LG Nexus 4 User Manual

							10
Security 
settings
Security on Android
Android takes a multi­layered approach to security:
Prevent. Apps in Google Play are scanned 
continuously to block harmful apps and pol ­
icy violators. You can also choose to have 
apps installed from other sources verified.
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encr yption help prevent unauthorized ac­
cess to the entire phone.
Defend.  Once identified, dangerous apps can 
be removed remotely.
This chapter includes information about the 
verify apps feature (used both for prevention 
and defense), screen lock, encr yption, and 
other security features of your phone.
Manage security settings
You can manage the security settings for 
your phone by going to Settings > Personal 
> Security .
• Screen security.  Manage screen lock op ­
tions, such as using the Power button to 
lock your screen.
• Encryption.  Encr ypt the data on your 
phone.
• SIM card lock.  Set up a PIN to lock your 
phone’s SIM card. 
						

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• Passwords. Make passwords visible, 
which helps you to enter a password that 
is more complex and secure.
• Device administration. Manage device 
administrators, allow apps to be in ­
stalled from sources other than the Play 
Store, and choose to verify apps from all 
sources.
• Credential storage. Manage, install, or 
clear cer tificates on your phone.
TIP:  To u c h   Owner info under Screen 
Security to enter information that’s 
displayed on the lock screen. This is 
useful in case you lose or misplace 
your phone.   
						

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Protect against harmful apps
About verifying apps
Some apps can harm you or your phone. You 
can choose to verify apps in order to help pre­
vent harmful software from being installed 
on your phone.
If you attempt to install an app from any 
source  while  app  verification  is  turned  on, 
your phone may send information identifying 
the app to Google.
If the app is harmful, Google may warn you 
not to install it, or it may block the installa ­
tion completely. 
						

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IMPORTANT: When you verify apps, 
Google receives log information, URLs 
related to the app, and general infor ­
mation about the device, such as the 
Device ID, version of the operating 
system, IP address, and one or more 
cookies.
Control app verification
App  verification  is  turned  on  by  default,  but 
no data is sent to Google unless you agree to 
allow this when asked in the dialog that ap ­
pears prior to installing the first app from an 
unknown source.
To  control  app  verification,  go  to  Settings > 
Security > Verify apps .
If you attempt to install an app that may be 
unsafe, you may see one of the following 
dialogs: 
						

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• Installing this app may harm your phone. 
The app may be harmful to your phone 
and personal information. 
• Installation has been blocked. The app is 
harmful and can’t be installed.
Turn off app verification
To stop verifying apps at any time, go to  Set-
tings > Security > Verify apps , then uncheck 
the box.
Set screen lock 
You can lock your screen for additional secu ­
rity. After you set a lock, the screen is locked 
after the display goes to sleep.
If your phone’s playing music when the 
screen locks, you can continue listening or 
pause the selection without unlocking.
To adjust your lock settings: 
						

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1. Go to  Settings >  Personal > Security 
> Screen lock.
2. Touch the type of lock you want and fol ­
low the onscreen instructions.
To change the screen lock that’s currently 
set, enter the pattern, PIN, or password to ac ­
cess the lock options.
You can choose among these lock options, 
listed in approximate order of strength:
• Slide  provides no protection, but lets 
you get to the Home screen quickly, or 
open Camera and star t taking pictures 
immediately.
• Face Unlock  lets you unlock your phone 
by looking at it. This is the least secure 
lock option. 
						

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TIP: Face Unlock lets you un ­
lock your phone by looking at the 
screen. After you set it up, look un ­
der  Settings > Personal > Security  
for two additional settings: Improve 
face matching and Liveness check. 
Use these to make Face Unlock 
more reliable and secure.  
• Pattern  lets you draw a simple pattern 
with your finger to unlock the phone. This 
is slightly more secure than Face Unlock.
• PIN  requires four or more numbers. Lon ­
ger PINs tend to be more secure.
• Password  requires four or more letters or 
numbers. This is the most secure option, 
as long as you create a strong password.
Password tips:  For best security, specify a 
password that is
• A least 8 characters long.• Contains a mixture of numbers, letters, 
and special symbols. 
						

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• Doesn’t contain any recognizable words 
or phrases.
Settings
To change when your phone 
goes to sleep, go to Settings  > 
Device > Display > Sleep.
To see your passwords when 
you input them, go to  Settings  
> Personal > Security > Make 
passwords visible.
Encrypt your data 
You can encr ypt all your data: Google Ac ­
counts, app data, music and other media, 
downloaded information, and so on. If you 
do, you must enter a numeric PIN or pass ­
word each time you turn on your phone. Note 
that this is the same PIN or password that 
you use to unlock your phone without en ­
cr yption, and can’t be set independently. 
						

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WARNING: Encryption is irreversible. 
The only way to rever t is to perform 
a factor y data reset, which erases all 
your data.
Encr yption provides additional protection 
in case your phone is stolen, and may be 
required or recommended in some organi ­
zations. Consult your system administrator 
before turning it on. In many cases the PIN or 
password you set for encr yption is controlled 
by the system administrator.
Before turning on encr yption, prepare as 
follows:
1. Set a lock screen PIN or password.2. Charge the batter y.3. Plug in your phone.4. Schedule an hour or more for the encr yp ­
tion process: you must not interrupt it or 
you will lose some or all of your data.