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Jack Wallen takes one more opportunity to remind Android device owners to use those phones with great caution, otherwise they could become victims of malware.
“data-credit =” Image: Google “rel =” noopener noreferrer nofollow “> Image: Google
The year 2020 is coming to an end. In fact, this is the last piece I’ll write for TechRepublic this year, and wow, it’s been an amazing year. Don’t worry, I’m not about to go to the train wreck of the last 365 days. Instead, I want to offer a final reminder for the year. I bring this reminder from time to time to serve as a warning to help Android users better understand a truth that they need to understand.
That truth centers on the security of your mobile device. No matter how many times I pull out this “old but good”, Android users continue to ignore best practices, only to fall victim to a malware or ransomware attack on their mobile devices.
It does not have to be this way.
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Google Play Protect is part of the problem
Google Play Protect gives users a false sense of security. Play Protect is supposed to protect devices from software installation containing malware. For the most part, it does a good job.
Read that sentence again. It should say: “Play Protect does a great job of preventing malware from finding its way onto your devices.” Unfortunately this is not the case.
In fact, Play Protect hasn’t prevented malicious software from being uploaded to the Play Store and then installed on devices around the world. Anyone who ignores security, assuming they are protected, lives under a false equivalence.
Everyone, say it with me: “Google Play Protect is not guaranteed protection.” It’s as simple as that. The problem is even deeper, because the anti-malware tools found on the Google Play Store aren’t much better. What should an Android user do? You certainly can’t always count on that Protected by Play Protect badge when you install apps (Figure a).
Figure a
“data-credit =” “rel =” noopener noreferrer nofollow “> Play Protect protects this device, doesn’t it?
I am not saying that Google evades its obligations to protect users. In fact, Google does a pretty good job of security. However, Google faces almost impossible odds every day. As with banks, hackers are always thinking of new ways to steal data. This puts companies like Google on the defensive and being in that position is never good. Reactive security cannot guarantee protection. Therefore, nobody’s device will be 100% safe, unless it is turned off. However, the average human cannot function with their phones off.
How to be protected
What can you do? Follow this list of tips I’ve given over the years:
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Never install software from outside of Google Play Protect.
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Install only the applications that should use.
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Don’t download apps. Period. Never.
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Don’t install apps without descriptions.
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Don’t install apps with few reviews.
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Before installing an application, consult the developer (information is in the Developer Contact section). Look them up: If you can’t find information about them, avoid the app.
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Before installing an app, do a Google search to see if there are any known issues.
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Install only apps from known entities (like Google, Amazon, Spotify, etc.).
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If you have the option to buy an app or use a free app with ads, always choose the purchase option, as ads are one of the most popular ways to inject malware into a device.
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Avoid apps with poor English titles or descriptions. Apps on Google Play that contain malware have titles like (and these are legitimate apps that have been found malicious): Cream Trip, Crush Car, Desert Against, Find 5 Differences, Find Hidden, Iron It, Jump Jump, Money Destroyer, Rolling Scroll, Shoot Them, Shooting Run, and Sway Man.
That may seem like a pretty long list of things to consider when installing apps on your Android device. Think of it this way: the more precautions you take, the less likely you are to have to deal with malicious software that steals your data or withholds the ransom of your phone. Although the above list is not a guarantee, it will go a long way in enhancing the immediate security experience found on Android.
On top of that, if you approach mobile, and even desktop security, in such a way that keep in mind that it is Yes but when, you will be much more inclined to use a healthy dose of caution.
Hopefully, 2021 will be the bearer of a lot of good news for everyone, but when it comes to the security of your Android device, don’t think that because 2020 is now in your rearview mirror, you are safe. Without much caution, you may end up falling victim to malware.
Be safe, so you don’t have to regret it.
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