The smartphone has become an important part of our lives and is one gadget that many of us carry most of the time. We not only use it to communicate with others, but to store personal information like email, photos, and contacts, as well. So if you plan to sell your phone or give it to someone else, make sure you erase everything that’s stored there.

1. Encrypt your Android phone

Ensure that strangers don’t have access to your private data by encrypting it to make it unreadable. Newer phones usually encrypt data by default. But if you’re unsure about yours,  double-check to avoid regrets later.

Go to Settings in your phone and search for Encryption. Where you’ll find that depends on the phone you’re using, but it should be easy to locate. Once there, you’ll see whether your device is encrypted or not. If it’s the latter, start the encryption process. This normally takes an hour or more, and you can’t use your device during that time.

2. Remove the SIM and storage cards

Now that your data is encrypted, remove your SIM card and external memory card. Both are linked to your identity and contain sensitive information so don’t let them out of your sight. 

3. Perform a factory reset

You can now start the actual data wiping process. Under Settings, look for Backup & Reset and go to Factory Data Reset. This is where you can remove data and accounts from your phone. You will be asked to verify your fingerprint, or input your password, pattern, or PIN before starting the process.

4. Sever ties to specific websites

The final step is to manually remove your old device from Google and other websites it is associated with. Go to the concerned sites, choose your device, and remove it from the list of Trusted Devices. Don’t forget your password manager and multi-device authentication apps; sign in to those and close any connections there as well.

As long as you follow these four easy steps, you can safely get rid of your old mobile phone. For those who are still worried about their data, give us a call. We’ll protect your files from prying eyes and give you valuable tips to secure your Android device.

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The Android operating system is open source, which makes customization and app development easy. The problem is that cybercriminals can also access Android’s programming code, find vulnerabilities, and distribute malware through app stores. Here are some things you must do to avoid an infection.

Confirm the malware infection

Android devices usually exhibit strange behaviors when they’re infected with malware. A device may suddenly slow to a crawl or the battery may drain faster than expected. Other telltale signs include an abundance of pop-up ads, unusual apps installed on your home screen, unexplained data usage, and unauthorized in-app purchases.

However, it’s not always easy to tell if your device was compromised, especially since hackers are becoming more proficient at concealing their actions. The best way to check for malware is to run an antivirus scan with a mobile security solution.

How to get rid of malware

If malware has infected your device, the most important thing to do is quarantine the threat as soon as possible. Start by rebooting your device in safe mode, which can be selected when you hold down the power button. Not all versions of Android are the same though, so if this isn’t an option, try restarting your device and holding the volume-down button when the manufacturer’s logo appears.

Once you’ve entered safe mode, go to Settings, then Apps, and uninstall any suspicious apps. A quick Google search or a conversation with your cybersecurity technician should help you determine whether or not an app is dangerous.

If you can’t uninstall the software, it might have administrative privileges. To fix this, open the Advanced settings menu from the Settings app, then select Security, then Device administrators, remove any app that shouldn’t have privileged access, and return to the Apps menu to uninstall it. Mobile security software should also be able to remove malicious programs hiding in your device.

If the malware persists, you’ll have to do a factory reset. This option is usually located in the Backup & reset configurations within the Advanced settings menu. Keep in mind that you’ll lose the apps and files stored in your device, so it’s important to back up your data beforehand.

Protecting your device from malware

After you’ve successfully recovered from a mobile malware infection, make sure to update your device and security software to prevent another infection. Enabling Google Play Protect from within the app store also safeguards your device from rogue apps.

When all is said and done, the best defense is to develop good security habits. Be cautious of everything you see online. Make sure to thoroughly vet apps before downloading them and don’t click on links from unsolicited texts and emails. Also, avoid public Wi-Fi networks or, at the very least, use a virtual private network (VPN) to secure the connection.

Malware attacks can be devastating to your bottom line, but these tips should mitigate the risks. If you want to learn more about how you can safeguard your Android devices, our experts are always willing to assist you. Contact us today.

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