Try These Settings to Ensure Android is Protecting Your Privacy

Our smartphones have become mini personal computers, which enables us to enjoy the convenience and have fun, but there is a price for all that computing power. When you combine a constant connection to the Internet and an apathetic mindset towards online security, your private moments could no longer be secret. Luckily, Android has some security settings you should know about to remain safe and secure.

We’re going to cover some of the standard internal Android settings you can activate to keep your device safe, but first – how do you also keep online data leaving your device secure? Using a VPN such as dfndr vpn, can ensure that anytime you access the Internet, your activities are encrypted until it reaches its final destination. Personal VPN solutions prevent snoops from seeing your IP, even your ISP won’t be able to track what you’re viewing whether it’s “meme of the day” or your private bank account information.

Read More: If Your Phone is Lost or Stolen, Here’s What You Do

Now let’s look at three Android settings that can keep your phone even more locked down.

Securing From the Get-Go
One of the most straightforward Android settings that’s often  overlooked is merely enabling the screen lock functionality. Found under the ‘Security and Location’ tab in your smartphone, you can enable a PIN, pattern, or passcode that’s required when waking the device. The first line of defense against an intruder accessing your phone is easy to implement and many manufacturers are making the ability more convenient with fingerprint or facial identification.

Go Ahead, Encrypt That Data
If you’re ready to take the next step, it’s essential that you enable the ‘Encrypt Phone’ function found under the ‘Security and Locations’ tab on your device. While a passcode will keep the casual thief at bay, your data is not entirely protected if someone attempts to connect your phone to a computer and access the information. Turning on the encryption function means that every private moment and piece of information on your phone is locked down until you enter a passcode. It’s worth noting that some older phones decrease in performance when the feature is enabled, so if yours is a few years old, this might be a hindrance rather than an advantage.

Don’t Let Data Slip Out
Securing your device could be a waste if the information you’re securing merely appears on the lock screen, which is easily seen by a thief. If you don’t want your private messages or other notifications displayed use the ‘Hide Sensitive Notification Content’ option under the ‘Sound and Notifications’ tab. By activating this setting, your lock screen will show notifications from specific applications, but won’t show the content until your phone is unlocked.

Use these handy settings to ensure you’re the only one to see what’s on your phone.