RVers are enamored with portable devices, and Android phones
and tablets are finding their way into more and more rigs every day.
Unfortunately, the popularity of Android devices has begun to make them a
target of the bad guys – not just the ones who'd like to steal you device, but
those who'd hijack it through malware.
Just as we all had to learn to protect our PCs, now we need
to learn to protect our Androids. Here are tips to keep the malware away.
First, stay away from suspicious Web sites. Professionals
continue to warn that if you visit a porn site, you'll likely come away with
the Android equivalent of an STD.
Next, if you're looking for Apps for your Droid, get them
from reliable sites like the Google
Play Store or from your device manufacturer's recommended sites. Third-party
App providers are often plagued with malware.
When you're considering downloading a new App, look before
you download. How many other people have downloaded the program? What kind of
comments do they make about it? What permissions does the program ask for? One
on-line group warns, "Why should game, for example, need to send a
text?" Look closely at what the App developer says about what permissions
are required, and if there's no comment on what are required, DON'T download
the App.
Keep up with the latest Android version where your device
allows it. Where many malware programs get you is in sending out premium SMS
messages. Android version 4.2 tells you if your Droid is trying to send an SMS
that run up your bill. It also provides an option to "Verify Apps,"
that screens Apps and warns you of harm – before they're installed on your
device.
Finally, get anti-virus software. Just like protecting your
PC calls for it, so does keeping your Droid safe.
photo credit: Android phone -- State Farm on flickr.com
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