Take a minute to adjust these important Android privacy settings
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.