Safety is important. It's obvious right?
And despite all the hilarious and sensational headlines suggesting otherwise, the most realistic security threats on Android don't come from the big, nasty, malicious monster that lurks in the shadows waiting to steal your darkest secrets while sipping all your cocoa.
No, the biggest security risk on Android is (drumbeat please...) you. The likelihood that you will at some point provide personal information to a malicious individual or fail to properly secure an account in one way or another is possibly the most realistic threat to your virtual well-being. malware? Meh. It's rarely scary in any other sense than theoretical.
And guess what? The best way to protect yourself, in addition to this good dose of common sense that is always recommended, is to protect all possible accounts with a single, strong password and the added layer of protection that is two-factor authentication. This is especially important for your Google account, but the same steps are recommended for any account where two-factor authentication is an option.
The only problem with two-factor authentication, or 2FA for short, is that it can be a bit of a pain in practice (to use the technical term). The advantage of 2FA is that it requires a second step to connect to any account where it is active. In many cases, this step is a one-time code generated by a special application and then entered at the login screen. And that usually means that you have to stop what you're doing, go back to the home screen, open your app drawer, and then open your 2FA code generator app to get the necessary code and copy it the way you want. oriented towards.
It's a hassle, to say the least. But wait, efficiency-loving friend, because there is a better way.
The Android security shortcut without which you will wonder how you have lived
The other day it occurred to me that I was opening Authy, my two-factor authentication code generator app on Android, all the time. I have all accounts where this can be secured with 2FA, and that means I constantly do the exact phone dance just described, every time I log into any of these services.
So I thought, “My God, Gertrude, there's got to be a smarter way to deal with this. So I thought, "Stop calling me Gertrude, you flat-faced chump. Besides, I might really go for Jujyfruit right now." But then I forced myself to forget about the sweets and personal conflicts and focus firmly on the task at hand.
And this is what I achieved: With about 20 seconds of setup, it is possible to put an app like Authy, or any other app that you constantly trust and want quick access from anywhere, without having to do that silly old dance, on your Android device Quick Settings panel.
And then you can access the app at any time by simply swiping down once from the top of the screen and tapping its icon in that area.
The secret lies in a simple little app called Shortcut. So install this bad boy on your phone, open it up, and go through the initial setup screens.
Once you get to the main screen of the app, hit “Unfold” followed by “Custom Tiles”. Next, tap on the line that says "Custom Tile 1", then select "Application" and choose Authy (or any app you want to use for this purpose) from the list. Hit the same row again, select "Rename" and change its name to "Authy" (or "Schmauthy", "Gabourey Sidibe" or whatever you really like).
At this point, all you have to do is find your new tile in Android's Quick Settings area and drag it to an active position. Four quick steps will help you achieve this:
And would you look at this? Now you can swipe down once from the top of your phone screen, regardless of what app you have open or what kind of nasty you're doing at the moment, and bam! It only takes one more click to open your 2FA app on top of everything it does. Hurrah!
JR Shortcutter is free to use in its basic form, which is all you will need for that particular use. The app offers a premium upgrade for a low price if you decide to unlock some of its more advanced options.
For now, though, you've given yourself a smarter and easier way to stay on top of your Android's security, and that, dear dad, is priceless.
Get an even more advanced understanding of shortcuts with my new Android Supercourse shortcut. You will learn tons of time saving tips on your phone!
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