Urgent warning for Android owners to turn on little-known Google setting and delete ‘criminal’ apps immediately
GOOGLE users have been urged to enable an app that can help keep their data safe.
Known as Google Play Protect, this Android app works to keep your smartphone and data safe from malicious malware.
GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT
Google launched the tool in 2017 and since then the app has only improved.
To date, the feature can check apps to see if they’re safe before you download them.
Perhaps most notably, the tool can scan your entire device for malware.
But now, according to the latest Google System Updates changelog, the app will be performing real-time scans for the Android OS.
This means that it can scan any apps downloaded outside the Play Store at the time of installation.
Other functions of the app include running safety checks on your current apps and deactivating or removing harmful ones.
And should it detect something, it will send you notifications as well as privacy alerts about apps that are trying to access your personal information.
HOW TO TURN IT ON
The app is available to download for free on the Google Play store if it’s not automatically downloaded onto your device.
First, open the Google Play Store app and then tap your profile icon in the top right.
Now tap Settings, and then look under About to see if your device is Play Protect certified.
To turn it on or off, open the Play Store and then tap the profile icon.
Tap Play Protect > Settings and then turn Scan Apps With Play Protect on or off.
“For security, we recommend that you always keep Google Play Protect on,” Google explains.
Google adds: “If you install apps from unknown sources outside of the Google Play Store, Google Play Protect may ask you to send unknown apps to Google.