Google offers secret VIP ‘protection mode' on millions of mobiles for free – it's meant for celebs to avoid being hacked
Published: Invalid Date,
MILLIONS of phone owners can take advantage of a special "protection" mode used by VIPs to avoid being hacked.
It's called Advanced Protection and anyone can use it for free – though it's built for celebs, politicians, and other important figures.
Protection features were first launched in 2017, but the system has been upgraded in the new Android 16 update.
It has special tricks like preventing your phone from being hacked by a physical cable, and using AI to detect scam call and text conversations live as they're happening.
The feature activates a long list of hardcore security measures designed to boost your security and dodge scams.
"Android 16 enhances and expands the Advanced Protection features that Google first launched in 2017," said Google's Stella Loh.
"Making it simple to turn on an array of robust device security features."
Stella, who works on the Android team, added: "Whether you're a public figure or just want the best of Android's powerful security features, you can turn on Advanced Protection for peace of mind that you're protected against the most sophisticated threats."
WHAT IS GOOGLE'S ADVANCED PROTECTION PROGRAM?
Google is the company behind the Android software that powers billions of phones around the world.
And there's a special feature called the Advanced Protection.
Google says that this serves up its "strongest protections against targeted attacks".
"Advanced Protection ensures all of Android's highest security features are enabled and are seamlessly working together to safeguard you against online attacks, harmful apps, and data risks," Google explained.
Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes
To get all the latest protections, you'll need Android 16.
That's currently out in beta version, which you can try for free today.
Or you can wait for a full release, which may take several months to turn up on your mobile.
Once you've got the latest Android update, go into Settings.
4
HOW TO UPDATE YOUR ANDROID PHONE
Get the latest upgrades...
Updating your Android phone is extremely important.
For a start, it means you'll get fancy new features to make your phone better.
But updates often include fixes that can repair security problems – or help you to stay safe from crooks.
You can check what software version you have by going into Settings > About Phone > Android Version.
And if you want to update, you can just go to Settings > System > Software Update.
Note that your Android phone will probably have worse battery life in the days following an update – but it should get better.
Picture Credit: Google
Then go to Settings > Google > Personal & Device Safety > Advanced Protection > Device Protection.
From there, you'll be able to see a list of all of the features that are activated once you toggle the setting on.
For instance, there's a Theft Detection Lock that means your phone automatically locks itself if it detects "suspicious activity indicative of theft".
Your phone will also lock itself if it goes offline for a prolonged period.
ADVANCED PROTECTION – GOOGLE'S WORD ON IT
Here's what Google says Advanced Protection serves up...
Best-in-class protection, minimal disruption: Advanced Protection gives users the option to equip their devices with Android's most effective security features for proactive defense, with a user-friendly and low-friction experience.
Easy activation: Advanced Protection makes security easy and accessible. You don't need to be a security expert to benefit from enhanced security.
Defense-in-depth: Once a user turns on Advanced Protection, the system prevents accidental or malicious disablement of the individual security features under the Advanced Protection umbrella. This reflects a "defense-in-depth" strategy, where multiple security layers work together.
Seamless security integration with apps: Advanced Protection acts as a single control point that enables important security settings across many of your favorite Google apps, including Chrome, Google Message, and Phone by Google. Advanced Protection will also incorporate third-party applications that choose to integrate in the future.
Picture Credit: Google
There's a USB Protection that prevents "physical attacks" using your phone's charging port.
Safe Browsing modes block dangerous websites for you.
And there are special AI-powered scam detection tools for both phone calls and text messages that flag up if you're being swindled in real-time.
The feature also blocks you from connecting to outdated 2G phone networks, and won't automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi networks "known to be insecure" either.
GOOGLE'S 'GOLDEN RULES' FOR AVOIDING SCAMS
Here are the official Google "golden rules
#1 – Slow it down
Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency. Take time to ask questions and think it through.
#2 – Spot check
Do your research to double check the details you are getting. Does what they're telling you make sense?
#3 – Stop! Don't send
No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or your personal information on the spot.
Some of the features won't arrive until "later this year", according to Google.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
4 minutes ago
- BBC News
Giant new data centres to open across the UK
Have you ever wondered how the apps on your phone, the online games you play or the streaming services you watch movies on actually work?Well, the answer is data centres - giant warehouses full of powerful computers - and the UK is about to get a lot more of are currently an estimated 477 of them in the UK but researchers say we could see 100 more in the next 5 years, partly because of the growth of Artificial Intelligence, or government say data centres are vital, but some people are concerned about the huge amount of energy and water the new data centres will use. What is a data centre? You might not realise how big a role data centres play in your life a giant warehouse, packed full of rows and rows of very powerful computers store, process and send out information that we use every single whether you're streaming your favourite TV show, asking an AI chatbot a question, or just browsing the internet, data centres help that data centres, there'd be nowhere for your favourite shows, games, or videos to be stored. There's already nearly 500 data centres in the UK, but more and more are popping up because of the rise of researchers Barbour ABI have analysed planning documents and say over half of the new centres would be in and around London, but there are also plans for some in Wales, Greater Manchester and other parts of the of them are funded by huge US tech companies - think Google and Microsoft. Why are people concerned? Just as the internet runs 24/7, so do data centres and there are also concerns about the environmental impact of these enormous need massive amounts of electricity to keep going, and lots of water to stay cool - and most current owners do not share data about their water water? Well, with all those computers working day and night, data centres can get very hot. If they get too hot, the computers could overheat and break some systems use huge fans to blow cool air around to them keep cool, oher warehouses pump cold water through nearby pipes. But some people are concerned that the huge amounts of water that are needed to keep the computers cool is bad for the environment, and could cause water shortages. Energy is also a big issue. Some experts have warned that the large amounts of energy needed to power data centres could also increase people's energy bills. The fear is that as more energy is being used, the price for that energy will rise for instance, in 2023, data centres made up one fifth of Ireland's energy demand.A spokesperson for the UK government said data centres were "essential" and an AI Energy Council had been established to make sure supply can meet demand, alongside £104bn in water infrastructure investment.
