Security & Privacy

Google Pixels security settings will scan your device to let you know what aspects of you device are secure and if there are any ways you can improve security on your phone.

A great place to start is always having a pin on your phone. If you tend to forget your pin or password, write it down in a notebook or on some sort of piece of paper and keep it in a safe place that only you know about just incase. It is not the best idea to keep pins and passcodes on your phone for a few reasons:

1. If you forget your password or pin and it’s in your phone, you won’t be able to access it.
2. If your phone is compromised somehow, then bad actors will have access to your information.

If you don’t want to set up a passcode because of the inconvenience of continuously having to enter your passcode every time you want to access your phone, it is highly recommended that you set up biometrics (Face ID or Fingerprint) that way your phone is secure and can be easily accessible to you. This data remains locked on your device and cannot be seen be any person or company, even Google.

Security Improvements

At the top of your screen you will see an icon that gauges the security level of your device. If it’s filled out in all green with a green checkmark then you’re good to go! if it’s not you will receive recommendations on how to improve your Google Pixels level of security and you will be shown which category needs improvement.

App Security

Note: It is a good idea to keep up with app updates and device software updates for security and for your phone to function properly with the apps you use.

With any android device, it is easier to get malware and viruses on your phone by downloading a malicious third party app on your phone because androids have an open app store which means that you can download unverified apps on your phone. This may be a good thing if you personally have done research on the app and you know that it isn’t a malicious app but for the average user this can be a difficult task.

There are some common types of apps that commonly compromise android devices that pose as helpful apps when in reality it’s just malware that takes over your device and attempts to steal personal data. Some common categories of malicious apps are:

• Cleaning Apps: These apps claim to clean your device from viruses and malware but they are in fact malicious apps. If you want to add anti-virus software to your phone, look into reputable and reliable companies such as Norton or McAfee. Do Not download anti-virus or cleaning software from any pop ups that you see on the internet.
• Games
• Weather Apps
• Messaging Apps
• Home Apps

Googles Play protect will regularly scan your apps and your device to check for any harmful behavior but it is also good to be conscious of what your downloading as well.

Play Protect Settings

To get to Play Protect Settings, navigate to your phone Settings > Security > App Security, then tap on the Settings Icon (the icon that looks like a gear) in the top right corner of the screen.

Scan Apps With Play Protect

When this is turned on, Play Protect can scan your device and let you know if there are any harmful apps on your device and warn you about them. It is highly recommended you leave this setting on for your security.

Improve Harmful App Detection

When this setting is on, any harmful app detections will be sent to Google to better protect you and other Pixel users.

Permission For Unused Apps

If you have apps on your device you don’t use, are unaware of, or haven’t used in awhile, you may want to deny permissions for these apps or delete them entirely. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing to have permissions on for unused apps but it’s probably best to not give apps access unless you personally need to use the features on those apps to use the app. You can also review permissions here because you may have unknowingly installed an app on your phone that has access to features on your device like camera, contacts, microphone etc.

Scan

If you think you may have downloaded something harmful or you want to manually have play protect scan your apps for whatever reason, you can tap the Scan button you manually scan your device.

Recently Scanned Apps

You can view apps that were recently scanned from here.

Device Lock

 

Screen Lock

You can create a lock screen passcode for your Pixel from here if you haven’t already or you can change your screen lock and what type of screen lock you have on your Pixel from here. 

• To change your lock screen code tap on Screen Lock and enter your current pin or passcode.
• Then you will be given a few options for your lock screen:

  • None

    • This will erase your current lock screen passcode. This is not recommended, you should always have some sort of passcode.

  • Swipe

    • This will also erase your current lock screen passcode. This is also not recommended, you should always have some sort of passcode.

  • Pattern

    • This is a medium security option. This will set up a pattern you can draw to access your phone.

  • Pin

    • This is a medium to high security option depending on how long your pin is. This will consist of a all number pin that is a minimum of four numbers.

  • Password

    • This is the highest security option. This Password can be a mixture of numbers, letters, and special characters with a minimum of four characters.

Screen Lock Settings

To change your lock screen settings, tap on the Settings Icon (the gear icon) the the right of the Screen Lock tab.

Screen Lock Timeout

This will be the amount of time before your screen automatically locks unless you specified a different timeframe for your Screen Timeout in the Display settings or Smart Lock Settings.

Power Button Instantly Locks

This will allow you to instantly lock your phone by pressing the power button on the side of your phone unless you have a different setting set up in Smart Lock.

Face & Fingerprint Unlock

Face & Fingerprint unlock will allow you to unlock your phone with your phones Face ID and Fingerprint scanning feature. If you have Face Unlock set up, your phone will ask for your fingerprint or passcode if you are wearing a face covering or you’re in a dark area.

Face Unlock

Your Pixels front camera will scan and recognize you face to unlock your phone.

Require Eyes To Be Open

When this setting is on, your phone will only unlock with Face Unlock if your eyes are open. It is highly recommended that you leave this setting on if you can so Face Unlock can’t be used while you’re sleeping.

Skip Lock Screen

When this is on, your phone will automatically bypass the lock screen and open whatever app you were using before your phone was locked once your Pixel recognizes your face.

Delete Face Model

If you want to delete face unlock or you want to reconfigure face unlock, you can delete your current face model here.

Fingerprint Unlock

Pixel has an on screen Fingerprint scanner that specifically recognizes your fingerprint so you can unlock your phone. You can also set up more than one fingerprint just incase you lose one (bad dad joke). Tap on finger print unlock and set up your fingerprint by following the on screen instructions.

Unlock Your Phone

Having this on allows you to unlock your phone using your face or fingerprint. If you have this turned off you will only be able to use the pin or passcode you set up to unlock your phone.

