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5 Important Security Tests to Protect Your Android Phone and Prevent Hacking.

Our daily lives revolve around our smartphones, which are not only prone to theft or loss, but also face various security risks. These risks have become easier to encounter, as they can be found in emails, malicious websites, or even WhatsApp messages. However, there are many ways to protect your phone from hacking, with a focus on apps that are a crucial part of mobile phones and can often pose security risks. Here are the tests you can perform to secure your phone:
Checking All Apps Connected to Your Account
There are thousands of apps in the Google Play Store, and often we download certain apps to perform specific tasks and then delete them when no longer needed. Many of these apps require registration through a Google account, leading to numerous apps still connected to your account even if you no longer use them. While this may not pose a major threat to your phone, it’s advisable to delete any unused apps.
You can easily remove apps from your account by visiting this page in your Google security settings. Here, you can view the list of apps with access to your account. If you find apps you don’t recognize or no longer use, simply click on the app and choose “Remove Access” in blue.
Read also: How to Know If Your Smartphone Has Been Hacked?
Checking App Permissions on Your Phone
During the installation of any app on your Android phone, the app may request various permissions to function properly. However, apps often ask for unnecessary permissions, such as location access, contact access, and media access. It’s important to regularly check app permissions to ensure unnecessary permissions are not granted.
To access permissions settings, go to the settings app on your Android phone and choose “Apps & Notifications,” then “Advanced Settings,” then “App Permissions.” Alternatively, go to settings, choose “Apps,” click on the three dots, and select “App Permissions.” Here, you can control various app permissions and access.
Using the App Scanner Feature
Android phones have a built-in feature to scan apps and ensure no malicious or unwanted programs are on the phone. You can use this feature without installing any third-party apps. Access it through settings or the Google Play app. Open the Play Store app, click on the three lines at the top right, choose “My Apps & Games,” then the “Updates” tab where you’ll find the app scanning option. If the phone is secure, it will show “No issues found” and the last scan date. Click the arrow to scan apps and check which ones have been verified.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to Finding or Preventing Lost Phones in the Future
Checking Background Apps
Background apps can cause your phone’s performance to slow down and drain its resources, including RAM and battery. They may also pose security risks and sometimes cost you money. One example is the Joker app, which was a security threat to phones. You can close background apps using a task manager app on Android, or use the built-in task manager app on your phone.
You can also check how much memory and resources apps consume by activating developer options. Go to the settings app, click on “About Phone,” and find the build number or version number. Tap it multiple times quickly until you see a message confirming developer options are enabled. Go back to settings, click on “Developer options,” or “Advanced Settings,” then “Developer options,” and select “Running Services” to see which apps are running in the background and consuming RAM.
Downloading a Fake Virus to Test the Security App
If your phone has a security or antivirus app, it’s good to perform a simple test to ensure it’s functioning properly. Download the F-Secure AV Test app, which uses a test file for antivirus programs. This app was developed by the European Institute for Computer Virus Research and Testing. When you download this app, it should be flagged as a serious virus by antivirus programs, but it is actually a fake virus for testing purposes. If your phone has the built-in app scanning feature in the Play Store (previous step), it will warn you when downloading the app, indicating that it’s unsafe.