Reuters
4 minutes ago
- Reuters
Intel shares rise as report of likely government stake stokes hopes of US aid
Aug 15 (Reuters) - Intel shares (INTC.O), opens new tab rose nearly 3% on Friday on hopes of more financial aid for the turnaround of the struggling chipmaker after a report that the U.S. government may buy a stake. The Bloomberg News report followed a meeting between CEO Lip-Bu Tan and President Donald Trump on Monday after Trump demanded the new Intel chief's resignation over his "highly conflicted" ties to Chinese firms. Trump, who called the meeting "very interesting", has taken an unprecedented approach to interventions and deal-making with corporate America. His administration had struck a deal with MP Materials (MP.N), opens new tab that would make the Department of Defense the largest shareholder of the rare-earth producer. Federal backing could give Intel more time to revive its loss-making foundry business, analysts said, but it still faces a weak product roadmap and trouble attracting customers for new factories. Under the Biden administration, Intel had emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the 2022 CHIPS Act, as former CEO Pat Gelsinger laid out plans to build advanced factories. Tan, however, pared back such ambitions, slowing construction of new plants in Ohio. He plans to build factories based on demand for the services, which analysts have said could put him at odds with Trump's push to shore up American manufacturing. The report said a deal would help build out the Ohio plant, which has faced delays and was expected to be completed by 2030. It could be a "game-changer", said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. But he warned "government support might help shore up confidence, but it doesn't fix the underlying competitiveness gap in advanced nodes." Intel lost its competitive edge years ago to Taiwan's TSMC ( opens new tab. It has virtually no presence in the booming AI chips market dominated by Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab and is losing market share in PCs and datacenters to AMD (AMD.O), opens new tab. Its latest 18A manufacturing process is facing quality issues, Reuters has reported, as only a small share of chips produced are good enough for customers, while it remains partly dependent on TSMC to make Intel in-house designed chips. "Intel also needs capability; can the US government do anything to help here?" Bernstein analysts said. "Without a solid process roadmap the entire exercise would be economically equivalent to simply setting 10s of billions of dollars on fire."
The Guardian
32 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Intel shares jump after report says Trump administration looking at stake
Shares in Intel have jumped 7.4% after it was reported that the Trump administration is considering taking a stake in the struggling US chipmaker. The potential investment, which would be paid for by the US government, would be used to develop Intel's factory hub in Ohio, according to Bloomberg. It would also help shore up the chipmaker's finances at a time when Intel has been slashing jobs as part of a wider cost-cutting drive. Talks over the potential investment stem from a meeting that took place between the US president, Donald Trump, and the Intel chief executive, Lip-Bu Tan, this week, days after Trump called for Tan to resign, accusing him of having ties to the Chinese Communist party. Bloomberg suggested Tan was likely to stay in charge of the chipmaker. Commenting on the Bloomberg report, the White House spokesperson Kush Desai said: 'Discussion about hypothetical deals should be regarded as speculation unless officially announced by the administration.' However, the news still sparked excitement among investors, with shares rising as much as 8.9% on Thursday before closing 7.4% higher at the end of trading at $23.86 (£17.60). That pushed the company's market value to $104.4bn. A stake in Intel would mark the Trump administration's latest attempt to intervene in key private industry. He has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imported semiconductors and chips, which could favour Intel as a US-based semiconductor firm. Earlier this week, the US government announced a deal that would result in the chipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices paying 15% of their revenues from Chinese AI chip sales to the US government. Last month, the defence department also announced it would take a $400m preferred stake in the US rare earth producer MP Materials. However, an investment in Intel would mark a U-turn from Trump's recent aggressive rhetoric against the company's leadership. Trump took to the Truth Social media platform on Thursday last week to allege: 'The CEO of Intel is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!' Trump's social media outburst came shortly after the US Republican senator Tom Cotton wrote a letter to the Intel chair, Frank Yeary, over Tan's investments and ties to semiconductor companies that are reportedly linked to the CCP and the People's Liberation Army, the party's military arm. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion In April, Reuters reported that Tan had invested in hundreds of Chinese tech firms, including at least eight with links to the People's Liberation Army. Cotton asked Intel's board if Tan had dumped his investments, and questioned Tan's previous leadership of Cadence Design Systems, a company that last month said it had sold products to China's National University of Defense Technology in violation of US export controls. Intel said at the time its board and CEO were 'deeply committed to advancing US national and economic security interests and are making significant investments aligned with the president's America First agenda. Intel has been manufacturing in America for 56 years,' the statement said, adding that the company looked forward to its 'continued engagement with the administration'. Intel was approached for comment.