Verify It’s You In Apps

When this is turned on you can access apps using your fingerprint instead of having to put in your login credentials for an app every time.

Google Security Check Up

This tab will bring you to your Google Account to add recommended layers of security on your device. Any sort of recommendations will appear here and you can follow the prompts on screen to set up and recommended features.

Find My Device

Find My Device is a feature that allows you to locate your device(s) if you lost it or it was stolen. You must have certain settings on. First and foremost, to turn on Find My Device, turn on the switch next to where it says Use Find My Device. Click on the Find My Device link for more information on how to use the app.

Updates

 

Security Update

Here is where you can see if your device has any security updates, what version of Android software is currently installed, and when your phone last updated. It is highly recommended that you keep up with device software and security updates for your security, privacy, and for your device to function properly overall.

Check for Updates

In the bottom right corner of the Security Update screen, tap on Check For Updates to see if there has been any recent security updates.

Note: Updates will not be installed while you are using your phone. When you check for updates the device will usually update when your phone is connected to a charger and on Wi-Fi without being used.

Google Play System Update

Here is where you can see if your device has any Google Play System updates, what version of Android software is currently installed, and when your phone last updated. It is highly recommended that you keep up with device software and security updates for your security, privacy, and for your device to function properly overall.

Privacy

For Privacy and More Privacy Settings click on these links.

More Security Settings

 

Smart Lock

The Smart Lock feature unlocks your phone automatically by recognizing different signals. For example, it can recognize if your phone is near your home’s wireless router, your car’s Bluetooth system, or your smart watch.

Smart Lock is great if you despise consistently entering your pin or password to unlock your device.

Note: Available screens and settings may vary by wireless service provider, software version, and phone model. Smart Lock is not available on all carriers.

When you click on Smart Lock from the lock screen settings you will be given the following options:

• On-body detection: 

  Once you unlock your phone, it will remain unlocked while it’s moving (if you’re walking with it for example) Your phone will stay unlocked for a maximum of 4 hours or until you put it down. Click on the switch next to “Use On-body detection” to activate this feature.

• Trusted places: 

  Once you unlock your phone, it will remain unlocked as long as you’re at or close to a trusted place such as your home, work or a family members house. It will lock after 4 hours or when you leave the place you’ve designated as a trusted place. To register a location, click Add trusted place. Search for an address, browse the map, or choose a suggested address. Then click OK to add it to trusted places.

• Trusted devices: 

  Once you unlock your phone, it will remain unlocked when it’s connected to a trusted device, like a smart watch or your cars bluetooth system. Your phone will remain unlocked for up to 4 hours or until it disconnects from all trusted devices. To register a device, click Add trusted device, and then click Pair new device. Connect to your Bluetooth device the way you usually would. Then, when Smart Lock is active, you can force your phone to lock anytime. Just open the Power menu and tap Lockdown.

Device Admin Apps

Device admin apps allow the customization of access on your phone. This is mostly beneficial to employers who give their employees devices used specifically for work related purposes. They can cut off access to the play store, the use of third party apps, internet access etc.

Note: This feature may not be as useful to the average user and some malicious apps when downloaded can be found active in this setting. Make sure that if this is your personal phone that there are no admin apps activated unless they are trusted apps and you personally set them up as admin apps.

SIM Card Lock

 

Lock Sim Card

This setting will allow you to lock your SIM card which can be helpful to prevent SIM Swap Attack. This occurs when someone takes the physical SIM card out of your phone and puts it in another phone. This is dangerous because if SIM card is put in an unlocked phone, the attacker will have access to your phone number which can be used to change account passwords and steal personal information, data, and finances. Just Enter a pin number to turn this feature on.

Note: Anytime you take your SIM Card out and put it back in your phone or a new phone, or when your phone shuts off or disconnects from service, you will be asked to put in your SIM pin which is different from your lock screen code. Make sure if you turn this on you do not forget your code. If you think you might forget it Do Not keep your SIM pin in your notes or on other apps/files on your phone. If your SIM pin is in your phone you will not be able to access it.

Change SIM Card PIN

Click on this feature to change your current SIM pin

Encryption & Credentials

 

Encryption

This will show if your device is encrypted. Encryption basically means the information on the device is converted to secret code so that the information on it can’t be read or viewed.

Credential Storage

 

Trusted Credentials

Trusted credentials basically authorize a secure connection between your phone and other apps and websites to ensure the validity of both parties. For example, if you are sending money from an app on your phone to a bank, a trusted credential is required so that all parties can be identified and authorized to send and receive money to and from the right locations. It is recommended that you don’t delete trusted credentials from your phone unless you have a specific reason for doing so.

User Credentials

Your phone shouldn’t have any user credentials that come already installed in the phone. If you see any, you may want to delete them unless you manually put them in or if they are required in your line of work. For most users however, you can pretty much ignore everything going on in this area.

Install A Certificate

If you need to manually install a security certificate, you can do so here by uploading the file.

Clear Credentials

This will remove all security certificates. 

Trust Agents

As a default unless another application is installed on your device, you should see Google Smart Lock which is a third party authentication mechanism that allows you to use the smart lock features.

App Pinning

App Pinning is a great feature that allows you to hand your phone to someone to allow them to use a specific app without going into other areas of your phone. This is especially useful with children if you want to give them your phone to play a game or watch you tube but don’t want them exiting out of the app and finding their way into an unintended area of your phone.

Confirm SIM Deletion

This will make your phone verify that it’s you with your pin or biometrics before deleting a downloaded SIM (Esim) on your phone.

More Privacy Settings

For More Privacy Settings, click on the link.