Android offers tons of options to keep your device secure and private; it’s well worth exploring them all.
, nearly 75% of Americans have experienced some form of online scam. These are becoming increasingly complex, as the spread of
sophisticated AI tools have made online attacks more diverse
Vishing, for instance, has seen crooks using AI-powered deepfakes to mimic the voices of a victim’s loved ones to scam them over the phone. Meanwhile, malware attacks are more dangerous and adaptive than ever. And that’s not to mention the often-overlooked privacy risks that many popular apps pose.
Luckily, on Android, you can address many of these security and privacy risks directly. From AI-powered scam detection tools to advanced theft protection measures,
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to update your Android phone, ensuring you receive the latest bug fixes and security features. To check what version you’re using, open your phone’s
. This shows the status of your operating system, security settings, Google Play system status and build number.
Android sends a notification when an OS update is available; tap it and follow the prompts to update right away. If you accidentally clear the notification or want to update later, go to
. Fully updated phones will display a checkmark, while a yellow arrow indicates an update is available. Install any available ones by tapping
and tap your profile picture at the top-right. Then, go to
. Here, select from several options depending on whether you want to update apps over Wi-Fi or mobile data; the best option depends on your phone’s data plan.
To check for app updates on-demand, tap your profile picture in Google Play and choose
to review each app individually and install updates as desired. Some app may require new privacy permissions for updates, prompting you to confirm these new settings.
Enabling two-factor authentication secures your Google account, which is the key to so much on your phone. To add this, visit your
Another simple protection is to enable your phone’s automatic backup feature: go to
. If it is your first time doing so, follow the prompts to back up your phone. If not, navigate to
, where you can adjust your data settings and enable automatic backups. With a backup, you won’t lose crucial data if your device is stolen or lost.
One of Android’s most important security features is the Find Hub app, which allows you to see your device’s last known location, ring it, erase your personal information, track lost luggage, and share your location with friends and family. Although Find Hub is automatically enabled, taking some steps ensures your device can be found using it.
Make sure you’ve turned on location permissions by visiting
is enabled. You can find your Android device by visiting
has great advice on preparing your phone for recovery before it’s lost.
to alert you about potentially malicious phone calls or texts. One, called
, uses Gemini’s AI models to detect the “subtle conversational patterns used in job offer scams or sophisticated romance baiting scams.” If enabled, you’ll hear a series of beeps and receive a notification alerting you to a potential scam.
Due to the sensitive nature of many calls, this feature is disabled by default. To turn it on, open the
and toggle it to active. While this is currently only available for Google Pixel phones,
that it will bring the tool to other phones, starting with the Samsung Galaxy S26.
Android offers a similar tool targeting texting schemes; you’ll get a warning about potential scams when on-device AI detects a suspicious message. The alerts provide the option to dismiss them, report the scammer or block the number.
that the AI’s algorithm occurs entirely within your device, meaning none of the contents are uploaded to an outside database or cloud server.
This feature is on by default and only applies to conversations with people not in your contact list. If you don’t want your phone scanning conversations, disable it by going to
Part of securing Android is defining how applications can interact with your personal data. To adjust these options, open the
, where you can customize privacy settings. For some (including camera, location and microphone), Android may offer more precise customization options.
Android’s permission manager also presents these based on permission type instead of a per-app basis. To use this view, open the
. Here, you’ll see a breakdown of permission types; choose one to review and adjust which apps have that permission.
Permissions include your calendar, call logs, photo library, physical activity metrics, body sensors, text messages and other critical data. Which ones are appropriate depend on the app. For example, location access is essential for a navigation app to work correctly, while being completely unnecessary for a card game. Ultimately, permissions are a cocktail of your tolerance for data sharing and desired app functionalities.
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