Android Phone Security 2022: how to prepare your phone in case of theft

Walking around the city leaves you vulnerable to pickpockets, and the last thing you want is for your Android smartphone to be stolen because it contains all your personal data.

Fortunately, you can prepare your smartphone in case of theft or loss. While there’s not much you can do once your phone is gone, taking the time to prepare for an unfortunate situation can hurt you less.

Set up your phone’s screen lock

First, you need to set up some form of screen lock on your Android phone. Some methods are more secure than others, but you should select one to have a minimum level of security, according to How to Geek.

On Android, your best option will be the fingerprint scanner. It’s not as secure as the iPhone’s Face ID, but it’s better than nothing.

Also read: Google Android security report: Installs of ‘potentially dangerous apps’ on Google Play doubled in 2018

The fingerprint can only be used with another less secure method as an alternative. Even if you use the fingerprint scanner, someone stealing your Android phone doesn’t have to.

The important thing here is to have a deterrent in use. Sometimes the smallest barrier is enough to discourage someone and see them as a problem.

Make sure Find My Device is working

The best way to find a stolen or lost phone is Google’s Find My Device feature. This is added to all Android smartphones that come with the Google Play Store. You don’t have to do anything to turn it on, but you do need to make sure it’s working, according to Computer World.

You should verify that Find My Device is working properly by visiting the website and ensuring that the device appears. You can also check your devices from the Android app.

Create a backup of your data

One of the most important things you can do is back up everything you don’t want to lose. It’s always a good idea to pretend that important data is going to disappear one day, so always create backups, according to ZDNet.

Photos and videos are the things most people don’t want to lose. The Google Photos cloud backup feature is a great way to back up your photos and videos. It’s a feature you can turn on and leave alone.

For other file types, there are plenty of great cloud storage services you can use. Google Drive is a great choice, but if you don’t like Google’s ecosystem, there are plenty of alternatives. The important thing is to choose a method and use it. Losing your videos, photos and other things is a terrible feeling.

Create another line of defense

One of the best solutions for this is the Secure Folder feature. This is a password protected space where you can put photos, videos, files and other stuff. You can also place apps in the Secure Folder.

If you don’t have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you have other options. For images and videos, the Google Photos Locked Folder is very easy to use, but it relies on the same security method as your lock screen. You can also hide apps.

Related article: Attention Android users! New PhoneSpy malware steals sensitive information and uninstalls security apps

This article belongs to Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster