Check Android device now for ‘costly mistake’ that gives hackers easy access

A SECURITY expert has revealed the worst way to lock your Android phone and it may surprise you.

One common method of securing your phone isn’t enough on its own to stop hackers.

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According to a post from Alanna Titterington, a security expert at Kaspersky, locking your Android with just a PIN code isn’t the best idea.

The expert suggests using a combination method instead.

Titterington explained on the Kaspersky blog: “A complex password — that is, a combination of characters using both numbers and letters — is much more secure than even a long PIN code.

“With the restrictions the operating system puts on the number of login attempts, it’s almost impossible to guess it.

” It’s also more difficult to peek at and remember.”

However, you probably don’t want to be entering a really long password every time you use your phone.

That’s why Titterington recommends setting up the password as a backup option when the fingerprint scanner fails.

She continued: “The perfect security combo for Android phones is a fingerprint for everyday unlocking, plus a long PIN code — or even better, a strong password — as a fallback.

“You’ll be entering your PIN code or password very rarely, so you can be generous with the character length.

“But make sure to save your password or PIN code in a safe place in case you forget it — for example, in an encrypted note in Kaspersky Password Manager.”

The expert warned against using a pattern lock to secure your phone.

She says this is the least secure way to protect your device because most people use the same predictable patterns.

Titterington also warns against using facial recognition on Android.

She wrote: “Unfortunately, for Android there’s no full-fledged analog of the already well-established Face ID technology that’s used in iPhones.”