12 Android settings that’ll strengthen your safety
Some of a very powerful Android settings are additionally essentially the most buried — and so they’re completely price your whereas to uncover and put into motion.
mohamed_hassan/Google/JR Raphael
You won’t understand it from all of the panic-inducing headlines on the market, however Android is definitely full of sensible and highly effective safety choices. Some are activated by default and defending you whether or not you notice it or not, whereas others are extra out of the way in which however equally deserving of your consideration.
So cease losing your time worrying in regards to the Android malware monster du jour and which safety firm is utilizing it to scare you into an pointless subscription, and take a second as an alternative to look by these much more impactful Android settings — starting from core system-level components to some extra superior and simply neglected choices.
Make your manner by these 12 particular Android settings, then make your manner over to my Android Intelligence publication to get three unique bonus ideas in your favourite topic this second.
Ready? Ready. Let’s do that:
Android setting No. 1: App permissions
A hardly ever spoken actuality of Android safety is that your personal negligence — both in failing to correctly safe your gadget in a roundabout way or in leaving open too many home windows that permit third-party apps entry to your data — is way extra prone to be problematic than any method of malware or scary-sounding boogeyman.
[RELATED: A 20-second tweak for smarter, simpler Android security]
So let’s tackle the primary a part of that proper off the bat, lets? Despite what some sensational tales may lead you to imagine, Android apps are by no means capable of entry your private information or any a part of your cellphone except you explicitly give ’em the go-ahead to take action. And when you cannot undo something that is already occurred (except you occur to personal a time-traveling DeLorean — wherein case, nice Scott, drop me a line), you possibly can return and revisit all of your app permissions to ensure the whole lot’s in tip-top form for the long run.
That’s advisable to do periodically, anyway, and significantly now — as the previous few Android variations have included some necessary new app permission choices.
Specifically, now you can let apps entry your location solely once they’re actively in use, as an alternative of on a regular basis (as of Android 10); you possibly can approve sure permissions solely on a one-time, limited-use foundation (as of Android 11); and you may decide how detailed of a view any given app will get of your location once you grant it that entry (as of Android 12). But any apps that had been already in your cellphone by the point these upgrades arrived would’ve already had full, unrestricted entry to these areas of your gadget. And it is as much as you to revisit ’em and replace their settings as wanted.
So do that: Head into the Privacy part of your Android settings and discover the “Permission supervisor” line. That’ll present you a listing of all out there system permissions, together with particularly delicate areas reminiscent of location, digital camera, and microphone — the identical three areas, by the way, that may be restricted to one-time use solely on any cellphone working at the very least Android 11. (And for those who do not see a “Permission supervisor” possibility in your cellphone, strive wanting within the Apps part as an alternative. You can then pull up one app at a time there and discover its permissions that manner.)
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Tap on a selected permission, and you will see a breakdown of precisely which apps are approved to make use of it in what manner.
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You can then faucet on any app to regulate its stage of entry and convey it down a notch, when relevant, or take away its entry to the permission totally — and, for those who’ve obtained Android 12 or larger, additionally choose whether or not the app ought to get entry to your exact location or solely a far much less particular approximate view of the place you might be.
JR
If there’s one part of your Android settings price spending the time to revisit, that is definitely it.
Android setting No. 2: Play Protect
Speaking of apps in your cellphone, it is a tremendous time to speak about Google Play Protect — Android’s native safety system that, amongst different issues, repeatedly scans your cellphone for any indicators of misbehaving apps and warns you if something suspicious emerges.
(And sure, it does generally fail to detect shady gamers instantly — one thing that will get performed as much as a comedic diploma in these deceptive advertising and marketing campaigns — however even in these situations, the real-world menace to most people is usually fairly minimal.)
Unless you (or another person) inadvertently disabled it in some unspecified time in the future, Play Protect needs to be up and working in your cellphone already — however it definitely cannot harm to double-check and ensure.
To achieve this, simply open up the Security part of your Android settings. Tap the road labeled both “Google Play Protect” or “App safety,” then faucet the gear icon within the upper-right nook and ensure the toggles there are activated.
Back on the primary Play Protect display screen, you may see a standing replace displaying you that the system is lively and working. It works totally by itself, routinely, however you possibly can at all times set off a guide scan of your apps on that very same web page, for those who’re ever so inclined (or possibly simply bored).
JR
Android setting No. 3: Safe Browsing
Chrome is usually the default Android browser — and so long as you are utilizing it, you possibly can relaxation somewhat simpler figuring out it’s going to warn you anytime you attempt to open a shady web site or obtain one thing harmful.
