Samsung's Android Upgrade Just Made Galaxy More Like iPhone
Good news for Samsung users, with confirmation that its One UI 8 upgrade which brings Android 16 to its phones will include Google's most significant upgrade of the year. And while that has come to Pixels as well, Samsung should make it better.
We're talking the new Advanced Protection Mode, which narrows the security and privacy gap to iPhone with a single click. Android Authority confirms Galaxy phones eligible for One UI 8 will get Android 16's 'powerful' new update.
'This optional mode activates various safeguards, such as blocking app sideloading, preventing USB data access, and disabling 2G network connections.' And while restricting sideloading in particular is a major issue for many diehard Android fans, it's absolutely the right move for security minded Galaxy owners.
Samsung has a number of added security benefits over the stock Android 16 upgrade, including a enhanced Secure Folder with a new 'kill switch' and its Knox ecosystem, that uses reinforces the security of all your Samsung devices by creating your own mini walled garden. Again, an iPhone-like feature that has come to Galaxy.
Enable Advanced Protection in One UI 8
Apple has its own Lockdown Mode, which it says its meant only for those users likely to be targeted by specific attacks — think politicians, activists, lawyers and journalists.
Google's new Advanced Protection Mode is not as restrictive and should not disrupt your phone to the same extent as Apple's Lockdown Mode. As such, Google says it's for any security minded users who want to better safeguard their device and their data.
As Android Authority explains, to turn on Advanced Protection Mode in One Ui 8:
This is not the same as Google's Advanced Protection Program, which goes further and does restrict some of your online and on-device activities. Unlike Android's new one-click security upgrade, Google says the wider program is to protect 'users with high visibility and sensitive information from targeted online attacks.'
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