There’s a lot you can do to protect your Android from getting hacked, but it’s hard. Here are some tips.”
Hackers can access your email, social media, and even bank account information through your phone.
We should therefore develop some strategies to secure Android phone from hackers to keep our mobile and data safe & secure.
We perform many daily activities on our Android phones, including banking online, accessing email, and saving personal information.
When your mobile falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to identity theft, money laundering, or hacking of your emails and social media account’s password.
So, without further ado, let’s explore the tips and tricks to deal with hackers.
How To Know If Hackers Hacked Android Phone?
If hackers hack a phone, it may show the following symptoms:
- There is a rapid loss of charge on your phone.
- There is a noticeable slowdown in the performance of your phone.
- There has been unusual activity on your online accounts, such as unfamiliar logins, sign-ups for new accounts, and emails asking for password resets.
- Receiving an unknown call or text.
- The presence of more pop-ups than usual.
- There is an increase in data usage on your phone.
- There are unfamiliar apps on your device.
How To Secure Android Phone From Hackers
It is necessary to make a few changes to your settings to secure your Android phone from hackers. It is possible to greatly reduce the possibility of your phone being hacked by following these tips:
- Use Phone Locks
- Make Use Of A VPN
- Use two-factor Authentication
- Only Download Apps From Safe Sources
- Avoid Unknown Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connections
- Enable Android’s “Find My Device” Feature
- Browse In Safe Mode
- Avoid Spam And Phishing Emails
- Block Notifications And Permissions
- Keep Android Devices Up-To-Date
- Avoid Rooting Your Device
- Enable Backups
- Turn Off The Voice Control
- Pause Location History
- Turn Off Web And App Activity
1. Use Phone Locks
Phone locks are one of the most important features that secure Android phones from hackers.
It may seem like a simple tip, but a phone without a password is more prone to losing its data in the future. You can lose your bank account password/pin, photos, documents, and other information if you don’t lock your phone.
How To Lock Android Phone?
To lock your phone, follow these instructions:
- Open the Settings menu on your smartphone.
- Select the My Device option above the screen.
- Now choose Lock Screen.
- Under the Screen security section, select Screen lock.
- Choose one of the screen lock types available on your device.
I advise you to continue using the old-fashioned PINs and passwords. Ensure you do not use biometric security, as hackers have devised many ways to circumvent biometric security systems.
If you use a complex password/pin, you can greatly increase your security. Try to use at least 16-20 characters comprised of a mixture of upper case and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
2. Make Use Of A VPN
The best way to increase Android security is to encrypt the internet connection, which you can only do by setting up a VPN on your device. A virtual private network (VPN) provides an additional layer of security to your internet connection.
Since we rely extensively on mobile devices to stay connected to the world via email or social media.
However, selecting a reputable VPN provider is important so as not to expose yourself to any risks.
3. Use two-factor Authentication
The two-factor authentication procedure, also called 2FA, ensures secure Android phones from hackers. Many online portals and websites now provide Two-Factor Authentication for Android phones to keep them safe from hackers.
When you attempt to open an account from your smartphone with 2FA, you receive a code via email and a mobile number. It provides a two-way security check for logging into your account.
How To Use Two-Factor Authentication?
On Android, it is fairly straightforward to enable two-factor authentication; here are the steps:
- Navigate to the Settings menu.
- Tap on the Accounts option at the top.
- Choose Accounts from the My Accounts section on the left.
- From the list of options, select Google.
- The next step is to select Manage your Google account.
- From the options above, select security.
- Drag down the menu and select the 2-step verification from the list.
- Then click the Get Started button.
- To activate 2FA on your phone, follow the final steps on the screen.
Once you have enabled 2FA on your online accounts, consider using a reliable VPN in conjunction with it. In addition to encrypting your traffic, they also prevent hackers from inadvertently gaining access to your private information.
4. Download Apps From Safe Sources Only
To secure Android phones from hackers, you should only use apps when you are certain they are safe and reliable. It is common for malware and viruses to be spread through third-party app stores.
