Here are three of the most dangerous features in the Android operating system that seriously increase the risk of your smartphone being infected with malware.
Android is recognized as a well-designed operating system that gets better and more secure with each new version. However, there are several features that significantly increase the risk of your smartphone or tablet being infected with malware. Today we will consider three of the most dangerous of them and advise how to reduce the risks associated with them.
- Accessibility: Accessibility is a powerful set of Android features designed to make life easier for visually impaired people. They require special applications that read aloud the contents of the screen and interact with voice commands. While this is an indispensable feature for people with visual impairments, it can be a problem because it allows one app to access everything that's going on in the others. This creates potential vulnerabilities for cybercriminals who can use this access for espionage, information theft and other crimes. Before giving an app access to Special Features, you should always carefully consider whether you can trust its developers.
- Installing unknown apps (Install unknown apps): By default, Android allows you to install apps only from official stores, such as the Google Play Store. However, users can grant permission to install applications from other sources. This can be dangerous because apps from unofficial sources do not pass the security checks that official stores provide. It is important to be aware of the sources from which you install applications and always turn off "Installation of unknown applications" after installing unofficial applications.
- Super User Rights (Root): Gaining super user rights, known as “rooting,” allows a user to gain full access to the depths of Android, but also opens the door to potential security threats. Attackers can use these rights to install spyware or other threats. A "rooted" smartphone becomes especially attractive for spyware that can use all superuser capabilities to perform malicious actions. Therefore, it is not recommended to use “rooting” without knowing and understanding the risks associated with this feature.
Tips for staying safe:
- Carefully select applications that require access to "Special features".
- Install apps only from official stores.
- Periodically check and turn off "Installation of unknown programs".
- Refrain from "rooting" devices unless you have the appropriate experience and understanding of its implications.
- Always install and actively use software protection for Android devices.
