A POWERFUL Google setting can protect you from very dangerous apps on your Android phone.
If you're worried you've installed something risky, there's a simple solution.
It's called Google Play Protect and it uses a whole host of measures to protect you.
The feature works by scanning apps you download (or already have on your device) to see if they are malicious.
And if Google discovers something that could put you at risk (like an app that's spying on you), it'll prompt you to remove it.
“It runs a security check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them,” Google explains.
“It checks your device for potentially malicious apps from other sources. These malicious apps are also called malware.”
Sometimes Google even automatically disables or removes malicious apps from your computer Android telephone.
Google adds: “For security reasons, we recommend that you always leave Google Play Protect turned on.”
The search engine giant says the feature scans as many as 125 billion apps every day.
And if it detects a malicious app, you'll receive a notification.
You can then tap the notification and choose Delete.
Google can even disable the app while it waits for you to uninstall it.
And in many cases, Google says it will simply notify you that it has automatically removed the app from your device.
Never ignore notifications asking you to uninstall apps.
Google Play Protect explained
This is what Google says Play Protect does…
- Apps from the Google Play Store are run through a security check before you download them.
- It checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources. These malicious apps are sometimes called malware.
- It warns you about potentially harmful apps.
- It can deactivate or remove malicious apps from your device.
- It alerts you to detected apps that violate our unwanted software policy by hiding or misrepresenting important information.
- It sends you privacy alerts about apps that may gain user rights to access your personal data, which violates our developer policies.
- It can reset app permissions to protect your privacy on certain Android versions.
- It can happen that an application is installed that is not authenticated and uses sensitive device permissions that are often targeted by scammers to commit financial fraud.
Malware is extremely dangerous and can be used to spy on you, slow down your device, and even steal from you.
HOW TO CHECK IF GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT IS ON
Please note that Google Play Protect is enabled by default.
All you have to do is make sure you have never turned it off.
For security reasons, we recommend that you always leave Google Play Protect enabled.
Googling
Just go to the Google Play Store and then tap the profile icon at the top right.
Then go to Play Protect > Settings and enable Scan apps with Play Protect.
You can also send apps from unknown sources outside the Google Play Store to Google.
Google explains: “If you enable the 'Improve malicious app detection' setting, you allow Google Play Protect to automatically send unknown apps to Google.”
Just go to the Google Play Store and tap the profile icon, then go to Play Protect > Settings.
Then enable Improve malicious app detection.