Always download apps from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or another trusted source.
The second critical aspect to keep in mind is to avoid using unauthentic apps. Even if they are available on the Google Play Store, do not use them unless you are familiar with their developers.
There are many shady apps in the Google Play Store, but Google’s algorithm detects them and removes them promptly.
5. Avoid Unknown Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connections
When you use public Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth on your Android device, hackers are more likely to access your device.
Because one can never be sure how many hackers are around, it is always advisable to only use the unfamiliar internet when necessary to secure Android phones from hackers.
6. Enable Android’s “Find My Device” Feature
There is a built-in feature in the Android operating system called “Find my device” that ensures the security of your data.
When you enable “Find my device” on your phone, you will be able to prevent the loss of data in situations such as if your phone is stolen or lost.
How To Turn On Find My Device Feature In Mobile?
- Click on the Settings icon.
- Click on the More option from the menu above.
- Select the Security option from the menu.
- Afterward, click on the Device administration tab.
- The next step is to check the box next to Find My Device to enable it.
You can track your smartphone from anywhere at any time by activating this feature. You need to take only one step: visit https://www.google.com/android/find and log in via the Google account you have been using on your phone.
Using the application, you can track your smartphone within seconds, and also beneficial to secure your Android phones from hackers.
7. Browse In Safe Mode
Google Chrome is the default Android browser. You should always use it in normal circumstances since it will alert you if you are about to open an unsecured website.
In addition, there is another method that you can use to protect your Android phone, which is known as “Safe Browsing Mode.”
How To Browse In Safe Mode?
Follow these steps to utilize this option.
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Tap the menu icon (three vertical dots) on the top left of the screen.
- Select the “New Incognito Window” option.
- Upon clicking the button, Google Search will open in Incognito mode, and all of your add-ons will be disabled. In contrast, the Chrome browser will normally run in the first window.
8. Avoid Spam And Phishing Emails
There is a possibility that you received an email from an unknown sender or that you are entering your login information on a website that does not seem right. The spam folder in your email service will catch some of these threats, but it won’t stop all of them.
There are several antivirus software available that protect users from phishing. However, if you are unsure, you should avoid clicking on unfamiliar websites, links, or messages.
9. Block Notifications And Permissions
The Google Play Store is one trusted source for downloading apps; however, it does not guarantee the security of your personal information.
Make sure to take additional security precautions by blocking all notifications and permissions since many apps will ask for access to your location, photos, contacts, and more.
In addition, granting such permissions at first may seem harmless, but this may compromise the user’s privacy if the app is hacked or infected with malware. Therefore, if you encounter suspicious app permission requests, deny the request.
10. Keep Android Device And Apps Updated
Keeping your Android smartphone or any other device up-to-date is crucial if you want to keep it secure. The Android and iOS operating systems regularly release additional security fixes and system updates that help protect you against various exploits.
Failure to update your operating system (OS) can expose your device to several security risks.
How To Enable Auto Update?
To enable auto-updates on your Android device, follow these steps:
- On your Android device, go to the Settings section.
- Using the option above, choose More to see more options.
- Tap on the About device option.
- Click on the Software Updates.
- Enable Automatic update on your device by checking the box next to Auto update.
11. Avoid Rooting Your Device
Rooting is popular among Android users due to its supposed advantages. Some people believe that rooting increases battery life. Others argue that rooting allows you to customize your phone and install apps not available on Google Play.
- Rooting your device is a serious security threat to the Android security model.
- A rooted device has access to much more of the system than a non-rooted device.
- Most malware programs find rooted phones attractive and can attack them more easily than those not rooted.
- All security experts strongly recommend against rooting an Android device to prevent phone hacking.
12. Turn Off The Voice Control
It is convenient to have Google Assistant available before unlocking your phone, but there are some limitations in terms of security.
Therefore, to secure Android phones from hackers turning off voice control is a smart move.
