Fraudsters are seeking for new ways to obtain access to your information while tech titans continue to raise the bar when it comes to smartphone security. There are various apps and solutions available online to help people stay secure from these cyber crooks and keep their smartphones safe. You can alter numerous settings on Android handsets to make them more secure against scammers. Here are 5 settings you can alter in an Android smartphone to make it safer to help you out. Turn on screen pinning. You can use screen pinning to lock your smartphone’s screen to a single app. Google first launched the feature in 2014. Users are unable to update or close the app on the screen before logging in with their password or fingerprint. When exhibiting a photo to a friend or showcasing the high score of a game you created on your smartphone, the screen pinning option can be pretty useful. It’s worth noting that if Navigation gestures are enabled, the feature is disabled. Go to Settings > Password & security > System security > Screen pinning to find the feature.
Modify the app’s permissions Apps need your permission to access sensitive information in order to fulfill specific activities. These permissions are usually associated with Bluetooth, Contacts, Camera, Microphone, and Location. Because applications can’t work correctly without authorization, most users give sensitive information to gain access to the app’s functions. A few of the apps are not used that often but they can still tap your sensitive details as you have granted them permission. You may modify app permissions by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > tapping on the app to check and change the rights you’ve provided. Activate Google Play Protect. When you install apps, Google Play Protect checks them. It also scans your device on a regular basis. If it detects a potentially hazardous program, it may disable it until you uninstall it, or it may send you a notification advising you to do so. It automatically removes the app in severe instances. If a potentially hazardous app has been found, you will often receive a message stating that the app has been removed. Google Play Protect is turned on by default on every Android smartphone, but if it is accidentally turned off, head to Settings > Password & security > System security > Google Play Protect to enable it. Activate the Find My Device feature. Every Android device, including phones, tablets, and Wear OS smartwatches, has a Find My Device feature. In the event that your device is stolen or lost, you can use this feature to track, lock, or erase it.
The feature can aid in the recovery of your device or, in the worst-case scenario, it can aid in the deletion of all data so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. This feature provides you with a backup strategy to keep your device and data safe in the event of an emergency. To use the feature, you must maintain track of your device’s location. Keep the content visible on the lock screen to a minimum. Google included a feature to Android 5.0 that allows users to engage with alerts right from the lock screen. While the function is beneficial and many users like it, it can also be a major privacy risk. Even if your smartphone is locked, anyone can engage with crucial texts and other notifications if this feature is enabled. Toggle off “Sensitive notifications” in Settings > App & Notifications > Notifications to hide sensitive information from your lock screen.
