Nearly everyone has a cell phone or tablet these days: they are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family on the go and they can provide hours of entertainment

Unfortunately, many people do not know how to keep their information safe by securing their mobile devices.

The good news is that it’s not difficult at all to do so. There are some simple things that anyone can — and should — do in order to secure all of their devices. Whether it’s to keep your personal information safe or if you just don’t want other people to be able to use your devices without your permission, here are a few of the easy things you can do so that your devices are for you and you alone.

Create a Passcode

This is by far the simplest thing you can do to make sure no one can use your devices.

Although even the simplest passcode is better than nothing, try to make it something that people cannot easily guess. Don’t use your birthday or easy codes like 1-1-1-1. If you want to set a passcode, go to Settings>Lock Screen and find the passcode option. Some devices offer a pattern option that you swipe with your finger to unlock: if that’s the case, try to create a difficult pattern.

Only Install Trusted Apps

One of the easiest things you can do is to make sure that any app you download is safe. If you download an app from an untrusted source, you risk adding malware and virus to you device that can be used to steal your personal information.

For most Android users, the best place to download apps is the Google Play store. The apps that are listed on this site, like this weather app from Apalon Apps, are vetted and trusted by the store and are very safe.

Of course, malicious apps can still slip through, so make sure you read the reviews of an app to see if anyone has reported problems with it. You can increase your safety even more by clicking on Settings>Security, unchecking the “Unknown Sources” box and, if you have it, checking the “Verify Apps” box.

Delete You Info Before Trading In Your Device

This should be a no-brainer, but if you have a phone plan that lets you upgrade your device every so often, make sure that you wipe all of the information from it before turning it in. This goes for any devices you plan on recycling as well.

Don’t just delete the apps, because your information will still be retrievable. The best thing to do is to reset your device to its factory settings. Go to Settings>Privacy>Personal Information and there will be an option to reset the device. This will wipe all of your personal data. Do this to every device you will be getting rid of.

Keep your Android devices safe by following these simple tips.

Alex Long writes about technology and getting the most from your Android device. His informative and helpful articles appear widely on tech blogs as well as a few lifestyle and geek inspired sites!