In the wake of Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, Android users have become increasingly concerned about their privacy. A typical Android smartphone contains a plethora of information about the user, including his or her name, location, contacts, internet browsing history, app usage and more. Unfortunately, some companies collect and sell this information to other businesses, raising privacy concerns for users. There are ways to protect your privacy when using an Android smartphone, however, including the five tips listed here.
#1) Review App Permissions
When you install a new app on your Android smartphone, review its permissions to see what data it collects. If it collects unnecessary data like your photos and text messages, you should considering removing it. Only install apps that collect basic information.
#2) Disable Location Tracking
Another privacy protection tip for Android is to disable location tracking. The Android experts at Greenbot explain that Google automatically tracks Android users’ location, creating a detailed log of every place the user has visited. To disable this feature, tap Settings > Personal > Location and tap the slider button at the top.
#3) Lock Your Smartphone
Statistics show that more than one-third of Android users don’t lock their device. If your smartphone isn’t locked, your personal information could be stolen if you lose your device. A simple solution is to lock your device’s screen with a PIN. This is done by tapping Settings > Security > Screen Lock. Even if your device is lost or stolen, your personal information will remain protected.
#4) Update Android
Make sure your smartphone is running the latest version of Google’s Android operating system. Most devices update automatically, but some require manual action. To see if there’s a new version of Android available, tap Settings > About Phone > System Update. Try to get into the habit of checking for new updates at least once every other week.
#5) Disable App Syncing
Finally, consider disabling app syncing on your Android smartphones. Certain apps, especially photo and media apps, automatically sync data to the cloud. In doing so, it transfers your personal information to the internet where identity thieves may attempt to retrieve it.
More than 60 million Americans are the victim of identity theft in any given year. You can protect yourself from this criminal activity, however, by making a few simple changes to your Android device.
