How to secure your Android phone and save your battery

 

How will this help me?

In this blog, I will be telling you about some android settings you need to turn off immediately. Some of these settings will stop you from being tracked and some will preserve your data and battery. Following this advice will also make you more secure and less likely to be hacked or have your phone broken into if physically lost/stolen.

Phones more than ever are a very important part of our lives. Most people will have everything from photos of family, friends, children to banking and financial details. Pretty much everything is done on phones nowadays so you must keep your phone as secure as possible.

If you find it easier to listen to me walk you through this please watch my youtube video on this:

Settings you need to turn off NOW!

Let’s start by turning developer mode on

Settings > about phone > Software information > Build number (tap on this 7 times) > Enter your pin/passcode

After doing this you should receive a message saying “Developer mode has been turned on”

Go back to the main settings page, you should see more options appear.

Carefully select what apps are allowed to run in the background

To do this you will need to have enabled developer mode.

Settings > Developer options > Background check (underneath the apps section)

Go through these and turn anything off that you do not want running in the background. For example Bixby voice. Do not worry about turning too many things off here. You can always come back and turn something back on if it does not work.

Turn off install other apps

This is very important for security, this will block apps from installing other apps from unknown sources. You do not want to end up with ransomware or malware on your phone because you left this setting on.

Settings > Apps > tap 3 dots in the top right hand corner of the screen > special access > install unknown apps > (everything here should be not allowed)

Turn off Nearby Device Scanning

This setting is constantly searching for other phones nearby that it may want to connect to. This setting will drain your battery life. So turning this off is important.

Settings > Connections > More connection settings > Nearby device scanning

Do not give google your info!

Turn off usage and diagnostic information. This information is sent to google and android developers. Turning this off will save battery and data.

Settings > Google > Tap on the 3 dots in the top right hand corner of the screen > Usage and diagnostics > turn off

Stop trying to sell me things you think I want. Even though I do sometimes.

Turning off ad personalization is not a must. But just remember, leaving it on will mean that your phone is sending information about how you use the phone to ad networks. They collect data on you and you only have to talk about wanting a new sofa and suddenly your phone turns into your sofa store, really weird.

Settings > Google > Ads > Opt out of Ads Personalization

You will have to turn this one on to Opt out. As this is automatically on unless your opt out here.

Location, location, location.

These are constantly scanning and will save a ton off battery.

Settings > Location > improve accuracy > Wi-fi scanning and bluetooth scanning (Turn off both)

Why do you want to know where I have been?

If you do not want google to have a long list of everywhere you have been turn this off.

Settings > Location > Location history > Turn this off then click pause in the bottom right hand corner of the screen

Data analytics? I think not.

Turn off network data analytics, you do not need to be sending data to your wireless carrier. Leave my battery alone.

Settings > location > Network Data analytics

Restrict background data for certain apps

This will save you a lot of data and also battery. You do not need bixby routines running in the background and eating your data and battery. For things like whatsapp leave this on as you want to know when you have a message.

Settings > Apps > pick any app… then > restrict background data (select always)

How to strengthen your Android security

Always use locks!

Locks are the most important security feature of any phone. This is a simple tip, but very effective. If your phone is lost or stolen it will take substantial time to unlock. In this time you can block credit cards and bank accounts active on the device and also change passwords etc.

Stay away from easy-to-guess passwords/pins. Newer models have biometric locking, fingerprint scanners, and face scanners, etc. Biometric locks are very secure.

Use a VPN

One of the best ways of keeping your android secure is by using a VPN which is essentially an encrypted internet connection. VPNs create an additional layer of security on top of your internet connection. So having a VPN is a good idea. Stay away from shady providers. Choose a reliable VPN and do your research!

Use two-factor Authentication

If you are not already using 2FA (two-factor authentication) for Google, email, and social media accounts you need to incorporate this immediately. 2FA helps keep your account safe from hackers by notifying you every time anyone tries to access your account. There are authentication apps you can download such as Microsoft authenticator, or you can have a code sent to your mobile number or email address on login.

Only download apps from the official Google Play Store

Do not ever download anything from third-party app stores. This is a quick way to get malware and viruses to enter your phone. Also, avoid using unauthentic apps. Even if these are available in Google App Store. Google algorithms identify and remove them quickly. However, this takes time, so only use apps you are sure are reliable and secure.

Anti-Virus

Using anti-virus software helps resolve your android security issues. Anti-Virus software can help detect malware or a bug hiding on your phone. Google does protect your phone slightly by keeping an eye on malware in the Google play store. The Anti-Virus software will help strengthen your Android security.

Do not use unknown WiFi and Bluetooth connections

Hackers are everywhere. Some set up fake wifi hot spots to steal your data. Be very careful about using unknown Wifi or Bluetooth connections. My advice would be to not use them at all!

Turn on Androids “Find My Device” feature

This built-in feature helps to secure your phone even more. This will help to prevent data loss and find your device if ever lost or stolen.

To do this:

Settings > Google > Security > Find my device > turn on

Update your device as soon as you are prompted

Keep your apps and device up to date. New updates often patch security flaws, address vulnerabilities, and reduce security threats. So keep your smartphone updated regularly.

Conclusion

Android phones can be an easy target for hackers if not properly protected. Phone theft is also very common all over the world. Android phone protection is essential following these steps will help secure your phone. Following all these tips will not only keep your phone secure but will also save your battery life and keep your data private. Keeping your phone updated will also increase performance.

Thank you for reading and I hope this has been useful to you.