Free Security Software For Android Phones

Nope, yous're not being paranoid. From pickpockets to malware, your Android phone is under siege from all sides. Wily attackers are continually switching up their tactics in hopes of taking control of your device.

Let's acknowledge that there's no foolproof way to protect your Android device from thieves and hackers. Indeed, equally a wise engineering guru once told me, if a sophisticated cheat decides to target your phone, good luck trying to terminate them.

That said, in that location are plenty of means to go on your Android handset rubber from the virtually common security threats, all with a minimum of effort. Just as a deadbolt will thwart a casual thief, so will a passcode foil a pickpocket, while the correct security settings can keep most malware-infected apps at bay.

Read on for six easy ways to go along your Android phone secure, starting with…

1. Lock your phone (if you haven't already)

This seems like a no-brainer, I know, but in that location are too many Android users toting around unlocked handsets because they'd rather not hassle with a passcode. I empathize, to be perfectly honest—PINs are annoying, particularly if you're having to tap one in every fourth dimension y'all want to apply your ain phone.

If you know a beau Android user who doesn't carp to lock their phone, remind them how they'd feel if they left their phone in the back of a taxicab, or if someone snatched their device from their mitt. Then gently nudge them to tap Settings > Security > Screen lock and have them create a Pin—or, if they're lucky enough to take a telephone with a fingerprint reader, scan some fingerprints for touch ID.

Even better, steer them toward Smart Lock, the Android feature that lets yous unlock your handset with your confront, or keep your phone unlocked whenever you're at home, almost a strategically placed NFC sticker, or whenever your device is on your person.

2. Locate and wipe your phone remotely

OK, so you locked your Android phone with a Pivot or Smart Lock but you lost it anyway. Now what? Luckily, you can use the Android Device Managing director to track your lost device and even wipe it if necessary, only but if you lot've enabled a pair of settings first.

Tap Settings > Google > Security, the toggle on these two settings: Remotely locate this device, and Let remote lock and erase.

Now, even if your Android phone is lost or stolen, you can still pinpoint its location (as long as information technology's got a wireless connection and its battery holds out) and wipe its storage, including all your sensitive data.

Brand certain Unknown Sources setting is disabled

So much for physical threats to your Android phone—now, let's move on to something trickier, starting with malicious apps.

Make sure Unknown Sources setting is disabled — As long as y'all leave theUnknown Sources setting disabled, apps from shady third-party sites won't exist able to install themselves on your Android device.

Google does its all-time to make sure the apps on the Google Play store are free from malware, but it tin't protect you from apps on third-party app stores or spider web sites.

Now, in some cases, third-political party app stores will be totally legit—take Amazon'south app shop, for instance. In other cases, though, y'all might be dealing with an app store that's a lot sketchier than Amazon'south. Even worse, y'all might run into a website that tries to install an app on your phone without your permission.

Luckily, Android has a setting that blocks whatever and all apps that aren't from the official Google Play app store. Tap Settings > Security, so toggle off the Unknown sources setting. You can e'er turn the Unknown sources setting back on to install an app from, say, the Amazon app store, simply remember to turn the setting off again one time you're done.

Permit Android scan and verify your apps

Even with Google busily screening the apps in the Google Play store, there'due south always a chance that a malicious app slips through the cracks. With the right setting enabled, your Android phone can periodically scan your installed apps for malware.

Let Android scan and verify your apps — Android tin keep an middle on your installed apps to check for whatever suspicious action.

Tap Settings > Google > Security > Verify apps, and then switch on the Scan device for security threats setting. In one case you practice, Android will proceed an eye on your apps and flag any app that'south up to no adept.

Keep your telephone updated

Hackers are continually changing upward their strategies when information technology comes to cracking Android's security features—and every bit they do, Google keeps releasing security updates to patch the latest known vulnerabilities.

Keep your phone updated — Keeping your Android device updated with the latest security patches is 1 of the easiest—and best—ways to protect your telephone from hackers.

That's why it's critical that yous proceed your Android device updated with the latest patches. If you don't, you lot're substantially leaving your phone wide open to assail.

Your Android phone should prompt you lot whenever there'southward a new update to install, or tap Settings > About phone > System updates to cheque for an update manually.

Turn on Chrome's Safe Browsing feature

Malicious apps aren't the only online threat your Android phone will encounter. The spider web is rife with malicious sites that might endeavour to steal your personal data via a "phishing" assault, or surreptitiously download a harmful app onto your handset.

The good news is that Chrome for Android boasts a "Condom Browsing" mode that'll warn you of any sites suspected of nefarious activeness. The warning will give you a adventure to back away earlier you expose your Android telephone to a "deceptive" or dangerous site.

To activate Chrome's Safe Browsing characteristic, simply fire up the browser, tap the iii-dot card button in the top corner of the screen, tap Settings > Privacy, then make sure the "Safe Browsing" setting is checked.