With over 2.5 billion active users, Android is the most popular OS in the world. There’s no denying how quickly Android phones have become a part of everyday life. What’s not to like?
You can do practically anything you can imagine! Stay in touch with friends and family, find recipes and restaurants, and make stuff. With that said, there can be a dark side to technology.
There are hackers, scammers, and bad actors in every corner of the internet. Viruses and malware are a part of the fabric of the internet.
Learning how to prevent viruses starts with you. It all comes down to how you choose to protect yourself (and it is a choice).
If it feels fishy it is. You don’t want to fall prey to scammers from poor judgment. First and foremost, use your common sense. If you need to think twice about something, don’t do it.
Many scammers will attempt to bait or phish you. Be on the lookout for odd-looking emails that try to steal your information or money.
Would you like to know how to prevent viruses on your Android devices? Stick around to find out how.
Update Android
Be sure to update your Android devices regularly. Whenever there is a system update, click okay and let the phone do its thing.
When you update to the latest version of Android, you are keeping up with security and bugs. You will be prompted to update every so often. You could also check for updates in your system settings.
Install Apps From the Play Store
When learning how to prevent viruses on your Android phone, one thing we’ll advise is to only install apps from the Google Play Store. Depending on where you look, there will be apps available elsewhere.
When you do so, you run the risk of harming your smartphone. These sideloaded files could contain malicious files that could steal your data. Stick to the Google Play Store to find everything you need.
Apps You Know
In addition to downloading apps from the Play Store, you only want to install apps you’re aware of.
Before you download anything, run some research on the app. Check reviews too. Don’t download anything below a rating of 4.
Update Apps
It is in your best interest to update your apps too. Over time these apps will require updates. Otherwise, you will experience bugs or viruses.
To update, just head to the Play Store and go to the hamburger menu. You can choose to update the apps you want or just tap update all.
Restrict Downloads With a Password
Do you have kids who you let borrow your phone from time to time? When you get your phone back, you may find some apps that weren’t there before. Some of these apps may contain viruses!
What you can do is set a restriction for your downloads with a password. Your child won’t be able to download anything with the potential to harm your device.
App Permissions
Every time you download an app you’ll be prompted with its permissions. Unfortunately, the apps you download aren’t as safe as they might appear at first glance. Some app developers or hackers don’t have your best interest at heart.
You don’t need to accept these permissions if you don’t want to. Before you put an app on your phone, be sure to think twice if the permissions seem okay to you. If forever reason you’re uncomfortable, keep searching for what feels right.
Any apps where you don’t agree with their permissions can be deleted from your device. This is how to prevent viruses.
2FA
When learning how to prevent viruses, you’ll hear many people suggest turning on 2FA (2-factor authentication). Think of it as an extra layer of protection against the bad guys.
The way it works is via an app, text, or e-mail. When you want to perform an action like logging into your bank account, you’ll need to do a secondary action following.
You’ll get a code to enter that will only work for a set amount of time.
Antivirus App
Sometimes you’ll just want to scan the entire phone to see if any bugs are on it. An easy way to do this is with an antivirus app.
Just like on your personal computer, you can clean your phone internally. Hit “run” on the antivirus app and let it do its thing.
Be on the Lookout
Check to see if there’s any funny business going on with your apps or your account. For example, check your Google account to see if you’ve been phished. Your Drive may have scammers inside already.
If this is the case, contact Google immediately. We also encourage you to change your passwords frequently.
Now You Know How to Prevent Viruses
Just like you, your phone wants to stay healthy. You will need to give your phone a checkup. As you learn how to prevent viruses from entering your smartphone, you’ll be that much wiser as a user.
Sometimes, the job is too big to handle individually. The good news is that we’re here to help.
At Fruit Fixed, we fix it all from cracks to internal issues. You shouldn’t have to live like that. Our phones have become an integral part of our lives and you deserve the very best.
Are you experiencing Android problems? Could your phone use a repair? Start a repair today and you’ll have your phone back healthy in no time!
