Your Android phone's most powerful security feature is off by default - turn it on ASAP

One of Google's most critical features is hidden behind a single toggle - turn it on to protect against theft, scams, spam, and more.

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Advanced Protection locks key Android 16 security settings.
• Blocks sideloading, spam, unsafe links, and insecure networks.
• Not on by default. You must enable it in settings.

Google's earlier-than-expected release of Android 16 had a few important features missing at launch, but it did roll out with hardened security settings you shouldn't ignore.

To this day, arguably the most important change is Advanced Protection. It's a one-tap mode that enables Google's strongest security and privacy features. Instead of hunting through many menus to secure your phone, you now have a quick way to lock down your device and better protect yourself against theft, unsafe apps ...