How To Ensure Data Security on Android Phones?

Are you confident enough to feed your confidential informations on a particular application or website?

The reply is definitely a big NO. Data Security is a major area of concern not only for the end users but for the developers or business operations as well.

If you start considering the huge train of important datas you store virtually, you will realise that one breach of security can permanently hamper your business.

A popular tweet by StaySafeOnline.org states that "Today's mobile devices are as powerful and connected as any PC or laptop. Take the same precautions on your mobile device as you do on your computer with regard to messaging and online safety. The first step is STOP. THINK. CONNECT."

From financial records to customers' private informations- all go into your smart device. Hence observing strict security measures must be of upmost importance for you when you design any application.

Mobile Apps built on Android Platform, has in-built security features that reduces the  impact of application security issues. The system is designed so that you can typically build your apps with the default system and file permissions and avoid difficult decisions about security.

"The popularity and adoption of smartphones has greatly stimulated the spread of mobile malware, especially on the popular platforms such as Android."- Yajin Zhou and Xuxian Jiang, Department of Computer Science, North Carolina State University

Let us understand the common security measures that need to be observed while using Android Mobile Applications:

The most common security concern for Android phones is whether data stored on your device is accessible to other devices or apps. There are three commonly used storage space:

• Internal Storage- This is a common and a safer option to store your personal files. This storage is accessible only to your app. Android implements this protection which is sufficient for most applications.
• External Storage- Files created on SD Cards are globally readable and easily modified by any application as it is removable from the device. Hence it is not sensible to store delicate informations here.
• Content Providers- Content providers offer a structured storage mechanism that can be limited to your own application or exported to allow access by other applications only if you permit.

Minimising the user permissions:

Android applications explicitly share resources and data with each other. They do this by declaring the permissions they need for additional capabilities including access to device features such as the camera. Hence it is imperative to reduce the number of permissions that your app requests. Restricting access to sensitive datas reduces the risk of misusing the permissions and makes your app less vulnerable for hackers.Try designing your application minus these permissions as it is the preferred structure.

Using proper networking:

Networking transactions are comparatively risky cause they involve transmission of data which is private to the user. Hence implementing best practices is crucial to ensure security to your user's private informations. Two types of networking can be used:

>Using IP Networking

>Using Telephony Networking

Handling User Data:

If you have access to user data and can avoid storing or transmitting it, don't store or transmit the data. If your application accesses personal information such as passwords or user names, keep in mind that some jurisdictions may require you to provide a privacy policy explaining your use and storage of that data. Reducing the access to personal information by your application reduces the potential for problems in this area.

Minimal Data Usage:

App developers need to analyze the data collected to streamline the process. Any information above and beyond the app’s primary function is then deleted immediately. It is a minimalist approach that keeps user information safe while eliminating some of the burden on developers to protect information that is simply not in use.

There are other technical measures that developers need to observe to protect the user's confidential datas such as:

Transit Encryption Method

Regular Updates

Server Protection

However data protection is also the responsibility of the user as well.

Let us get a brief insight into the security measures that an user can adopt:

• The most important precaution that the user must adapt is to install an Antivirus protection. Antivirus and anti-malware software are essential online security weapons.
• Strong Firewall
• Lock the phone with Strong Passwords
• Regular updating of the phone and the apps
• Allow android to scan and verify the apps
• Use Chrome's safe browsing feature
• Use Android Device Manager to tarck your lost device and wipe of important datas.
• Disable unknown sources settings

Conclusion:

The market is filled with smart hackers. Safeguarding your personal life and confidential datas has become a matter of concern. The smarter the phones are, the more smart the hackers are turning into. If both the app developer and the end user adopt some basic safety measures, then the risk factor can be reduced to some extent. Android and iOS devices have some embedded features that can be utilised properly to achieve this basic goal.

This is an open forum with lots of loopholes. You just need to be a little more careful