Android apps audit is important, as the security concern with Android has always been in the limelight for the wrong reason. With millions of users downloading the app every single day, the biggest threat lies in synchronizing the Android device with other similar devices.
The app needs to be updated regularly on safety terms while ensuring security from a user’s perspective. This is what users can do while taking things in their own hands. Following this checklist, any user can keep an Android phone updated with safety measures devoid of any security flaws hampering smartphone apps.
#1. Check services and apps connected to app account
It is not surprising to see your Google apps account already hooked up with uncountable number of apps over the years, irrespective of their usefulness. Most apps seem unusable, and hence need to uninstalled, preventing them from use=ing up your phone memory unnecessarily, and compromising on security terms leaving the device vulnerable to outsiders.
You need to check out this security section on your Google account to have a list of authorized parameters that are important from Google’s perspective. If your app turns out to be a winner on all those criteria then you have a reason to celebrate. Just remove the apps that you no longer use to avoid the apps crowding up the mobile real estate.
#2. Get connected devices cleaned when not in use
You might want to transfer things between devices and hence would like to connect devices. However, once the job is done just disconnect them rather than keeping them connect in spite of the fact that the devices have gone from your proximity.
If you are still seeing old devices that you do not use, or which have not connected in years, just remove them. Do not keep them for the sake of keeping it. You can check out the above-mentioned link if you want to know which devices are outdated as of today.
#3. Wipe outdated connections within the Play Store
It is a good practice to do the house cleaning all over, including Google Play Store. Whenever you download or install a new app, you are given a list of devices to select from, which is completely irrelevant. Check out the Settings within the Play Store, and remove the unnecessary ones from Android Device Manager.
To do this, simply uncheck the box besides the device that highlights as “Show in menus”. If you are not able to recognize the device due to some weird cryptographic names, just edit them by renaming with recognizable terms.
#4. Make use of Android Verify Apps by activating it
You may have overlooked this fact, or probably not aware of Android’s capability to monitor the smartphone for any kind of suspicious or harmful activity taking place. To accomplish this, users do not require any kind of third-party plug-ins or add-ons.
Ensure by turning ON “Scan device for security threats” within the Settings app of Google. This will enable the Android Verify Apps system to monitor all those apps installed, and have a constant watch over abnormal happenings taking place. Scanning takes place silently in the background, and will only bother you if anything suspicious takes place.
#5. Do not be over confident with security basics
Keep the habit of checking out with the security basics in terms of password, PIN, or other security parameters. Probably a simple failure could be in terms of your device not secured with inbuilt basic security measures.
#6. Let two-factor authentication provide a tight security
With so many mobile security issues compromised, it would be wise to allow 2-factor security authentication for your mobile phone. Having a single password would not be of any help, as hackers are smarter than ever. With an additional secured code backing the safety password, you can increase the security of your account significantly with the odds of your personal information compromised to unexpected intruders breaking in.
If you do not have 2-factor authentication in place yet, just go to Google’s 2 step authentication. Once these configurations are in place, you will be using Google’s Authenticator app in order to generate one-time user code for your mobile, or a third party alternative app such as Authy.
#7. Keep useful third party apps while eliminating others
Now since you have implemented varied Android security measures, it is time now to check out the third party apps that are useful enough to keep on your smartphone. Imagine a hoard of top rated anti-viruses present on your mobile like Kaspersky, AVG, McAfee, Norton, Avast, and others occupying an unimaginable space and making things slow down.
Your Android OS is constantly seeking out any new threats or vulnerabilities based on the settings you choose. The OS does scan things both on the client side as well as on the server side. In addition, when new apps arrive, it keeps checking them over time. Since your Android platform is remotely tracking things pinging them, and erasing them, there is no antivirus to be installed as such.
This is the state of so many apps around. Your smartphone carries so many apps that might not be useful to you even a bit. Still, they are present within your mobile and you end up complaining about your handset not able to support more data due to lack of storage.
Tweaking your Android phone
Android is the most used OS across the globe with millions of apps present on Google Play Store and another million apps downloaded daily. Whether outdated apps and devices, a hoard of third party apps, or tackling system settings, Android security is a big matter for most users.
It is not necessary that only third party resources can do wonders. Even security measures within Android OS can work great if utilized properly. So, go and get yourself started working on your Android smartphone. Android OS does have many secrets that if explored correctly can help you unimaginably in tackling many things with ease. Next time when you are worrying about the security concerns, just think twice on all the above points discussed, follow them, and see the results yourself.
Images: ”Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – Aug 6, 2015: Android apps updates via Google Play Store on smartphone. Google Play, originally the Android Market, is a digital distribution platform operated by Google /Shutterstock.com“
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