Best Ways to Keep Your Privacy on Android

It’ no surprise that our smartphones, that we carry everywhere stores our conversations, photos/videos, contacts, passwords, and other sensitive data as well. When you have such a vulnerable device carrying so much sensitive data, it becomes crucial to secure it, to ensure no one steals your data. It’s important because if someone manages to get their dirty hands on your unsecured phone, they can easily see all your data and may even use it against you.

Thus, you need to take the right measures to secure your phone and ensure that no one accesses your data, even if they get their hands on your phone. If you are an Android user, you can take several measures to protect your phone and ensure your data stays private, both online and offline. To help you out,we are listing the best ways to keep your privacy intact on Android:

1. Add Reliable Security to the Lockscreen

1. Add Reliable Security to the Lockscreen

A strong security on your Android smartphone’s lockscreen is the first step to maintaining your privacy on your Android. Unfortunately, many of us still use a swipe to unlock our smartphones, which offers zero security. Well, the least you can do isenable Pin, Password or Pattern securityon your phone’s lock screen to ensure that no one can access your data (at least not easily).

To add a security lock, go to your AndroidSettings->Security. Here, you should see an option of “Screen Lock”, tap on it and you will see all the options to add security to your phone’s lock screen. Pin, Password and Pattern protection are available on almost all Android smartphones, but you may find other advanced securities based on your phone; like voice detection or fingerprint scanner or even an iris scanner.

There are also manylockscreen replacement appsthat will let you further protect your Android device.

2. Encrypt Device Data

2. Encrypt Device Data

Android also comes with abuilt-in encryption featureto encrypt all of your data making it impossible for anyone to access your data without the right password. To encrypt your phone, go toSettings->Securityand here, tap on “Encrypt Phone” and you will then see all the details to go ahead.

Before you encrypt your device, there arefew things you should know:

3. Manage App Permissions

This is a little dark side of apps that many Android users carelessly agree to. Sometimes apps may ask for permissions to access data that isn’t even required for the app to work. Usually this is done by app developers to sell your data to ad companies and make revenue. For instance, why would a flashlight app ask for permission to control your Wi-Fi or access your Google account?

The point is, you need tobe wary of the permissions an app is asking forand whether you are comfortable with it or not. If your Android device is runningAndroid 6.0, you can easily manage the app permissions but if your device is running an older version of Android, you will have to either live with the app permissions or don’t use the app.

On Android 6.0 device, you can just head over toSettings->Appsandselect the appand tap on “Permissions” to check out its permissions. Here, you can turn off permissions that you don’t want the app to access. Android Lollipop and older versions with root access can use the appApp Oppsto manage app permissions.

4. Take Advantage of Android Device Manager

Android Device Manager lets you see the exact location of your device, and also remotely set off an alarm, ring phone or erase data, if it is connected to a network. This is perfect for recovering your phone or saving your data from wrong hands, in case your device gets lost or stolen.

Android Device Manager should be enabled by default on your device but you should still confirm it. To do it, go toSettings->Google(on Android 6.0 or later) orGoogle Settingsapp (older Android versions) and tap on “Security“. Here, just make sure the Android Device Manager options are enabled.

To track the phone or send remote commands, you can go toAndroid Device Manager web portalusing a smartphone or PC and easily see your phone’s last location and send commands.

5. Avoid Apps from Unknown Sources

To be on the safer side, try to only download apps from the Google Play Store orother reliable app stores. Thesestores thoroughly check all appsbeing hosted there and ensure they are free from any malware and malicious code. If you download an app from other sources — like APKs from third-party websites — these apps could be infected with malware.

For instance, Pokemon GO APKs were recently very popula due to the fact that the popular game wasn’t available in all the countries. Well, reports suggested that hackers were quick toinfect Pokemon Go APKs with malware. Any such download could easily lead to getting your phone hijacked, so we will recommend you to always download apps from Google Play Store and other legit stores, including Pokemon Go; consideringthere’s a wayto install it from the Play Store even if it’s not available in your country.

On top of that, always keep “Unknown Sources” optiondisabledinSettings->Security.This should prevent downloads from any unreliable sources.

Android Apps To Protect Your Privacy

There are various Android apps that are dedicated to protect your privacy both offline and online. We are going to list down few of the good ones:

1. Signal Private Messenger

You may not know but all the text messages you send to people can easily read by carriers, and even the government is known to read text messages. I am sure this will not make you comfortable if you are having a private conversation. This is wheresecure messaging appswill help you by encrypting your connection and making it impossible for anyone to snoop on.

Signal is one such free and open source messaging app that lets you send encrypted messages to your friends and even have group conversations that cannot to seen or read by anyone. It will also let you make encrypted calls, so that no one eavesdrops on your calls. Best of all, you can even send media and documents to people with completeend-to-end encryption.

Install:(Free)

2. Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus

Although malwares and viruses are not a huge risk on Android, you should always take caution. There are manyantivirus apps available for Android, but Avast Mobile Security is a great all-in-one package. Avast Mobile Security willscan your phone for any malware and also settings & appsthat could lead to a privacy breach, such as the USB debugging option.

Along with that, it also comes with an app locker, Wi-Fi security checker, Wi-Fi speed tester and a performance booster.

Install:(Freewith in-app purchases)

3. Betternet Free VPN

VPNs are the best way to keep your online privacy intact. A VPN will make youanonymous online by encrypting all the traffic, so that no one will be able to track your browsing sessions. However, it is important to get agood VPN app, that is fast and reliable. Betternet is a great free VPN service that doesn’t puts any data limitations (unlike most other VPNs) and offers fast connection. Although it doesn’t lets you change your location in the free version, it should work fine for most users.

Install:(Free)

4. AppLock

Apps in your phone contain all of your private data, so you should lock them to add an extra layer of security. AppLock is an amazing free app locker that willlock all system and third-party appswith a password or pattern lock. It also comes with cool features like hiding the apps, fake message on launch and other cool tricks to keep your apps safe.

Install:(Freewith in-app purchases)

5. Clueful Privacy Adviser

Clueful is like your personal privacy adviser that lets you know how apps are using your data and how your privacy might be at risk. The app is offered by popular antivirus program developers BitDefender and uses BitDefender cloud scan tocheck all the apps risking your privacy. The app brings you an overall score of your device’s privacy and tells you how much of a risk an app is, to your privacy. A perfect app for any privacy conscious person.

Install:(Free)

SEE ALSO:How to Set Auto Changing PIN Lock on Android for Added Security

Secure your Android smartphone’s privacy

In today’s online world, privacy could be something to laugh about, and the only thing we can do, is make it hard for people to steal our data. If you are concerned, you can follow the above privacy steps to ensure your privacy remains intact on your Android smartphone. If you have any tips on privacy on Android that we might have missed out on, share with us in the comments section below.

Karrar Haider

Karrar is drenched in technology and always fiddles with new tech opportunities. He has a bad habit of calling technology “Killer”, and doesn’t feel bad about spending too much time in front of the PC. If he is not writing about technology, you will find him spending quality time with his little family.

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