3 quick tips to keep your data safe
Today is Data Protection Day: an initiative that was once started by the EU and is now receiving worldwide attention. Every year on January 28, it is time to reflect on the security of your data and especially your right to privacy. With these 3 quick steps you can guard your privacy on your Android device.
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Check what apps are allowed from you
If you just want to use an app, you are often too curious and agree to everything. Although that is not smart, that is what many people do in practice. Fortunately, the permissions you give the app are not fixed forever. You can go to Settings > Privacy on your phone. There you will find exactly which apps have been given which permissions in the Privacy Dashboard, so that you can make adjustments and give apps less access. Location in particular is always a tricky issue: many apps want to know your location, without really doing much with it.
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Use difficult passwords
Passwords like Schram123 (or your pet’s name) and PINs like 0512 (or your own birthday) may be easy to remember, but they’re also easy to guess. Rather use a password manager, although that may be less attractive since LastPass’ security vulnerabilities last year. Either way, whether you save it or not, use a different password for every account you have, make sure it’s nice and long, and preferably wordless. For example, think of a sentence and remove the vowels to make a password that is much harder to guess and to ensure your privacy.
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Enable two-step verification
Another important technology to use to ensure your privacy is two-step verification. If, for whatever reason, someone does find out your password, for example due to a data breach, a second step is always necessary, which often has to do with something personal about you. For example, a text message is sent to your phone or you have to scan your fingerprint to prove that it is really you who is trying to log in. Does it slow down the login process? Yes, but it’s a matter of seconds.
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You probably already know all this, but prevention is better than cure. Certainly checking which permissions apps have – but perhaps also whether you still use those apps at all and want them on your phone – is something that you should repeat regularly. Happy Data Protection Day!
