The Ultimate Android Privacy Checklist (2025 Guide)

By Hassan Ahmed ⏐ 3 weeks ago

Smartphones have become a major part of our daily lives — they help us stay connected, work, study, and even manage finances. But because our phones hold so much personal information, it’s important to keep that data safe, especially if you’re using an Android device.

Android phones are powerful, flexible, and offer a lot of freedom, but this also makes them more vulnerable to security threats. Luckily, Android now offers many tools to help you stay protected. Follow the updated steps below to improve your privacy and security.

Turn On Google Play Protect

What it does:

Google Play Protect is a built-in security feature that automatically scans apps downloaded from the Play Store for viruses or harmful behavior.

How to enable it:

Open the Google Play Store.
Tap your profile icon in the top right.
Select Play Protect.
Tap Settings (gear icon).
Make sure “Scan apps with Play Protect” is turned on.
This ensures your phone checks apps regularly to detect harmful software.

Set a Secure Screen Lock

Even if you use fingerprint or face unlock, you should still set a strong password, PIN, or pattern as backup.

How to do it:

Open Settings.
Go to Security or Lock Screen.
Tap Screen Lock and choose a method (PIN, password, or pattern).
Set a secure and unique lock.

Tip: Avoid simple PINs like 1234 or birthdates.

Keep Your Phone Updated

Every Android update includes security patches that fix known risks. Keeping your phone updated is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay safe.

To check for updates:

Go to Settings.
Tap System > Software Update.
Download and install any available updates.

Enable Two-Step Verification for Your Google Account

Two-step verification (2SV) adds an extra layer of security by asking for a second form of identification when you log into your account.

To set it up:

Visit Google Account Settings.
Go to Security > 2-Step Verification.
Follow the steps to set it up using your phone number or an authenticator app.
This helps protect your account even if someone gets your password.

Use “Find My Device”

If your phone is ever lost or stolen, Google’s “Find My Device” can help you locate it, lock it, or erase all your data remotely.

Install Find My Device from the Play Store.
Log in using your Google account.
Make sure Location and Find My Device are turned on in settings.
You can also access it from https://www.google.com/android/find/about.

Limit Google Activity Tracking

Google tracks your activity to improve services, but you can control how much it collects.

Go to Google My Activity.
Click Activity Controls.
Pause or disable data tracking for things like Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History.

Avoid Installing Apps from Unknown Sources

Downloading apps from outside the Play Store (like random websites) increases the risk of viruses or hackers accessing your phone.

To stay safe:

Go to Settings > Security.
Tap Install unknown apps.
Make sure this feature is turned off for all apps unless absolutely necessary.

Review App Permissions Regularly

Some apps request access to your microphone, camera, location, or contacts — even when they don’t need it.

To check and manage permissions:

Open Settings > Apps.
Tap Permissions.
Review each permission (like camera or location) and deny access to apps that don’t need it.

Delete Apps You Don’t Use

Old or unused apps may still access your data or pose a security risk. If you’re not using an app, it’s better to uninstall it.

Long-press the app icon and tap Uninstall, or
Go to Settings > Apps, select the app, then tap Uninstall.

Use a VPN When Using Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is convenient but not secure. Anyone on the same network could potentially steal your data. Use a trusted VPN (Virtual Private Network). It encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for hackers to intercept your data.