1→ Update your version of Android It’s important to keep your Android software up to date. As well as new features, each update includes bug fixes to help protect your phone Tap the Settings icon, then scroll down to About phone(orAbout tablet) – Software (or System) update You’ll see your update status, including whether your software is up to date

2→ Prevent app installs from unknown sources Next, check that your Android device is set up to only allow app installations from the Google Play store To do this, go into the Settings – Security Scroll down and underDevice Administration look for Unknown sources Make sure this is un checked

3→ Restrict downloads with a password If you let other people use your Android smartphone then it is essential to enable a password for installation of new apps This is especially important for parents who don’t want their children installing sometimes expensive apps without their knowledge Launch the Google Play store app then tap the menu button at the top right – it looks like three stacked dots Now tap Settings and look for User Control Tap Parental Control sand turn the slider On You’ll be asked to Create content PIN

4→ Read and understand permissions When you tap the Install button in the Google Play store, your Android device will display an App permissions dialogue box Scroll down and tap See all to view everything that the app wants to access on your handset Some apps have a legitimate need to access certain features of your smartphone A web browser, for example, will need access to the internet, while a photo app will need access to the device’s storage If in doubt, or if you don’t want to share the information, don’t install the app

5→ Install free antivirus software You should install antivirus software onto your Android smartphone. Fortunately, this is both easy and free BT broadband customers can protect their Android smartphones with BT Virus Protect,which is based McAfee’s award winning software It protects against viruses and malware, blocking dangerous links and even helps you find your phone

6→ Install BT Virus Protect Locate BT Virus Protect in the Google Play Store and tap Install You’ll need an activation code which you get by logging in to the app using your BT ID Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app

7→ BT Virus Protect features BT Virus Protect runs in the background keeping your phone safe, scanning your phone for threats and warning you if you are about to visit a website that could contain viruses, spyware or malware The apps battery optimisation feature helps your phone battery last longer, it can block unwanted calls and even help you find a lost phone Find out more in our article: Protect your smartphone from malware and fraud: 7 reasons you need BT’s free security app

8→ Finally… Use common sense Protection is all well and good, but it pays to be cautious First and foremost don’t click on dodgy links and always delete anything that looks suspicious Email hacking is very common - you may receive an email from a trusted source containing a YouTube link with an unusual heading – don’t click on the link and, if your email app allows it, flag the message as spam or junk mail Additionally, if you get a spam text message informing you you’ve won a prize, delete it. If you haven’t entered a competition, you’re highly unlikely to have won a prize