While Chrome’s Safe Browsing mode is enabled by default, although, the app has a more recent and more practical model of the identical system known as Enhanced Safe Browsing. And it is as much as you to decide in to it.
Here’s how:
- Open up Chrome in your cellphone.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon within the app’s upper-right nook and choose “Settings” from the menu that comes up.
- Tap “Privacy and safety,” then choose “Safe Browsing.”
- Tap the dot subsequent to “Enhanced safety” on the subsequent display screen you see.
While you are there, again your self out to the primary Chrome settings menu and choose “Safety verify.” That’ll reveal a useful one-tap software for scanning your varied browser settings and saved passwords and letting you realize of something that wants consideration.
Android setting No. 4: Lock display screen data
If another person ever will get their sweaty paws in your cellphone, you do not need ’em to have the ability to entry any of your private and/or firm info — proper?
Well, take be aware: Android usually exhibits notifications in your lock display screen by default — which suggests the contents of emails or different messages you obtain is likely to be seen to anybody who seems to be at your gadget, even when they can not unlock it.
If you are likely to get delicate messages or simply need to step up your safety and privateness sport, you possibly can prohibit how a lot notification data is proven in your lock display screen by going to the Privacy part of your Android settings, tapping the road labeled “Notifications on lock display screen,” after which altering its setting from “Show all notification content material” to both “Show delicate content material solely when unlocked” (which can filter your notifications and put solely these deemed as “not delicate” onto the lock display screen) or “Don’t present notifications in any respect” (which, as you’d anticipate, is not going to present any notifications in your lock display screen by any means).
If you are utilizing a Samsung cellphone, you may discover those self same choices throughout the devoted Lock Screen part of the system settings — although, sadly, with much less nuance concerned (as Samsung has for no obvious motive eliminated the “delicate” notification differentiation from the settings on its model of Android).
And talking of the lock display screen…
Android setting No. 5: Lock display screen controls
By default, Android makes all the shortcuts in your cellphone’s Quick Settings space — y’know, that panel of one-tap tiles that exhibits up once you swipe down from the highest of the display screen — out there even when the gadget is locked.
Anything that takes you to a different space of the working system will nonetheless require authentication, after all, however the easy on-off tiles could be tapped and toggled by anybody who’s holding the cellphone.
More usually than not, that is an added comfort. Say you need to flip in your cellphone’s Bluetooth for a quick connection, for example, or flash in your flashlight to seek out that stray tacky poof that slipped out of your sticky grabbers and fell onto the ground. Being capable of do these issues with a pair fast faucets and with out having to unlock your cellphone can definitely be useful.
At the identical time, although, it could possibly additionally permit another person to do one thing like change your cellphone’s sound settings, disable its Wi-Fi connection, and even put it into airplane mode. And for those who’re actually aiming for the tightest safety out there, you most likely don’t desire that form of stuff to be attainable.
Here’s the excellent news: If you have obtained a tool with a current Android model, you possibly can take management and switch these controls off within the lock display screen atmosphere. With Android 12 and up, march into the Display part of your Android settings and faucet “Lock display screen.” Turn the toggle subsequent to the “Show gadget controls” possibility into the off place, then make a celebratory squawking sound and get your self a soda.
With Samsung telephones, you may as an alternative want to move into the Lock Screen part of your settings and faucet the road labeled “Secure lock settings.” There, you may discover an choice to “Lock community and safety,” which prevents any network-related toggles from being utilized in that context. (Samsung stripped out the flexibility to lock down all Quick Settings tiles, sadly, however the network-connected are most likely a very powerful by way of safety, anyway.)
Android setting No. 6: Smart Lock
Security is barely helpful for those who really use it — and given the additional stage of inconvenience it usually provides into our lives, it is all too straightforward to let our guards down and get lazy after some time.
Android’s Smart Lock function is designed to counteract that tendency by making safety a teensy bit much less annoying. It can allow you to routinely preserve your cellphone unlocked everytime you’re in a trusted place — like your property, your workplace, or that weird-smelling restaurant the place you eat barbeque sandwiches virtually disgustingly usually — and even once you’re linked to a trusted Bluetooth gadget, like a smartwatch, some earbuds, or your automotive’s audio system.
JR
Depending in your gadget, you may need to search for the “Screen Lock” possibility within the Security part of your Android settings (with older Android variations), look below “Advanced settings” throughout the Security part (with Android 12), or look within the Lock Screen part of your settings (on a Samsung cellphone) to discover the probabilities.
And for those who ever discover the Trusted Places a part of Smart Lock is not working reliably, by the way in which, here is the 60-second repair.
