update – PSafe Blog

Always Update Your Android Apps: Start With dfndr security

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 27 May 2020 17:34:29 +0000

One of the drawbacks people perceive for having a great phone and lots of wonderful apps is the need to keep all them updated. The more apps you have, the more often you’ll receive reminders about them. Even though truth be told, most apps update pretty fast these days, it can seem like a bit of a bother.

However, there’s one great reason to always stay on top of things and update your Android apps whenever they offer one. And it may just be the best reason of all: SECURITY.

“Most apps will update for a variety of different reasons, but one of the most common reasons is security,” says Emilio Simoni, Research Director at dfndr lab. “Engineers are always testing and discovering vulnerabilities in their apps, so even if an update has no new features, for your own good, you should make it a habit to update. Or, set your device to update apps automatically.”

Why You Should ALWAYS Update dfndr security

dfndr security’s main objective is to keep you safe. That is the reason why you should always do updates with dfndr security immediately when you receive notice of them. Our antivirus database is constantly being updated, often with the defense against the latest, most widespread threats – so if there’s ONE app you want to keep up to date, make it dfndr security.

Why not take a moment and check now to see if your drndr security is up to date?

Follow the instructions from Google below to make sure your dfndr security app always updates automatically:

Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap Menu > and then > My apps & games.
Select dfndr security as the app you want to update.
Tap More.
Tap Enable auto update.

dfndr security will then update automatically when updates are available. To turn off automatic updates, just uncheck the box. This is what the Enable Auto Update looks like when selected:

Set Your Android Apps To Update Automatically

Android lets you control automatic updating so that it always occurs only when you’re connected to WiFi. Setting to Auto Update with WiFi is a great way to make sure all your apps are always up to the second. Here’s how to make that happen:

Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap Menu, Menu and then Settings.
Tap Auto-update apps.
Select the Over Wi-Fi only option to automatically update apps only when connected to Wi-Fi.

If you need to do an emergency update and you have no WiFi you can override this setting.

Viruses, Hackers, and Malware Are Out There. Keep them OUT!

“We’re seeing lots of aggressive activity among hackers since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic,” Emilio reminds us, “If you keep your dfndr security always app up-to-date it’s going to give you the best protection we have to make sure you can use the web safely.” Simoni concludes: “And right now, with social distancing still in effect in so many places, you want to make sure your access to the web is safe and secure.”

3 Unlikely Things That Affect Your Phone’s Charging Capacity

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 22:00:16 +0000

Charging your phone isn’t as simple as you may think. There are a lot of different factors — many that you may not be aware of — that can interfere with how well your phone charges or its ability to recharge. Whenever you plug your phone in, you can see whether or not it’s charging, but you can’t easily find out information about how well it’s charging. That’s where Total Charge can help you figure out how well your phone is charging:

Total Charge is a feature that will help you to further monitor your phone’s charging, by showing you each stage of the charging process. You’ll also receive notifications on your phone’s status, and when it’s time to unplug your phone in order to prevent overcharging, which can cause damage to your phone’s battery and prevent it from properly charging in the future. That’s why it’s important to monitor your phone’s charging process. Nonetheless, the following are 3 unlikely factors that may affect your phone’s charging capacity.

You’re Draining Your Battery to 0% Every Time

In the past, experts believed that you should wait until your phone fully drains of battery before recharging it, in order to extend your battery’s life. This rule typically applied to nickel-based batteries, but smartphones now use lithium-ion batteries, which are much different. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive, and have a finite number of recharge cycles. Lithium-ion batteries are typically able to recharge 300-500 times.

You’re Charging Your Phone to 100% Every Time

Now, experts are saying that, for optimal battery health, you should follow the 40-80 rule. This means that you don’t let your battery fully drain, nor do you charge it to 100%: you should keep your battery life between 40% and 80% most of the time. Doing so will help to prevent your phone from overcharging and overheating, and it will extend the number of recharge cycles for your battery. Instead of 300-500 recharge cycles, you could double or triple that number by sticking to the 40-80 rule.

