The Android OS is full of fun features and apps, but there are also many security features that some people aren’t aware of. These NetQin features allow you to protect your smartphone better than a simple PIN password, and they can help keep both hackers and thieves away from your private information. If you are worried about anyone stealing information from your mobile device, then you should check out these interesting Android security features.
Pattern Lock
The Android OS allows users to select one of two different locks for the lock screen. Most people know about the PIN password. This is a numbers-based password that allows you to input four unique numbers to keep your device safe. A PIN is better than nothing, but many experienced thieves will be able to get through this within a few minutes or hours of persistence.
The other lock is a pattern lock. There are nine nodes, and you drag your finger across the nodes to create a pattern. You can go up, down, left, right or diagonally on all the nodes, and you can select as many nodes as you want. This lock is more secure because there are more pattern combinations, and most thieves don’t know how to get through these locks. This means that there is a better chance of the thief just giving up.
You can access both lock screens in “Location and Security.”
Password Settings
Most Android users store all of their passwords so that it’s easier to sign into websites, but this can be a major security problem if someone steals your device. This means that the thief can easily access your bank account, social network account and other private information. You can keep this from happening by changing the password settings.
Go to the menu labeled, “Settings.” You will be able to change if your passwords are stored in the device, if forms are automatically filled out and other similar options. If you want the best security, then you should set the passwords to never save, and you should keep forms from automatically being filled out.
Turn Off Location Settings
While this can’t solve all of your security problems, browsing the Internet anonymously has many different security benefits. NetQin will make it much easier to go on websites without giving hackers the chance to follow you, and you disable many of the GPS-based attacks that can quickly steal information from your device.
You can do this by going into the “Location and Security” menu. Just turn off the geo-location features to anonymously browse the Internet.
App Locks
Having a PIN or pattern lock over your main screen is great, but what happens when someone guesses the correct password? There are several apps that allow you to place a different PIN or pattern lock over all of your apps. This means that the thief or hacker has to go through the same password screen again, and this can take hours just to crack one app. This feature ensures that the chances of someone stealing your information are radically minimized.
Encryption
The Android OS does have some encryption features, but it doesn’t know what information to encrypt. This means that you can be entering or sending your credit card information over a public network where anyone can see it. This makes it very easy for a hacker to steal your credit card numbers, but there are a few apps that can prevent this very thing from happening.
Encrypting your credit card numbers and other information makes the hacker’s job much harder.
GPS Tracking
If you lose your mobile device, then you are probably wondering where it is. Finding the device can be difficult on your own, but you can utilize a GPS tracking app to do the job for you. This allows you to track your Android device if someone steals it, and most of these NetQin apps give you the ability to wipe all your data so that no one can read your files.
Conclusion
The Android OS is full of many powerful security features and apps that can help keep your device safe from thieves and hackers. Most users don’t know how many options they have, but these are just a few of the many security options available to you with an Android device.