How To Turn Off Voice Control?
To disable these voice assistants in your Android phones, follow these steps:
- Go to settings.
- Select the My device option.
- You can find the Voice control option by dropping down the menu. Tap on the bar to disable voice control.
13. Pause Location History
By pausing location history, we can prevent Google from tracking our movements.
This method will not prevent apps from using your location information. Still, it will prevent Google from gathering detailed personal data about our daily activities, which is also beneficial in securing Android phones from hackers.
How To Pause Location History?
You can pause Location History by following these steps:
- Tap Google.
- Select your profile icon at the top-right.
- Click the Manage your Google Account button.
- Choose the Data and privacy section.
- Drop down the menu until you find Location History. Click on it to open it.
- Pause the Location history by clicking on the Turn Off button.
14. Turn Off Web And App Activity
Anyone who wants to secure their Android phones from hackers and protect their online privacy might find the introduction to this Privacy settings section frightening.
The data saved in your account helps you to have a more personalized experience across all Google services.
How To Stop Web And App Activity?
To disable Web and app activity, follow the steps below:
- Go to Google.
- At the top-right, click on your profile icon.
- Go to the Manage your Google Account page.
- Go to the section on data and privacy.
- You can find Web and App activity by dropping down the menu. Tap on it.
- Pause the Web And App activity by clicking on the Turn Off button.
15. Turn Off Pop-Ups And Redirects In Chrome
Pop-ups are often annoying, but they can also indicate a malware infection. As a result of these pop-ups and redirections, your browser may redirect you to intrusive advertisements and malware scripts.
You can detect and remove malware and secure Android phones from hackers using antivirus software.
However, you can also prevent it from causing you too much trouble by changing your browser’s settings.
How To Turn-Off Popups In Web Browser?
You can disable pop-ups and redirects in Chrome by following these steps:
- Go to Google Chrome.
- Open the menu by tapping the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Navigate to the Settings menu.
- Choose the Site settings option from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Pop-ups and redirects option.
- Toggle off pop-ups and redirects if they are enabled.
How To Deal With A Phone Hacking
If you suspect that a hacker has gained access to your phone, you should immediately follow the instructions below to secure your Android phone from a hacker:
- Use Anti-Virus Software
- Delete Unnecessary Applications
- Factory Reset Your Device
1. Use Anti-Virus Software
Anti-virus software aims to scan your phone for viruses and malware and remove any threats. Google Play Protect, the built-in security program, protects against common malware.
The need for malware protection on a mobile device is not universal. Only users of Android devices require it. Antivirus apps can protect Android phones from hackers gaining access in many cases.
2. Delete Unnecessary Applications
Any Android device can be made more secure and private by removing any suspicious apps and those which are not necessary. Each app installed on your device poses potential security and privacy risks.
The Google Play Store automatically grants permission for each app to use the Internet.
It means that all applications on your device have the potential to send data to unknown destinations via the Internet anywhere in the world.
Through this, it can acquire and receive information that could affect your phone. Therefore to secure your Android phones from hackers, delete unnecessary or suspicious apps from your mobile.
3. Factory Reset Your Device
If hackers have hacked your device, factory resetting is essential to secure your Android phone from hackers.
However, you should back up all your vital information before proceeding. By doing so, you will be able to retrieve all of your lost files and folders.
How To Perform Factory Reset?
Follow these instructions to reset your Android device:
- Go to the Settings menu on your Android device.
- In the top menu, select Accounts.
- Choose the Backup and reset option under the Backup options section.
- Click on Factory data reset under the Personal Data section of the screen to begin resetting the phone.
Conclusion
Hackers commonly target Android smartphones. Therefore, Android cell phone device protection is essential, especially for those who store sensitive information on their mobile devices and care about their privacy.
The tips and modifications above will secure Android phones from hackers and help you improve Android security.
Hackers continue to target smartphones using the latest techniques, so staying informed about best practices is very important from a security perspective.
