think, for example, of Google Play where to buy applications or music).
To prevent photos and all private information from getting into extraneous hands, there are a few ways to protect your Android smartphone and secure your data (this applies to the Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Nexus or others).
1) Do not save all the passwords used on the internet or use a password manager .
Many users, for convenience, tend to save their passwords for online services and sites on their device.
So if the mobile phone is in the hands of other people, they can enter Facebook, Twitter, Gmail automatically, without ever being blocked by password requests.
The Google Chrome browser then synchronizes the passwords with the computer so all online data would be available to this person.
It is understood therefore that not saving passwords prevents an effective use of the Android smartphone so it is worth using a password geestore such as LastPass or KeepassDroid.
This protects the browser with a general password behind which all those saved are hidden.
2) Use the Android security settings
In another article we have examined the protections and lock screen of Android which can be locked with a PIN, a touch sequence, a password.
If it is lost or stolen, who wants to use that cell phone will be forced to reset it and delete the data stored in it if he does not know how to unlock it.
In the security settings, you can also choose to encrypt your Android phone so that a password is required to log in when the power is turned on.
3) Block the opening of sensitive applications
To avoid drastic solutions such as having to write your password every time (which is not even too sure if someone intercepts network traffic) it is much better to block the opening of some important applications such as, for example, Google Play, Facebook, Gmail.
It is a second layer of security to prevent anyone from using the device lost or left unattended.
The other apps will be usable without any protection.
4) App authorizations
Before installing a new application from Google Play, you can read the list of required authorizations.
It is advisable to be careful to see what data is read by applications and avoid those that are too intrusive, unless it is necessary (for example Whatsapp needs to read the address book, which a game should not do).
Then read the guide on how to recognize fake Apps with viruses in the Android and iOS Stores
5) Protect the network
An important precaution for any computer or device capable of connecting to the Internet in Wifi is to surf without writing anything on public networks that can be accessed without a password.
Network traffic can be easily intercepted so you must avoid writing passwords or transmitting important information if you are connected to a public WiFi network. or
You can protect your information by using VPN applications for Android so that the outgoing connection is always encrypted.
To further improve network security, you can install AFWAll, a real firewall.
Without Root, you can install the Firewall for Android to block the internet access of individual apps .
6) Use an antivirus
In another article the best free antivirus and security apps for Android, capable of avoiding malware intrusions, for security freaks.
7) Create separate accounts for each user (on tablets)
With Android Jelly Bean it is possible to create different accounts for each person who uses the tablet so one's data will not be visible to others.
Another general account can be created under the menu Settings> Users .
8) Make a backup of your mobile phone
Data backup is important for smartphones.
The address book is saved in the Google account, the messages also using applications such as MySMS, the application settings are saved in the Google account by activating the backup in the Android settings, the photos can be automatically saved in Google or Dropbox and the music in Google Music.
For everything else there are backup applications for Android phones.
9) Install an anti-theft device to track lost or stolen mobile phone via GPS or the network.
Some of these applications allow you to locate, control and block an Android mobile phone remotely from your PC
10) Provide the possibility of being able to remotely delete all the data of the mobile phone if it is stolen or lost .
Even if the stolen phone could be recovered, it may be safer to clear its memory before anyone can take advantage of it.
The anti-theft applications of point 9 have this function: Where's My Droid and Lookout.
Of course, never forget the Find My Android feature which is already included in all smartphones.
