Not all of them are vigilante cops, trust us.
Hollywood movies have often portrayed hackers either as handsome, white dudes who are superheroes behind the computer, or as extremely edgy and sinister individuals looking to seek vengeance on quite literally everyone. Hackers have been noticeable in films even in the early 60s and 70s, from the legendary “The Italian Job” to the sci-fi classic “Tron”.
In the real world, hackers have likewise gained worldwide prominence even without the Hollywood glitz and glamour that we´ve come to accustom. Some became white-hat hackers who wish to serve justice through the Internet, but others have made it their life´s purpose to become 21st century cyber-marauders, defrauding people and using their private data for their own benefit.
This is where us regular people come in. Since we live in a world where all our confidential data is at risk of being compromised, we have compiled a comprehensive how-to guide for loyal Android users to make sure private files do not ever get obtained by the wrong folks.
How To Tip 1: Hide your Most Sensitive Data
They say an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
If you want to start keeping your personal information private, you would want to start doing the little things…. And one of those is making the tiniest effort to keep your confidential files invisible. Keep your photo albums secure and bank account information locked tight, and turn off location services so no potential hacker can track where you are. It's simple, but it's essential.
How To Tip 2: Manage your App Permissions
More often than not, we never manage our app permissions because we aren't too aware of the consequences that come with the feature.
By developing the habit of granting permission to every app you download, you are essentially giving access to your location, microphone, camera, and contact information away to third-party applications and leaving yourself vulnerable to hackers. We suggest you limit app permissions to apps that you use the most often, and leave everything else private.
How To Tip 3: Download Apps Only from the Google Play Store
A slick way for cyber-criminals to gain access to phone data is through malware in third-party apps, specifically after users enter their email addresses and set up their accounts.
If you want to be out of the danger zone, make sure you only download apps exclusively from the Google Play Store. While it is not 100% safe, it at least has a much higher security requirement compared to other platforms.
Extra tip: It's also useful to read reviews of each app you're downloading. It always pays to do a little research, after all.
How To Tip 4: Be Smart With Your Passwords!
Pick a password so unique even Robert Langdon won't be able to decode it.
This may be an overstatement, but we strongly encourage you to pick a password that cannot be easily compromised. If you have a password like “1234” or “iloveyou” for every account you have, don´t be too surprised if your personal data gets hacked at some point.
We likewise recommend using different passwords for different apps, and utilizing secure password managers to reinforce your data privacy.
How To Tip 5: Delete Unwanted Apps
There are days when we just scroll through the Google Play Store and come across a few apps that pique our interest. Plot twist: most of us never actually use them more than once, but they continue to be there on our phones anyway.
Since most third-party apps are considered gateways to our personal security, make sure you constantly check your Android for apps you don't use. Simply go through your phone once in a while, and get rid of apps that you never use anymore.
Key Takeaway: Always be a Step Ahead
Sadly, there is still no singular app or device that blocks the best cyber-thieves from our Android phones.
These 5 essential how-to tips will definitely help you on the right track with data security, because it always pays to be a few steps ahead of your enemies. If you wish to go to the next level, we recommend downloading the Keepsafe Photo Vault to make sure your personal photos and videos are secure. The application has helped over 75 million users through its private photo library, complete with a variety of encryption passcodes and touch ID features.
Do you want to begin your quest for digital privacy today?