Choosing to use an Android device has always been, in a sense, a riskier choice. This is because when you go for the open Android environment, you’re eschewing a company like Apple’s secure but closed off ecosystem. You’re getting a lot in return for that trade-off – in particular, the ability to use your phone in whatever way suits you. However, it does mean you need to take special care.
There are certain security apps that you absolutely have to have on all your Android devices. Make sure you download the following before you go on risking all your data.
ExpressVPN (or a good alternative)
The first app you need is ExpressVPN. It is considered by many to be the best VPN app for Android. Of course, there are competitors which serve the same purpose and may appeal more to you for one or another reason. Whichever you get, make sure it has excellent expert reviews and good Android functionality.
A VPN is necessary to keep your data away from hackers. When you use the internet on your phone or any other device, you’re putting your most private information in danger. A VPN hides your location and encrypts your data, keeping it from being stolen and used by intruders.
ExpressVPN is available for just over $8 per month. Alternatively, you can get the very creditable NordVPN for just $2.99 per month.
1Password
No matter how good your security software is, human carelessness accounts for some of the biggest threats. This is no more evident than with password habits. It is very difficult to create secure passwords and almost impossible to remember them all. Most people hardly seem to be trying, considering that “password” is still one of the most common passwords today.
1Password and other password managers make it easy for you to create and keep as many passwords as you need. The traditional requirements placed by certain sites don’t actually do much, but 1Password will create passwords that are actually secure. You never have to remember them or even know what they are, as long as you know the one password that keeps them all safe.
Kaspersky Antivirus
Finally, antivirus software is still as necessary as ever, with complex viruses being created every day. Viruses come in many different forms, and sometimes it is simple human error that allows them in. For example, you may click on a link you normally would avoid because you’re just not paying attention or are in a rush.
A good antivirus doesn’t just test your device and your emails for viruses but prevents you from making careless mistakes. It works almost as a personal bodyguard, except it is guarding you from yourself.
Kaspersky is one of the oldest names, but it is still one of the best. We tend to feel biased against older software companies, because of how we remember them from a decade or two ago. This is true for antivirus software which no longer slows down your phone or causes more issues than it solves.