How To Keep Yourself Safe From Android Malware - Android

A new decade is upon us, but this article will reiterate an old message that Android users have still failed to largely implement. This message is related to android best practices, and the ignoration of which leaves users vulnerable to ransomware and malware attacks. However, things do not have to stay this way. Google’s Play [...]

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The post How To Keep Yourself Safe From Android Malware appeared first on Android Headlines.

A new decade is upon us, but this article will reiterate an old message that Android users have still failed to largely implement. This message is related to android best practices, and the ignoration of which leaves users vulnerable to ransomware and malware attacks.
However, things do not have to stay this way.

Google’s Play Protect is problematic:

Play Protect’s purpose is to keep users from installing malware-containing software. Unfortunately, it does not do that and instead lures users into a false sense of security.

In reality, Google Play protect has failed to keep malicious software from getting uploaded on the Play Store, and, subsequently, to the millions of Android devices around the world. Therefore, anyone who thinks that they are secure are excellent candidates for that bridge on Brooklyn.

To put it simply, Google Play Protect does not guarantee safety. Unfortunately, the problem does not stop there – the anti-malware software used by the Google Play Store are not much effective either. So, as an Android user, how do you protect yourself now that you know that the ‘Protected by Play Protect’ badge is not as reliable as you thought it was?

Now, this is not to say that Google intentionally avoids its duty to protect users. In fact, as far as security goes, Google does a more-than-decent job. The problem is that, every day, Google has to face up to the unimaginable odds. Hackers are always devising new methods to steal data, thereby putting companies like Google on the backfoot. This is never a good sign, as being on the defensive prevents Google from providing proactive security, and with it, guaranteed protection. In other words, the only time a device can be 100% safe is when it is turned off. As we know, it is not possible for the average human to function without keeping their phones switched on.

How can you protect yourself?

Below are some pieces of advice that you can implement to improve your Android protection:

• Only install software through Google Play Protect.
• Avoid installing any applications that are not essential.
• Never sideload applications.
• Steer clear of applications that do not contain descriptions.
• Steer clear of applications that have no or few reviews.
• Search for the developer before you install an app (you can find this information in the Developer Contact section). If you fail to find any information about the developer, steer clear of the app.
• Do not install any applications from unknown entities. Examples of known entities include Google, Spotify, and Amazon.
• If an app has a free and a paid version, always go with the latter. This is because free apps contain ads, and ads are one of the commonest ways of transferring malware onto a device.
• Steer clear of apps that have their titles or descriptions written in broken or incorrect English.

We understand that this list might appear pretty exhausting, especially when all you are doing is installing applications on an Android device. However, look at it this way: the more careful you are, the lesser your chances of getting your data stolen or your phone being held ransom. Although these precautions do not guarantee 100% safety either, they do go a long way in improving the unorthodox security experience associated with Android. You can visit safe and secure sites like bitcoinequaliser.

We hope that 2021 will prove to be a positive and prosperous year for everyone. Make sure that, in the new year, you continue to exercise caution with regards to your Android device.

The post How To Keep Yourself Safe From Android Malware appeared first on Android Headlines.