Security tips for Google Drive & Android

Google Drive:

  • Open Google Drive on web based browser like Chrome
  • On each of the folders if you see a person symbol it’s shared, if you don’t see the symbol its not shared
  • For each folder -> click SHARE -> Advanced -> Check which user has view rights and which user has edit rights -> Disable options to download, print, and copy for commenters and viewers -> Prevent editors from changing access and adding new people.
  • For each folder -> click SHARE -> Advanced -> SHARE SETTINGS -> Change -> Check settings there are 4 to 5 options
  • Note -> Even if your folder is not shared, files inside it can be in shared mode – This seems to be a big missing feature in Google Drive. There is no clear way to check this in one go for all files and we individually need to check each file. Workaround: Write Java code using Google Developers API to check this: https://developers.google.com/drive/

Android security settings to explore:

  • Emergency info – Settings -> Users -> Emergency info -> INFO & CONTACT – Note: Can be seen on locked screen
  • Settings -> Security -> Screen Lock
  • Encryption ON – at-least Android 6 required, by default it’s on from 6/7 onward – Settings -> Security
  • Settings -> Security -> Screen Lock -> Gear button -> Lock message
  • Security -> Install from unknown locations -> Should be OFF
  • Settings -> Users -> Guest user -> Turn on phone calls -> OFF
  • Settings -> Users -> Add users while screen is locked -> OFF
  • Settings -> Security -> Make password visible -> OFF
  • Settings -> Security -> Set up SIM card lock

By Neil Harwani

Interested in movies, music, history, computer science, software, engineering and technology

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