Android setting No. 7: Two-factor authentication
This subsequent one’s technically a Google account possibility and never particular to Android, however it’s very a lot linked to Android and your total smartphone expertise.
You know what two-factor authentication is by now, proper? And you are utilizing it all over the place you possibly can — particularly in your Google account, which might be related to all types of delicate information? RIGHT?!
If you are not, by golly, now’s the time to begin. Hustle over to the Google part of your Android settings, faucet “Manage your Google Account,” after which scroll throughout that prime row to pick out the “Security” tab. Find and faucet “2-Step Verification” and comply with the steps to set issues up.
For most individuals, I’d suggest utilizing your cellphone’s personal “Security Key” possibility because the default technique, if it is out there, adopted by “Google prompts” and an authenticator app as secondary strategies. For that final half, you may have to obtain and arrange an app like Google’s personal Authenticator or the extra versatile Authy to generate your sign-in codes.
If you actually need to take your Google account safety to the max, you can too go a step additional and buy a selected standalone {hardware} key that’ll management the method and be required for any profitable sign-in to happen.
It’ll add an additional step into your sign-in course of, however that is one space the place the minor inconvenience could be very a lot well worth the tradeoff for enhanced safety.
Android setting No. 8: Lockdown mode
Provided you are utilizing a cellphone with Android 9 or larger (and for those who aren’t, switching over to a present cellphone that really will get lively software program updates needs to be your prime safety precedence!), an Android setting known as lockdown mode is nicely price your whereas to analyze. Once enabled, it offers you a straightforward strategy to quickly lock down your cellphone from all biometric and Smart Lock safety choices — that means solely a sample, PIN, or password can get an individual previous your lock display screen and into your gadget.
The thought is that for those who had been ever in a state of affairs the place you thought you is likely to be pressured to unlock your cellphone along with your fingerprint or face — be it by some form of legislation enforcement agent or simply by an everyday ol’ hooligan — you may activate the lockdown mode and know your information could not be accessed with out your express permission. No notifications will ever present up in your lock display screen whereas the mode is lively, and that heightened stage of safety will stay in place till you manually unlock your cellphone (even when the gadget is restarted).
The trick, although, is that on sure telephones — significantly people who shipped with earlier Android variations and had been upgraded to Android 9 in some unspecified time in the future — it’s important to allow the choice forward of time to ensure that it to be out there. To verify that it is activated in your gadget, open up your Android settings, seek for the phrase lockdown, and ensure the toggle alongside “Show lockdown possibility” is about to the on place.
If you are utilizing a present cellphone and do not see any outcomes for that search, the choice might be simply routinely enabled — and also you should not need to do something to make it out there.
Either manner, as soon as the system’s up and working, you need to see a command labeled both “Lockdown” or “Lockdown mode” anytime you press and maintain your cellphone’s energy button. With any luck, you may by no means want it. But it is a good added layer of safety to have out there, simply in case — and now you understand how to seek out it.
Android setting No. 9: App pinning
One of Android’s most sensible settings can also be one in all its most hidden. I’m talkin’ about app pinning — one thing launched manner again in 2014’s Lollipop period and infrequently talked about since.
App pinning makes it attainable so that you can lock a single app or course of to your cellphone after which require a password or fingerprint authentication earlier than the rest could be accessed. It could be invaluable once you cross your cellphone off to a good friend or colleague and need to ensure they do not unintentionally (or possibly not so unintentionally) get into one thing they should not.
To use app pinning, you may first have to activate it by opening that trusty ol’ Security part in your Android settings after which discovering the road labeled “App pinning,” “Screen pinning,” or presumably “Pin home windows.” (You’ll most likely need to faucet a line labeled “Advanced settings” or “Other safety settings” to disclose it.) Tap these phrases, no matter they’re in your particular gadget, then flip the function on and likewise make certain the toggle to “Ask for unlock sample earlier than unpinning” is activated.
Then, the subsequent time you are about to position your cellphone in another person’s grubby palms, first open up your system Overview interface — both by swiping up from the underside of your display screen and holding your finger down, for those who’re utilizing Android’s gesture system, or by urgent the square-shaped button, for those who’re nonetheless hanging onto the old-school three-button nav setup.
On any cellphone working moderately current software program, you may then faucet the icon of the app you need to pin, immediately above its card in that Overview space. And there, you need to see the Pin possibility.
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Once you have tapped that, you will not have the ability to swap apps, return to your property display screen, have a look at notifications, or do the rest till you exit the pinning and unlock the gadget. To do this, with gestures, you may swipe up from the underside of your display screen and maintain your finger down — and with the outdated three-button nav setup, you may press the Back and Overview buttons on the similar time.
