Learn about Android security & privacy settings (2024)

FAQs

How do I check if my phone is secure or not? ›

Open your phone's Settings app. Tap Security. At the top, you'll see the security status of your device and Google Account. If there are important actions to take to secure your device or accounts, a warning message will appear.

Computer security and privacy often overlap; however, they do pertain to two different things. Privacy is your personal information and how you allow it to be accessed and viewed. In contrast, security is the protection of this data and information.

Poor performance, unusual activity, and device crashes are all signs of a compromised phone. If you find apps running sluggishly, or your phone takes too long to perform relatively basic functions, these could be hints that malware is taking up your system's resources.

It is possible for someone to see what you do on your phone through data, depending on the specific circ*mstances. For example, if you are connected to a public Wi-Fi network, your internet activity may be visible to others on the same network.

How do I make my phone completely private? ›

Yes, Android has built-in security features designed to protect your device and data. These features include device encryption, Google Play Protect, Find My Device, Smart Lock, biometric authentication, and several other features.

Double-check all your settings As a recommendation, you may want to turn off all tracking settings and pause all privacy options for optimal security. If you don't want your data tracked, going through all these settings is the best way to prevent it.

Settings help you indicate whether or not you give consent for the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information. That's why it's important to choose and set privacy settings that you are comfortable with on all social media accounts, online services, devices and browsers.

It's important to ensure your posts only reach the people you choose. By controlling your privacy settings, you choose what gets shared, where and with whom.

To check if your phone is hacked, dial *#61#, *#62#, or *#21#. These will tell you if someone else is intercepting your calls or diverting them to a different number. Apart from this, you can open settings to search for malicious apps that you didn't install. Using a spy app removal tool can also prove effective.

Use a virus scanner app. These apps will scan your device for malicious files and give you instructions on how to remove them if they detect anything suspicious. Use a factory reset or bootable antivirus tool.