Android is now more like iPhone — here’s why.
around the world facing the same risk. While the most sophisticated attacks harness remote, zero or even no click exploits to tunnel through vulnerabilities on your device, most require you to make one of two critical mistakes — and most users do one or both.
Now Google has a simple fix. The most common of the two Android mistakes is installing apps from outside Play Store or other official marketplaces. Sideloading is by far the most widespread, risky activity across the Android ecosystem. It’s a risk that’s made much worse by the 50% of all Android phones that are running aged versions of the OS without new security fixes.The other mistake is plugging unknown charging cables or other USB accessories into your device. This is a known risk, albeit exploitation is rare. The more likely USB threat is one you can do nothing about. That’s when a third-party has your phone in their physical possession and can plug in a USB cable. Whether law enforcement or a bad actor, software can then exploit Android vulnerabilities to exfiltrate your data. This more than anything has prompted the raft of Android zero-days in the last year as those vulnerabilities are patched. Unfortunately, there is a “mercenary spyware industry” that’s finding new flaws just as fast as the known ones are patched. A new solution is required, and Google has come up with exactly that.that’s coming with Android 16 this summer. This is a halfway house between where your phone is now and the more extreme lockdown modes offered by both Google and Apple for those who fear they may be more at risk than most — activists, politicians, journalists and the like. Advanced Protection Mode will stop apps being sideloaded onto a device and will also stop USB connections to a locked device —, is that there will be “a new one-click toggle for Advanced Protection Mode,” making it simple to enable. Once enabled, it does what it does and can’t be tweaked. “These settings cannot be adjusted, helping ensure a consistent security level.” It will shore up the defenses on stock Google apps and other apps will know it’s enabled and can lock down as well. Android Authority says “it’s fantastic that Google is adding such safety measures for users in Android 16. One of the arguments that Apple users always brought up was how Android isn’t as secure as iOS — this is a step in the right direction for Android’s security.” And I agree. Given the overall landscape, toggle this on when it comes.
Samsung Warning Pixel Warning Google Warning Android 16 Leak Android 15 Samsung One Ui 7 Samsung One Ui 8 Samsung
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