Regardless of whether you own a budget Android smartphone or a high-end device, there are certain settings that you must carefully enable or disable. Negligence in this digital age can lead to unauthorized access to your data, potentially resulting in blackmail or harassment. In this article, we will guide you through 10 important settings that you should adjust on your phone. While some may seem basic, others hold great significance.
These 10 settings are crucial for maintaining your privacy, security, and overall safety:
- Hide lockscreen notifications: While we often use fingerprint or passcode protection on our lockscreen, we may forget to conceal the content of notifications. Failing to do so can allow others to read your personal information or important messages.
- Manage app permissions: Many apps on our smartphones require various permissions for their functionality. However, once their purpose is served, these apps continue to access data due to the granted permissions. It is advisable to pause the permissions of such apps, which can typically be done through the App Permission settings.
- Language preference: Customize the language of your apps to your convenience. Access the App Language settings and choose your preferred language.
- Secure auto-fill with fingerprint lock: When using the auto-fill feature for passwords and sensitive information, ensure it is backed up with a fingerprint lock. This prevents unauthorized access to your accounts through auto-fill. To enable this feature, navigate to your Google account settings and locate the auto-fill option.
- Enable driving mode: Activate driving mode to silence your phone while driving a car or riding a bike, minimizing distractions. This setting utilizes the phone’s sensors to automatically switch to silent or ring mode, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.
- Disable unnecessary app notifications: Avoid unnecessary disruptions by disabling notifications from apps you don’t require constant updates from. This can be done through the notification settings of individual apps. For example, keep important updates from your bank enabled while muting promotional notifications from apps like Swiggy.
- Validate in-app purchases with biometric authentication: To ensure secure payments, enable biometric authentication for in-app purchases. This way, payments can only be made with your permission, providing you with awareness and control. Access this setting through your Google Account settings.
- Regularly review third-party app permissions: Periodically check the access granted to third-party apps and revoke permissions for unused or unnecessary apps. Safeguarding your data requires careful management, which can be done through the Data and Privacy settings in your Google Account.
- Manage personalized ads and location services: Prevent unwanted ads based on your conversations or visited stores by disabling location services. Additionally, uncheck the option to save app activity. Both of these settings can be found in your Google account settings.
- Optimize charging settings: Enable smart charging or adaptive charging to maintain good battery health. Your phone will charge according to an optimized pattern, extending the overall lifespan of your battery.
By adjusting these essential Android settings, you can enhance your privacy, security, and overall smartphone experience.
