Your Android device hosts numerous third-party applications, with third-party gaming apps projected to generate over 70% of Google Play app revenue by 2024, according to data from Statista as of April 2021. Among the top-grossing Android apps on Google are mobile games like Garena Free Fire, PUBG, and Coin Master.
However, downloading these third-party apps poses a potential risk to your personal information and data security. While they can be advantageous, identifying the essential apps from those that are not is crucial. Therefore, take the time to conduct research and choose the best apps. Fortunately, you can search for online casinos that accept cash apps to find secure options for Cash App-accepting casinos. You can search for reputable casinos that have been thoroughly vetted and reviewed by other users. This can help ensure that you’re downloading a legitimate and secure app that won’t compromise your personal information or financial details.
Now, here are some of the dangers that third-party apps may pose to your account:
1. Access To Confidential Information
Third-party applications get access to your private data and photos on your Android device and may use it for the wrong reasons. Worse, they could sell your personal data and abuse your right to privacy. Researchers from Oxford University found that median apps could sell data to 10 parties, and 1 in 5 apps can share data with more than 20 parties.
2. System Instability
Some third-party apps may cause your smartphone to become unstable and consume its battery life. For instance, some third-party games could drain battery life due to in-app ads. These third-party apps are not optimized for your smartphone’s Android system.
3. Malicious and Suspicious Activity
Some third-party apps have an ad library that could potentially download harmful remote codes online. Once downloaded, they could take control of your device. Also, since most apps have access to your phone’s GPS location, it can be at risk of being misused and included in a malicious botnet.
Protecting Yourself From Data Breaches
Data breaches can put your sensitive information at risk of being hacked. Recent research by Check Point Research revealed that the personal data of over 100 million users were exposed to a data breach.
Third-party apps are essential for ensuring the smooth functioning of your Android device. With the amount of data you give these app developers, they could easily use that information to create a profile. These third-party app developers need to track your activity as part of their security measures. Like them, you can do a few things to protect yourself from data breaches.
Although third-party app developers have security protocols for protecting your data, you can take the following steps to secure your personal information.
1. Check Third-Party Apps From Unknown Sources
By default, most Android smartphones block apps from unknown sources from being installed. Google Play Store is the safest place for downloading third-party apps. Still, you have the option to install them but do so with caution. Check the permissions that the app is requesting from you. It is better to take the necessary precautions than regret it later.
2. Use Two-Factor Authentication
Nowadays, using more than one password is not ample protection for your Google account. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a layer of security and reduces the odds of someone gaining access to your data. 2FA requires that the user knows your password and the presence of a code-generating device like your phone.
3. Review Your Permissions
Nowadays, granting permissions to third-party applications you will install is easy. Most request access to your contacts, location, camera, and others. In general, apps that do not have a good reputation should not be permitted to access device features such as camera, location, microphone, contact, SMS, or call logs.
4. Double Check Your Security Basics
Although you are already aware of this, it is still worth reminding you. If you are not using your biometrics, PIN pattern, or password to secure your device, it’s high time you do it. Without these security measures, your data is out there in the open. You can utilize Android’s Smart Lock function to keep your devices secure. You can activate Smart Lock on your phone’s Advanced Settings.
5. Optimize Your Lock Screen Security Settings
Your lock screen protects your phone from unauthorized access. But you can do a few more things to strengthen your lock screen security. You can control the notifications that you want to be visible on your lock screen. If your phone is running Android 9 or higher, you can switch on the lockdown mode. This feature can unlock your phone and keep your data inaccessible.
6. Check Your Connected Devices
When you sign into a new device using your Google account, it is added to a list of connected devices. If you recognize old devices, you no longer use, select them and sign out. This will remove any access to your account on those devices. In addition, if you spot any devices you are not using or have never used before, remove them from the list and change your account password immediately.
7. Opt Out of Google’s Personalization
Another way of protecting your Android phone from third-party apps is to deactivate some of Google’s personalization options. This will disable some of the options that are indicated there. Here’s how to do it:
1. From the Settings menu, click on Privacy and choose Activity Control.
2. Once prompted, choose your primary Google account.
3. Deactivate Web & App Activity. By choosing this option, you are removing the personalization of Google results.
4. Deactivate YouTube History. With this option disabled, you will no longer receive personalized recommendations from YouTube. This will allow you to resume watching the video you were watching.
5. Switch off Location History. With this option, you stop Google from tracking your whereabouts. In addition, it will prevent Google Maps’ Your Timeline from monitoring your recent trips and movements.
6. Disable Ad Personalization. To do this, choose Go to Ad Settings and toggle to switch it off. While you will receive less relevant ads, they will not track you on the web as much as they would usually do.
In Summary
Some third-party applications are crucial to your phone. It is, however, important for you to verify the app’s trustworthiness to ensure your device’s safety.
References:
- https://www.computerworld.com/article/3012630/android-security-checkup.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/guides/privacy-project/how-to-protect-your-digital-privacy
- https://blogs.quickheal.com/how-third-party-apps-on-smartphones-could-breach-your-privacy/
- https://www.plat4om.com/android-privacy-security-tips-to-protect-you-from-third-party-apps/
