As we are always saying, a VPN is just one piece of the puzzle as there are other things you could do in order to protect your privacy on the Internet. When it comes to Android, there are several settings that could be turned off in order to better protect your privacy online. Here are those settings…
1. Google location history
When location history is enabled, Google will track and save your location at all times. Yes, this includes even when you don’t have a Google app — it will be the phone itself that will track you down. Luckily, you can disable this:
- Go to Settings, and tap Privacy -> Google location history.
- Turn it off
- Scroll down and tap Pause.
Now, this won’t keep your location hidden at all times but when combined with a location disguise tech such as the one VPN provides, you get to show a different location to all those pesky trackers.
2. Permission manager
Some apps require certain permissions in order to work, but there are also many apps that require permissions for no good reason. In order to protect your privacy, you may want to keep these permissions to a minimal level — cause you still may want to use some of those apps.
For the apps that don’t need your location at all times, you can turn off their app permissions:
- Go to Settings, then Privacy -> Permission manager.
- Tap on each permission.
- Now you can set “Allowed only while in use” or “Don’t allow” for select apps.
3. Usage and diagnostics
When enabled, “Usage and diagnostics” informs Google about what is and is not working on your device, in order to improve its services. The details that your device sends to the search giant include things like battery level, app usage, and the quality of your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.
Although none of this information is identifiable per-se, we think you should not share more than you have to. So… disable it!
- Go to Settings, then tap Privacy -> Usage & diagnostics.
- Toggle the switch off.
4. Android personalization
Android personalization service is used to give you personalized content based on your app usage. As a result, it could show you a search suggestion based on the text you’ve entered in another app.
While this can be in handy, it by definition entails the loss of privacy — which further means we don’t like it. So, again, turn it off:
- Go to Settings, then Privacy -> Android personalization service.
- Toggle the switch off.
5. Ads personalization
Beyond search suggestions, Google also wants to show you personalized ads. That’s its bread and butter, after all.
To that end, every Android device that uses Google Play comes with a unique advertising ID. This ID will then be used to serve you personalized ads that are more likely to convert. It’s the marketer’s dream and the privacy advocate’s nightmare. Here’s how to disable it:
- Go to Settings, then Privacy -> Ads.
- Toggle “Opt out of Ads Personalization” on.
The fight against personalized ads, unfortunately, doesn’t stop here as you will also have to “handle” cookie and location tracking, some of which could be managed with a good VPN — which, as usual, we suggest installing to everyone. So… what are you waiting for? If you still don’t have one, get yourself a VPN today! You can always thank us later.