Getting a new tablet or any sort of electronic can be an exciting moment. Unfortunately, the excitement of having that new device can be crushed in a matter of minutes. Whether it’s a hacker or just some envious passerby, there’s always someone who takes joy in crashing the party.
Luckily, if your device is secured, you’ll be the one crashing their party instead. Keeping your tablet properly secure doesn’t have to take much effort on your part either. It’s simple and affordable, as well as worthwhile.
Here’s how to ensure your tablet is properly secure.
Get a Good Anti-Virus
If you haven’t already installed any security apps, you should do this first. It’s the easiest way to protect your tablet, and some of these apps are even free. For starters, install an anti-virus app; Avast Free Mobile Security is a good choice and is available for Android devices.
Avast Free Mobile Security can do the basics, such as scan for viruses and backup your data, but it also offers some features that go beyond what the usual anti-virus apps have to offer. You can lock certain apps that might have your personal info on them such as Facebook, and there are anti-theft mechanisms available that will sound a siren if your tablet is stolen, allow you to remotely locate it, wipe the memory clean, and more. You’re able to control your anti-theft features from your online Avast account, no matter what device you are using; this way, you’ll still be able to take security measures if someone takes off with your tablet.
Additional capabilities are included if you decide to purchase Avast Premium Mobile Security, but whichever on you choose, you’ll be a lot better off. Those without security on their tablets are bound to run into trouble eventually.
If you’re an iPad user, take a look at Lookout Mobile Security. It’s also free and will scan your tablet for viruses, as well as offer anti-theft protection.
Thought Anti-Virus Was All You Need?
Although an anti-virus app can do wonders, it certainly can’t do everything. Because of this, I recommend that internet users install both an anti-virus and a VPN. If you’re not familiar with what a VPN is, it’s short for Virtual Private Network.
A Virtual Private Network ensures security by making your internet traffic anonymous. The VPN will act on your behalf, so whenever you send a request through the internet, the VPN’s information will show instead of yours. For example, you might be located in New York City, but connected to a VPN that is located in Dallas, Texas.
When a website or hacker attempts to retrieve your information, they will be met by an IP address that is located in Dallas, Texas. Although there is still an IP address shown, you remain anonymous because multiple people may be connecting to that same IP address through the VPN as well; since many people are connecting to the same IP address, it’s impossible to figure out exactly who and where their true location is.
Your overall internet connection also becomes encrypted, which will make it nearly impossible for anyone to hack into your computer and take a look at your internet activity. As you can imagine, installing and connecting to a VPN is an important step to take in order to prevent identity theft. An added advantage of using a VPN is that you’ll be able to unblock websites too, which may be blocked due to your location.
Not all VPNs are the same, nor do they all offer high quality service. For that reason, it’s best to shop around when searching for the perfect VPN for your tablet.
Read User Permissions for Apps
Another easy and effective way to ensure that your tablet is properly secure is to read the user permissions for any apps that you download. Look them over, and ask yourself if the permissions they’re asking for is relevant to the app; for example, you wouldn’t think that an app such as Angry Birds would need to access your camera, right? Not every app is safe or legitimate, so it’s very important that you take that into consideration when you download them.
Besides reading the user permissions, take a look at the reviews. By reading the reviews, you’ll be able to get an overall picture as to whether or not the app is worthwhile.
Speaking Of Apps…
Did you know that some apps try to prevent you from logging out? The Facebook app is one example; it’s hard to figure out how to log out of it, if you even can. Logging out of your accounts is important, as most of us store a lot of personal information on our online profiles.
If you’ve gone shopping online, it’s likely that the website (or app) you used saved some or all of your credit card information. Now if someone happens to get their hands on your tablet, they can easily access your banking info and go on a shopping spree. That is, if you did not log out of your accounts!
So remember to log out after you’re done. It can save you a lot of hassle, and it’s extremely easy to do.
Use a Safe Web Browser
Web browsers are not all the same; though they all serve their main purpose: allow you to browse the net. Where they mainly differ is in overall privacy and speed. Mozilla Firefox has been voted the Most Trusted Internet Company for Privacy, and it’s also been ranked as the fastest web browser when compared to Opera, Internet Explorer 10, Chrome, and Opera Next.
The privacy and speed are nice, but that’s not all Mozilla Firefox has to offer; add-ons are what put the icing on the cake here. There are add-ons for just about everything, many that can help you secure your device. Head over to Mozilla Firefox’s website to see what they have available for your tablet.
Don’t Forget The Lock!
Remember that you can also set a password for your lock screen on your tablet. If you follow all of the security tips in this article, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll end up having any issues with hackers or malware. This won’t stop someone from running off with your device, unfortunately. There’s never a guarantee that it (or anything else for that matter) will be 100 percent protected, but you can come pretty close!
Author:
Caroline Black is a writer and blogger who is interested primarily in security and technology. She had previously written articles about smartphone and tablet security and identity theft prevention. You can find more information on staying safe online at Secure Thoughts.