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Take a minute to adjust these important Android privacy settings
© Lukman Azis | Dreamstime.com
Security can be complicated with your smartphone, especially for Android users.
What are some of the best ways to keep your device (and yourself!) safe from nefarious actors, illegal surveillance, and malware?
Our sponsor, ExpressVPN, recently shared five easy ways to configure your Android device for a safer and more private experience. All of them should be on your list if they aren’t already.
Hide your Google location history
The first to-do on this list brings a few obvious benefits. Your location history could leave you vulnerable to stalkers in a worst-case scenario. Creepy? Yes, and Google has been tracking your location since you first started using Google Maps.
Unless you rely on your Google location history for one reason or another, you should disable it. Here’s how:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy > Google location history.
- Tap Turn off.
- Scroll down and tap Pause.
After doing this, you’ll be asked if your old data should be flushed. Tap Delete old activity and hit Got it to seal the deal.
While ExpressVPN does note that you would need a VPN to hide your location entirely, your Google profile will be separated through this method.
Cleanse your permission manager
After years of using an Android device, apps tend to pile up. At one point, many needed permission to use the camera, microphone, or contacts.
You can keep access to your device exclusive by revoking permission for odds and ends you don’t use anymore. It’s an excellent solution for apps you rarely use but not every day.
I told you about this weeks ago: Now it’s hitting mainstream news sites. Google secretly installed an app on Android phones called SafetyCore. It scans all your photos, theoretically to provide Sensitive Content warnings. Hit this link on your Android and hit uninstall if you don’t want it eating up 2GB of space.
🔔 See old notifications: Swiped an alert away too fast? Turn on Notification history on your Android. Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Notification history and toggle it On. Bonus: If a text or DM popped up before it was deleted, you might still catch it here.
📵 This will be on the test: Do your kids have Androids? School Time on Google Family Link keeps them focused by turning off notifications and limiting apps. Select your child, tap the Screen time (three bars) > Schedules > School time. You can set breaks for lunch, recess or vacations, too.
🖼️ Before texting your pic: Remove the location data to hide where you snapped it from snoops. On Google Photos, just find the pic and tap the three-dot icon in the top right. Then, hit the pencil icon next to the location and select Remove Location. This helps protect your privacy.
🔕 Notification overload? Android’s Notification Cooldown lowers the volume and mutes alerts for two minutes when too many come in at once. Go to Settings > Notifications. Under General, tap Notification Cooldown. It’s live on Google Pixels and coming to Android 16 soon, so save this.
For your favorite person: On Android, you can make a contact Priority status. They’ll stay at the top of your messaging list, and you’ll get home screen notifications when they respond. Go to Settings > Notifications > Conversations to set it up.
🤖 Sharing your Android? It’s easy to lock it to one app so your stuff stays safe. Open Settings > Security > Advanced Settings, toggle on App Pinning and Ask for PIN Before Unpinning. Swipe up to see your recent apps, tap the app icon and press Pin. Swipe up and enter your PIN to get it back to normal. These steps might vary by the brand you own.
💬 Scam detector: Google Messages’ new AI tool will alert you if someone is scamming you. If it spots anything suspicious in your SMS, MMS or RCS convos, a warning will pop up. Just hit Report & block. Check your Android for the latest update or download it here.
See what’s got the keys to the castle: On Android, go to Settings > Security & privacy. Tap Privacy controls to see if any apps have full device access. Steps and names you see may vary slightly depending on your phone.
🤖 Team Android: If you have pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.