Whether you mainly use a laptop, tablet, or phone, cybersecurity is an important factor to consider. There’s a never-ending list of things you need to be thinking of from safe browsing and gaming to scammers and fraudsters.
If you’re looking to up your security game, here are some of the steps you need to take.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN protects your internet connection and privacy while you’re online. Whether you’re shopping on a browser or using a social media app, having an extra security layer can protect you from threats.
Looking for a VPN for your Android phone or another device? It can give you the peace of mind you need, especially when entering personal or bank details.
You need encryption because we share emails with sensitive data, social media passwords, and credit card numbers.
Antivirus software
No matter how safe and secure you think your Android might be, there are always risks. Hackers and scammers are cleverer than ever. Having extra protection in place can only help.
Unfortunately, dodgy apps do sometimes make their way onto the Play Store, no matter how fast Google might be. If you download something malicious, having antivirus software in place can protect you until you uninstall it.
Apps riddled with malware have posed as cheats for popular games on the Google Play store. They somehow managed to avoid detection by Google’s Bouncer technology. By having antivirus software in place, you’ll create an additional layer of security.
Safe browsing
This is a great starting point when becoming more cyber-aware. Did you know that you can activate Enhanced Safe Browsing mode on Google Chrome?
Open the Chrome app on your Android device and hit the three vertical dots in the top right. From the drop-down, tap settings. Select the privacy and security option and head to the safe browsing section. You can then select the level of protection you wish to make use of.
The enhanced option gives you protection against websites, downloads, and extensions that could be a threat.
App permissions
When you download an app for the first time, it’ll likely ask you to approve certain permissions. These may be giving access to the internet or certain personal information. You should avoid granting any app permissions that aren’t necessary for it to work. If the app wouldn’t normally use your camera or location, don’t permit it to have it.
Unsure what permissions you’ve given your existing apps? Take the time to explore each one and revoke any unnecessary permissions as soon as possible.
