I almost got a panic attack last night when I saw a bundle of unknown apps sitting on my phone. Of course, I, in my consciousness, would never install “Play & Dance To Earn Coins” on my phone.
How the hell did these apps self-install on my Android? What kind of sorcery was that?
I headed straight to the security settings. But the rows of credentials put my Sherlock Holmes to bed. I had yet to learn what security certificates should not be on my Android and what the essentials are. After some digging, I got my answer, which I am ready to share with you.
So, let’s jump in.
Warning! Some Security Certificates Are Dangerous for Your Android OS
I am guessing you know what security certificates are, right? Yet, allow me to explain one more time (in case you need clarification about what I am referring to).
Security certificates are digital passports for data or encrypted code. They do thorough checkups of each file and let only the verified and safe ones get on board.
What if some corrupted SSL (security socket layer) certificates are on the Android Smartphones?
Yes, yes, yes! Your phone will be rigged, and there will be apps or files you haven’t even downloaded (it’s not sorcery, after all). Trust me, even parental control apps won’t prevent hackers at that point.
Our limited knowledge of SSL makes us struggle to spot harmful codes. Not to mention that the hackers design malware so meticulously that it is almost impossible to spot one (Clap for the bad guys). What we can do is to look out for the red signals. 3 such categories will be:
- Free SSL certificates,
- Self-signed SSL certificates, and
- Expired SSL certificates.
The free SSLs can trick browsers into trusting unauthorized data. Similarly, the self-signed SSLs will overwrite some security codes on your Android. As a result, the individual on the other side can collect and misuse your personal data.
Expired SSLs, on the contrary, are the most complex cases. These certificates are legally installed on our system. But as soon as they expire, they start milking on our personal information.
Head to the certificate row if you smell anything fishy on your phone. SSLs of any of the categories mentioned above might be the culprit. It’s time to wipe those out of your system.
Delete The Suspicious Security Certificates With 4 Steps
Good news! Deleting those unwelcomed SSLs is possible with 4 simple taps.
- First, open the settings.
- Head to security and privacy.
- See the “Encryption & Credential”? Tap on it.
- Clear the certificates under credential storage. You can be specific about the certificates or delete all the scripts.
However, in some cases, the malware spreads so fast that your entire system is compromised. Seeking expert help is recommended to secure and restore your data in such scenarios.
Avoid Downloading Harmful Credentials In The First Place
Data is everything in this modern era, and misusing anyone’s personal information is more than common. So why take the risk?
The default SSLs are considered safe for any Android system. Do not tamper with any of those. Instead, stay alert when browsing the internet so that you can avoid downloading any harmful credentials.
Some helpful Android Smartphone Safety Tips are:
- Websites with self-signed, untrusted, and invalid SSLs flash a warning because of the default security certificates on your smartphones. Do not proceed to those pages.
- Never share your credit card or security details on shady websites. The authors may misuse the information.
- Regular cache and cookie cleanup keeps the uncertified SSLs out of the system.
- The security layer of the Android gets better with updates. I highly discourage running on the older operating systems.
What Security Certificates Should Be On My Android?
That is a valid question indeed.
Security certificates keep updating, and you will lose track of memorizing them all. I suggest checking the SSL authority for verification. Generally, certificates issued from Comodo, Verisign, DigiCert, etc., can be trusted blindly.
These security layers work to ensure safe communication and data transfer from phone to phone or phone to the Internet.
Final Verdict
We are not in a thriller action movie, and our phones are less likely to be rigged. Wrong! The hackers often target us simpletons with no clue what can go wrong. So, you better browse the internet safely.
I personally keep my phone connected to VPNs (of course, the premium ones. The free VPNs can be the thieves themselves). The app adds a layer of protection to my Android system and keeps my phone safe from those useless certificates.
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