Google brings Advanced Protection mode to Android 16: Here’s how to enable it | Technology News

“Android 16 enhances and expands the Advanced Protection features that Google first launched in 2017, making it simple to turn on an array of robust device security features,” Il-Sung Lee, group product manager, Android Security, wrote in a blog post.

“Whether you’re a public figure or just want the best of Android’s powerful security features, you can turn on Advanced Protection for peace of mind that you’re protected against the most sophisticated threats,” he said.

Google also said that additional Advanced Protection features like Intrusion Logging and USB protection will become available later this year.

What is Google’s Advanced Protection offering?

Advanced Protection is an enrollment programme that has been set up by Google for Android users who are at high risk of being targeted by sophisticated hackers such as public figures, journalists, and activists.

It offers additional safeguards to prevent unauthorised access to a user’s Google account. The newly unveiled Advanced Protection within Android 16 comprises a handful of pre-existing security features as well as newer capabilities to boost a user’s security profile.

How will Advanced Protection work on Android 16?

“Advanced Protection acts as a single control point that enables important security settings across many of your favorite Google apps, including Chrome, Google Message, and Phone by Google,” the company said.

Once Advanced Protection is turned on by the user, the individual security features cannot be disabled accidentally or by malicious actors who may have gained unauthorised access to the device. “This reflects a “defense-in-depth” strategy, where multiple security layers work together,” it said.

Third-party apps will also be brought under the Advanced Protection umbrella in the future, as per Google.

What are the security features under Advanced Protection?

As part of Advanced Protection, Android 16 users will have access to an array of security features spanning various layers, including the device-level, apps, messages, web, network, and more.

Here are the following security features managed by Advanced Protection:

– Intrusion logging: This is a logging feature in the event that a user’s device has been compromised by malicious software and needs to be inspected. These security logs are end-to-end encrypted and securely stored in the cloud, Google claimed. It is a new feature that is automatically activated when Advanced Protection is turned on. Intrusion logging will be available later this year.

– Disable auto-reconnect to insecure networks: Once this feature is enabled, a user’s device will no longer automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi networks known to be insecure. It is a new feature activated for Advanced Protection and will be available later this year.

– Inactivity Reboot: This will automatically restart your device if locked for 72 hours. It is an existing on by-default feature that cannot be disabled with Advanced Protection.

– Google Play Protect: This is another feature that is already available for users enrolled in the Google Advanced Protection Program. It is a malware and unwanted software protection feature built into Android.

– Android Safe Browsing: It protects users from fast-emerging malicious websites. Safe Browsing is an existing on by-default feature that cannot be disabled with Advanced Protection.

– Spam & Scam Protection: This feature helps users avoid unwanted and potentially harmful messages on Google messages. It is an existing on by-default feature that cannot be disabled with Advanced Protection.

– Caller ID & Spam: It displays numbers in Phone by Google as spam before a user answers the call. This is also an existing on by-default feature that cannot be disabled with Advanced Protection.

Other features such as Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, USB Protection, Unknown Apps, Memory Tagging Extension (MTE), Chrome Browsing, Javascript Protections, Unsafe Links, Automatic Call Screen, Scam Detection for Phone by Google, and 2G Network Protection can also be turned on using Advanced Protection. But they cannot be disabled individually.

To be sure, some of these Advanced Protection features such as USB Protection, 2G Network Protection, and Memory Tagging Extension (prevents apps from corrupting memory) varies based on the manufacturer of the Android-powered device.

How to enable Advanced Protection on Android 16?

Advanced Protection is disabled by default in Android. In order to turn it on, follow these steps:

– Ensure you have an Android phone or tablet that is running Android 16.
– Open the Settings app
– Find Google settings
– Go to Personal & device safety category
– Look for the Advanced Protection page under this category
– Toggle ‘device protection’ to enable the Advanced Protection mode

If you want to enroll for Google’s Advanced Protection Program, tap ‘account protection’ to open the enrollment page.