12 Ways To Protect Android/ Tablet Devices From Malware Infection

omnipresent issue. Viruses, Trojans, rootkits,
spyware, keyloggers and several others of the
like continue to assault your computing
devices all the time, looking for vulnerabilities
and loopholes in your defenses to get
through. Generally, users have become aware
enough to deploy some form of protection on
their desktops and notebooks, and while
infections continue to plague the computing
world, they’re significantly reduced in impact.
Smartphones today are nothing short of
portable computers as well, and just like that,
are prone to malware attacks. Hard as it
may seem to believe, developers do spend
time creating Smartphone malware that
would let them access your personal
information, exploit personal data and
otherwise do damage to your device. Android
Device is a fast growing mobile platform with
apps exceeding 600,000 in the Google Play
Store, and believe me when I tell you that an
assessment puts over 100,000 of them as
“questionable”. While most users don’t pay
much attention to it, it’s imperative that you
secure your Android smartphone or tablet
against the growing threat of mobile
malware. They say prevention is better than
cure, and in this post, we’ll provide some
basic pointers on how to achieve that.
Ways to Keep your Android/
Tablet Device Secure
There are easy ways to reduce the risk of
infection in your Android. Most of these ways
are simply common sense. Developers and
specific cell phone manufacturers do
encourage their customers to use the proper
download applications and widgets.

1. Download Only From Official Stores

When downloading apps, prefer the well-
reputed channels, mainly Google Play Store
and the Amazon App Store. Google
implements a rudimentary “bouncer” to ward
off malware, and the rest is taken care of by
the very-active Android user community.
Hence, these two sources are your most
reliable ones.
Shelaf.com

2. Keep Installation of Apps from
Unknown Sources at “Off”

Unless you’re a power user, it’s highly
advisable to keep installation of apps from
Unknown Sources at “off” in the device’s
settings. This will help ensure that nothing
enters the system except through official
channels.
Shelaf.com

3. Rooted Devices are More
Susceptible

Most advanced users choose to root their
android devices, be extra cautious about
granting Superuser access to any app. Make
sure you understand the purpose of the SU
access, and trust the developer enough to
grant it. This is the highest level of access
that anyone (or anything) can have on your
Android device, so be really careful with this
one.
Shelaf.com

4. Install an Antivirus/Security App
on Your Android Smartphone

A lot of capable contenders are available in
the Google Play Store for that purpose, with
more notable ones being Avast! Free Mobile
Security, Lookout Mobile Security, AVG Mobile
Security, Kapersky and Norton Mobile
Security, just to name a few. There is a
different feature-set offered by each, so you
have room to weigh your options carefully
before making a decision to go with one.
shelaf.com

5. It is Important to Read App
reviews and See ratings before
downloading

Read app reviews and see ratings before you
choose to download anything. If it’s
something from a renowned developer, you’re
less likely to run into trouble as opposed to
an app with hardly any downloads and just
2-3 reviews. As a rule of thumb, I don’t prefer
apps with a rating of less than at least 3
stars.
Shelaf.c

6. Examine the Permissions that an
App is Asking For, During
Installation

Carefully examine the permissions that an
app is asking for, and use your own judgment
to decide whether you want that app or not.
E.g A puzzle game asking to access your
contacts and phone app is never really a
good idea, and neither is a torch app seeking
internet permission. Discard apps that seem
shady – they’re usually not worth risking
personal information over.
Shelaf.com

7. Keep Your Phone Locked Always
While not strictly a malware protection measure

it’s still a good idea to keep your
phone locked for security. Someone else
gaining access to your device might be able
to install undesired software before you
reclaim access, and hence, causing you to
remain unaware of the whole deal until it’s
too late. Likewise, a remote wipe app should
also be there, should you ever encounter a
scenario where normal access to the device
gets blocked by the malware infection.
Shelaf.com

8. Never access links embedded in
mass-broadcast messages/emails on your phone.

You never know what’s hidden underneath a
URL, and it’s harder to check that on a
Smartphone as opposed to a traditional
computer. Phishing scams thrive under
unrestricted access through your web
browser.

9. Beware of Fake Apps Even on Play Store

On the Play Store, there are loads of fake
apps designed with the intention of infecting
your device and stealing your private
information. Some apps are designed only to
push ads to your Smartphone. As a matter of
fact, most popular apps often have similar
ones that are actually fakes. You should be
careful with these sorts of apps.

10. Avoid Pirated Apps

If you love cracks and pirated apps, your
device may become infected without you even
knowing it. Pirated apps most often carry
Malware strands. Besides, you’re not helping
the developers who work hard trying to
create these games and apps. Saving $0.99
isn’t worth it, really.

11. Porn is the Most Efficient Source
of Malware Delivery

I’m in no position to judge you or tell you
what to do with your device but it has been
proven that pornographic sites are the most
efficient when it comes to infecting your
device with malwares. Well, you know what
to do… be careful with sites you visit.

12. Stay Updated

Be on your toes so far as updates are
concerned. This is one way in which
manufacturers and carriers ensure that you
remain protected from Malware attacks.
These updates can include enhancements,
bug fixes, new features each of which are
designed to keep your system in tune with
the right way to tackle the malicious attacks.
Apart from updating your apps, be sure your
device operating system is also up-to-date.
Conclusion

Following the above steps will help you
ensure that your device remains secure, safe
from malware, and most importantly,
exclusively yours. Do you have a tip that we
should’ve included here and missed? Drop us
a comment below.