The Complete Guide to Xiaomi's MIUI V5 OS
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MIUI V5 - Security (Data Usage, Blocklist & Virus Scan)
Security Settings and Features
Every Xiaomi smartphone comes with a folder named Security. This folder contains many features that advanced and power users would appreciate. The Security folder basically gives the user control over almost anything on the phone. We'll relate some its customizable features:
(Note: We've gone through App Permissions, Cleaner and Power in our review of the Redmi, hence we will be focusing on data usage, blocklist and virus scan in this article.)
1. Monitoring Data Usage
Xiaomi knows that data usage costs are a big concern for users in many of the developing markets. These users usually take extreme measures to save costs by turning off mobile data which ultimately affect their user experience. To assist such price sensitive markets, Xiaomi came up with the Data Usage feature in MIUI V5 to allow users to monitor and control their data usage.
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2. Blocklist
You know what's more effective than the Do Not Call Registry that came into effect earlier this year? Xiaomi's Blocklist feature offers a range of anti-spam options to keep mobile spammers at bay.
Blocklist enables you to block calls and messages from private/unknown numbers and even set keyword filters on your Xiaomi phone. We see the keyword filter to be especially useful in Singapore's context since we usually receive marketing text messages from credit card companies, and property/insurance agents without knowing how they obtain our numbers in the first place.
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3. Virus Scan
Security firm F-Secure recently released a report stating that Android accounted for 97% of all mobile malware in 2013 and we've explored in an article how the open system approach has resulted in this.
To protect its users from malicious apps, all Xiaomi smartphones are preloaded with Tencent's anti-virus software. Tencent is one of China's largest Internet companies founded in 1998 which has a range of platform services such as QQ Instant Messenger, WeChat, QQ.com, QQ Games and QZone.
If you feel Tencent's anti-virus solution is dubious, you can check out our recommended list of anti-virus, security apps for Android devices.
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