Enable Advanced Protection for Android to get strict defaults, automatic scans, and anti-theft features tied to your Google Account.
In today’s world of hackers and intrusive malware, enabling Google Play Protect and other security features on your smartphone is more important than ever. For Android, Google has what it calls Advanced Protection, a feature that strengthens your phone’s defenses beyond the usual settings. Once turned on, it locks down security defaults so they can’t be switched off, such as blocking risky side-loaded apps (an important Android feature Google is restricting), and scanning everything you install.
It also adds layers of security you might not notice, like automatically locking the device if it detects something suspicious, stronger requirements around screen locks, and tighter controls for browsing the web and messaging. The purpose of Advanced Protection is to reduce the different ways attackers can sneak past normal safeguards, giving you a toughened baseline without having to adjust a bunch of settings yourself. If you’re looking for a set-and-forget option that guards against malware, phishing attempts, and theft behind the scenes, this feature is one of Google’s strongest tools.
