Android 16: See which apps use Advanced Protection, enhancing your phone's security.
So, Android 16 came out earlier this year, and one of the cool things about it is this "Advanced Protection" mode. Basically, it's like having a super-secure vault on your phone. It stops apps from being installed from anywhere except the official store, blocks USB connections to keep your data safe, and shuts down any dodgy internet connections.
Google mentioned that not only system apps could use this feature, but also other apps could tap into it. Now, it looks like Google's tinkering with a new way to see which apps are actually using this Advanced Protection. I think it's pretty neat that they're giving us a peek behind the curtain.
I recently stumbled upon that Google is testing a new spot in the settings menu where you can see all the apps that know when Advanced Protection is on. Right now, it seems like it's only showing Google's own apps, like Chrome and the Play Store. I'm curious to see if other apps will start showing up there soon.
It's possible that not many third-party apps are using these security features yet. Or, maybe the list isn't working perfectly yet, since it's still being developed. Either way, I'm keeping an eye on it.
Even though it's not required for them, I expect more apps will start using these extra safety measures. And since Advanced Protection works on any phone with Android 16, other phone makers like Samsung could add similar security features to their own apps. Samsung seems to be already working on this in One UI 8, which is a good sign that they take security seriously!
This list isn't just for show. If an app knows that Advanced Protection is on, it might turn on its own security features, which could block certain actions. So, this list could help you figure out why an app isn't working the way you expect it to. In these cases, you might need to turn off Advanced Protection temporarily to use all the features of that app.
Ultimately, having this information puts you in control. You can decide whether the extra security is worth it, or if you'd rather have full access to all the features of your apps. It's all about having the information you need to make the right choice for yourself.
Source: AndroidAuthority