If you've just purchased an Android phone, all of the news and opinions surrounding Android might be overwhelming. Is Android more prone to malware than other smartphone platforms? Will battery life be a problem, as it is for many Android users? Should I root my phone, and what does that even mean?
Every phone--whether an iPhone, an Android or an old-school flip phone--has its issues. Luckily there several apps you can download to maximize your phone's performance and steps you can take to make sure it stays secure.
Improving Battery Life
The number one cause of battery drain for Android is processes running in the background while you don't need them, or while you aren't even using your phone at all. A few of the most common apps and processes that needlessly eat battery life are:
Bluetooth and WiFi--turn them off if you aren't using them
Your Screen--reduce screen brightness via the display menu
Adobe flash--disable via Settings > Enable Plug-Ins, or switch to on-demand only
Apps that update frequently--Twitter, Facebook and E-mail all check for updates frequently. Set each app to manual updating (polling) so they only run when opened.
There are also some apps you can download to manage battery life on your Android. They automatically manage what is running on your phone and prevent other apps from running unnecessarily. Some of these apps include Easy Battery Saver and Juice Defender.
Android Security
Android is the most popular smartphone operating system worldwide, so it makes sense that hackers single out the platform in their attempts to make an illegal profit.
There are a few things you can do to avoid downloading malware onto your Android. Always check the permissions an app is requesting before you download it. If they seem unnecessary, it is probably best to find an alternative. You can also search "app name + malware" and see if other users have complained about the app in the past. Downloading apps only from the Google Play store is another good precaution.
Be sure to download updates for Android and your existing apps as soon as they become available, as updates are often released to combat security flaws that have been discovered in the software.
General Maintenance
Just like a desktop computer, there are a few things you can do monthly or weekly to keep your Android running optimally. Clean out your text messaging database and email database monthly to free up space. You can export important messages first to save them. Cleaning out your app cache weekly can also free up 5-10 MB of space.
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