In the mobile OS world, there is always this argument about which is the safest and most secure to use between Android and iOS. We want to tell you that every software has flaws that could be exploited – but that is not the comparison that we are here to make today.
We, instead, want to discuss how the Android OS might be exploited – and what you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen.
How Google is Tightening the Ship
Google is the company behind the Android OS, and they know that they have a reputation to protect if they ever hope to keep selling this OS.
To that end, the company has bundled the software with a series of security practices and protocols.
One such is the protocol that does not allow you to sideload apps onto your device. Although you can override this, Google makes sure the OS does not allow that out of the box. Speaking of applications, Google also developed a dedicated app store where they screen all the apps for malicious code before publishing.
On the back of that, we should also mention how the newer versions of the Android OS have improved on app permissions. That way, you can set what an app has access to and what it is not supposed to read. This is one of the best ways to limit your exposure if such an app were ever hacked.
At the same time, Google has adopted a new method of sending out monthly security fixes to their units. By so doing, they can curb hacks and attacks before they happen at all.
Security Risks You Could Be Facing
The first is with your password. Even though your device has advanced biometrics that allows you to sign in to the unit and some of your other online accounts, that does not mean that you should use a weak password.
That's what a hacker would be going for anyway.
In the same way, learn to keep your internet data safe by getting safer browsers. This should be browsers that come with better privacy settings, improved browser fingerprinting blocking, and more.
For an advanced level of protection whenever you are using the internet, it is advisable to protect your Android device with a VPN.
That said, remember the monthly security updates that we mentioned up there? They won’t do much for you if you do not install them. Likewise, make sure your OEM is one that pushes out these updates fast enough – so that you can enjoy the security fixes as when necessary.
Following that, always update your apps whenever you get the notification to do so. This might be the difference between plugging a leak and being the victim of one.
Finally, We don’t mean to scare you, but more than one billion Android devices are currently at the risk of a hack. That is billion with a B, so you know how serious the issue is.
If there was any time to take your protection into your hands, it is now.
Pictures: Pixabay.com
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