You’re Only Charging Your Phone Once a Day

If you thought that charging your phone all at once was the best way to protect your phone’s battery, think again. Apparently, your phone’s battery is in its best shape when you charge your phone for short spurts throughout the day. This will help to keep your phone battery stress-free and operating more efficiently.

The Case Against Automatically Updating Apps

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 21:38:21 +0000

Some people love the convenience of automatic app updates, while others like to manually control their apps. It’s often a matter of preference. However, there are a few things to consider before continuing to have your apps automatically updated. Here are the top 3 reasons you may want to disable, or alter, automatic updates.

You Want to Review an App Before Installing it
Sometimes, you want to know what the new update will include before you install it onto your device. If it doesn’t offer much, you may want to ignore the update. However, some app updates offer crucial security fixes. If you plan to continue using an app without updating it, then make sure you aren’t risking the safety of your device by using an outdated version of the app. Stay informed about the offers of each update. In addition, download PSafe Total to protect your device against possible security threats 24/7.

You Want to See if an App Update Has Too Many Bugs
App developers can often forget to fix critical mistakes or else introduce new ones. It’s a good idea to wait a few days before updating an app. Read about certain app updates to see if there are any problems with the current update. You might want to keep using the app as it is, or else wait for a future update of the app that will fix the issues. This can help you to avoid the frustration of a constantly crashing app.

You Want to Conserve Data Usage
Currently, your phone might update apps at any time, whether you’re using data or Wi-Fi. An easy solution to this would be to restrict automatic updates to Wi-Fi only. You can do this by going to the Play store. Click Menu (the three lines in the top corner), then Settings. Tap Auto-update Apps and then select “auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only.”

How to Disable Automatic Updates for All Apps

This process is similar to the previous process. First, go to the Play store.
Click the menu icon, and then Settings.
Click Auto-update Apps, and then “Do not auto-update apps.”

How to Disable Automatic Updates for Select Apps

Go to the Play store.
Click the menu button, and then My Apps.
Select an app, and then click the menu option (the three vertical dots).
Uncheck Auto-update. Repeat this process for whichever apps you don’t want to automatically update.

The Pros and Cons of Immediately Upgrading Your Smartphone

PSafe Newsroom — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 12:26:03 +0000

Buying a new smartphone every year, or any time a new model is available, isn’t for everyone. You might prefer to keep your device until it breaks, or else upgrade every two years. Below are the pros and cons to upgrading your device frequently.

Pros of Immediately Upgrading Your Smartphone:

Enhanced Features. If you love smartphones, then newer features are the ultimate treat. Your new phone will be even faster and will offer better camera and video quality, better security features, and maybe even some new emojis. The list goes on. With Android 7.0 Nougat, for example, you finally can customize certain features of your device you previously could only alter by rooting your phone.
“Early Upgrade” Plans. If you have the extra cash and enjoy updating your phone with every new release, then leasing might be the option for you. While you’re not technically saving money by doing this, it might be worth it to get the luxury of the newest phone upgrade immediately.
Newer Software. With a new phone comes a serious software upgrade. Now that older software is more rapidly becoming obsolete, it is more necessary than ever to use the newest devices. Further, older operating systems can put your device at risk for security threats — especially if the manufacturer stops releasing updates for your older device. In addition, you might not realize that you’re not receiving those updates, which can give you a false sense of security.

Cons of Immediately Upgrading Your Smartphone:

Cost. A new smartphone is often expensive, especially if you purchase it without a contract (at its retail price). Most phone plans offer the option of leasing a phone. While this move can appear to save you money if you choose to upgrade your phone every year, you’re actually spending significantly more than you would be if you bought the phone outright and kept it for two years.
It’s Unnecessary. Unless buying the newest phone model makes you happier than anything else in the world, then it’s fairly unnecessary to upgrade your device frequently. Major manufactures still support past software and will continue to release updates for your device (unless your device is really old). Plus, think of all you could buy with the money you didn’t spend on a new phone.
Not Worth the Upgrade. Other than a new look or one specific cool feature, the newest phone model might not offer that much. For the price tag, it might not seem worth the upgrade. Maybe new emojis just aren’t your thing.