Android setting No. 10: Guest Mode
If you need to go a step additional and let another person use all components of your cellphone with out ever encountering your private info or with the ability to mess something up, Android has an unbelievable system that’ll allow you to do exactly that — with subsequent to no ongoing effort concerned.
It’s known as Guest Mode, and it has been round since 2014, even though most people have fully forgotten about it. For an in depth walkthrough of what it is all about and how one can put it to make use of, see my separate Android Guest Mode information.
Just be aware that in case you have a Samsung cellphone, that information will not do you a lot good — as Samsung has for no obvious motive opted to take away this normal working system aspect from its software program (insert tangentially associated soapbox rant right here). On Google’s personal Pixel telephones and lots of different Android gadgets, although, it’s going to take you all of 20 seconds to arrange and prepare.
Android setting No. 11: Find My Device
Whether you have merely misplaced your cellphone round the home or workplace otherwise you’ve really misplaced it out within the wild, at all times keep in mind that Android has its personal built-in mechanism for locating, ringing, locking, and even erasing a tool from afar.
Like Play Protect, the Android Find My Device function needs to be enabled by default. You can make certain by heading into the Security part of your Android settings and tapping the road labeled “Find My Device.” Double-check that the toggle on the prime of the display screen is turned on.
Using a Samsung cellphone? Samsung gives its personal superfluous, redundant service known as Find My Mobile, however the native Google Android model will carry all your gadgets — not solely these made by Samsung — collectively right into a single place. and it is also way more versatile in how and the place it is capable of work. On a Samsung gadget, the simplest strategy to discover the Android Find My Device setting is to go looking your system settings for the phrase Find My Device.
Once you have confirmed the setting is enabled, for those who ever want to trace your cellphone down, simply go to android.com/discover from any browser or do a Google seek for “discover my gadget.” (There’s additionally an official Find My Device Android app, in case you have one other Android gadget and need to preserve that operate standing by and prepared.)
As lengthy as you are capable of signal into your Google account, you’ll pinpoint your cellphone’s final identified location on a map and handle it remotely inside a matter of seconds.
Android setting No. 12: Emergency contact
Find My Device is a improbable useful resource to have — however in sure conditions, you may get a lacking cellphone again even sooner with the assistance of a fellow human.
Give folks an opportunity to do the suitable factor by including an emergency contact that may be accessed and dialed with just a few fast faucets out of your cellphone’s lock display screen. To begin, go to both the About Phone part of your Android settings or the Safety & Emergency part, in case you have it, after which discover and faucet the road labeled both “Emergency info” or “Emergency contacts.”
Follow the prompts there so as to add in an emergency contact — an in depth good friend, member of the family, vital different, random raccoon, or no matter is sensible for you. (Hey, I’m not right here to evaluate.)
JR
Easy peasy, proper? Well, virtually: The solely problem is that the emergency contact data is not precisely apparent or easy to seek out on the lock display screen — go determine — so anybody who picks up your cellphone won’t even discover it.
But wait! You can improve the chances significantly with one additional step: Head into the Display part of your settings and faucet “Lock display screen” (which can be hidden inside an “Advanced” subsection, relying in your gadget), then faucet the road labeled “Add textual content on lock display screen.”
However you get there, as soon as you end up going through a clean area for textual content enter, enter one thing alongside the strains of: “If you have discovered this cellphone, please swipe up after which faucet ‘Emergency name’ and ‘View emergency info’ to inform me.”
That message will then at all times present up in your lock display screen — and as an added bonus, if there’s ever an precise emergency, you may be prepared for that, too.
Using a Samsung cellphone? For no obvious motive (sensing a theme right here?), Samsung has eliminated the direct emergency contact system and as an alternative provides solely the flexibility to position plain textual content in your lock display screen. You can discover that, although, by making your manner into the Lock Screen part of your system settings and on the lookout for the road labeled “Contact info” — and there, you possibly can simply kind in your emergency contact data immediately and hope that somebody finds it after which dials it from their very own cellphone.
One other thing…
Now that you’ve your Android safety settings optimized and so as, take 10 minutes to carry out an Android safety checkup. It’s a 16-step course of I’ve created for the state of safety on each your cellphone and your broader Google account — and it is nicely price doing at the very least yearly.
The finest a part of this checkup? It’s fully painless — and in contrast to with most preventative exams, eradicating your pants is totally non-obligatory.
Get much more Googley information with my Android Intelligence publication — three new issues to strive each Friday and three customized ideas in your favourite subject proper now.