In terms of security and enterprise support, Android is no match for BlackBerry. Still, Android devices are pretty safe. Here are some tips to help you protect your device, privacy, and data.
Password Protection
Android provides screen lock protection using a number password or pattern before using the device. Although Android devices don’t currently encrypt files or data, this feature also protects your data from snooping or stealing your phone. However, users also have the hassle of having to enter a password or pattern every time they use the device or the screen goes dark and locks.
If you find it too time-consuming or annoying, try Unlock With WiFi. At the very least, you’ll save yourself the trouble of constantly entering your password or pattern while connected to Wi-Fi in a safe place, like your home or work, where there’s usually no risk of your phone being stolen.
If you have a corporate Exchange email account on your phone, your company’s security regulations will force you to use screen lock protection. In other words, you won’t be able to use apps like Unlock with WiFi.
If protecting your entire phone is too much, you can also protect individual apps (Email, Calendar, Settings, Market, etc.) via third-party apps. Here are two apps that provide this individual protection.
VPNs
VPNs are one of the most used solutions of all time. There are many VPNs. You can find both Android and iOS VPN apps on the Google Play store as well as the Apple store. VPNs help in maintaining the security of your device by masking its IP address and making your id anonymous.
Application Protection
This app allows users to protect individual apps unlimitedly using any number password or pattern supported by the Android system. It may seem a bit simplistic, but you can set whether to always require a password/pattern, unlock individual apps until the phone is locked again, or unlock all protected apps until the phone is locked again.
Users can enter their e-mail addresses and receive a message with the correct password when someone fails to enter their password more than 10 times. This feature is useful when someone secretly tries to unlock your phone or forgets the passcode on their own.
Smart App Protector
This app also supports number passwords (8 digits) or patterns. The free version allows users to protect up to five apps in addition to the Market and Package Installer apps. Also, the free version does not provide a function to unlock all protected apps when a password/pattern is entered for one app. However, you won’t have to re-enter the password/pattern for the same app for a period of time or until the phone is locked.
The user can set the password/pattern not to be entered for a certain period of time if the password/pattern input failure exceeds a certain number of times. Users can set the background of the app lock screen as desired. Users can set a time limit to activate the protection function.