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Must-have Google setting exposes dangerous bank-raiding app hiding on your Android phone – make sure it’s switched on
There's a bonus setting you should activate too
A POWERFUL Google setting can save you from very dangerous apps on your Android phone.
If you're worried that you might have installed something risky, there's an easily solution.
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It's called Google Play Protect, and uses a whole host of measures to keep you safe.
The feature works by scanning apps that you're downloading – or already have on your device – to see if they're harmful.
And if Google uncovers anything that could put you at risk (like an app spying on you) then it'll prompt you to delete it.
"It runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them," Google explained.
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"It checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources. These harmful apps are sometimes called malware."
Sometimes Google will even automatically deactivate or remove harmful apps from your phone.
Google adds: "For security, we recommend that you always keep Google Play Protect on."
The search engine giant says that the feature scans as many as 125 billion apps each day.
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And if it detects a harmful app, you'll receive a notification.
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You can then tap the notification and choose Uninstall.
Google might 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 any of the notifications urging you to delete apps.
Google Play Protect explained
Here's what Google says Play Protect does...
- It runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them.
- It checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources. These harmful apps are sometimes called malware.
- It warns you about potentially harmful apps.
- It may deactivate or remove harmful apps from your device.
- It warns you about detected apps that violate our Unwanted Software Policy by hiding or misrepresenting important information.
- It sends you privacy alerts about apps that can get user permissions to access your personal information, violating our Developer Policy.
- It may reset app permissions to protect your privacy on certain Android versions.
- It may prevent an application from being installed that is unverified and uses sensitive device permissions that are commonly targeted by scammers to commit financial fraud.
Malware is extremely dangerous and can be used to spy on you, slow your device down, and even steal from you.
HOW TO CHECK IF GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT IS ON
Note that Google Play Protect is switched on by default.
So all you need to do is make sure that you've never turned it off.
For security, we recommend that you always keep Google Play Protect on.
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Just go into the Google Play Store and then tap on the profile icon in the top right.
Then go to Play Protect > Settings and turn Scan Apps with Play Protect on.
You can also send apps from unknown sources outside of the Google Play Store to Google.
Google explains: "When you turn on the 'Improve harmful app detection' setting, you allow Google Play Protect to automatically send unknown apps to Google."
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Just go to the Google Play Store and tap on the profile icon, then head into Play Protect > Settings.
Then turn Improve Harmful App Detection on.
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