6 ways Advanced Protection on Android keeps you safe
We launched Advanced Protection last year on Android 16 to help protect at-risk, vulnerable, and security-conscious users by equipping them with Google’s strongest mobile security features. This suite of protections elevates standard device-level security settings with a single toggle, making it easy to enable robust defenses against everything from scams and theft to targeted attacks aimed at elected officials, journalists, and public figures.
With one switch, users can enable critical security settings across apps like Chrome, Google Messages, and Phone by Google, ensuring foundational protections like Google Play Protect and Scam Detection cannot be disabled.
Since launch, we’ve been busy introducing multiple enhancements to Advanced Protection, including several key features to help keep you safe.
(Note: All features are available on Android 17 devices, except USB Protection and Failed Authentication Lock, which are available on select Android 17 devices.)
1. Intrusion Logging
Investigating a suspected mobile compromise has been one of the toughest challenges in digital forensics. To solve this, we added Intrusion Logging—a mobile industry first that enables persistent, privacy-preserving forensics logging.
Security and network events are end-to-end encrypted and securely stored in the cloud, ensuring they are protected against tampering and are accessible only to you, the user. Logs are retained for a rolling 12-month period before being automatically deleted. Because the security benefits of long-term logging vary from person to person, Intrusion Logging is optional and requires a separate manual opt-in from the Advanced Protection settings page. We worked closely with leading civil liberties and press freedom organizations on this capability, and we are excited to share how they see its role in protecting high-risk individuals:
2. USB Protection
To guard against unauthorized physical access via hardware accessories or malicious charging stations, we’ve introduced USB Protection. When enabled, it prevents attackers from gaining unauthorized access to your device through a physical USB connection. Your device will default to charging only for any new USB connection while the device is locked. Existing connections will persist even when the screen locks. This ensures that users are in full control of USB data transfers and are protected against data theft. USB Protection is currently available on Pixel 6+ devices and on select Android 17 devices 1 .
3. Accessibility Protection
Applications abusing the AccessibilityService API remain a primary vector for attackers executing fraud and scams. Because accessibility services are designed to interact directly with the screen, malicious actors can exploit them to read sensitive data, install malware, or block uninstallation.
In Android 17, enabling Advanced Protection automatically restricts AccessibilityService access exclusively to verified applications categorized as Accessibility Tools, closing off a major avenue of attack while preserving vital assistive technology.
4. Disable WebGPU
In addition to the existing Advanced Protection safeguards for Chrome, Android 17 introduces additional protection by disabling WebGPU in Advanced Protection Mode. While WebGPU enables high-performance web graphics, complex hardware-accelerated web technologies can also expand potential attack surfaces. Disabling it gives users an additional layer of defense by reducing exposure to sophisticated browser-based exploits.
5. Failed Authentication Lock
To protect against physical tampering and brute-force attempts, we’ve added Failed Authentication Lock. If a user or malicious actor repeatedly fails to authenticate within settings or secured apps, the device will completely lock down to prevent further probing.
6. View Supporting Apps
A new transparency settings page lets you see exactly which installed apps check your Advanced Protection status and work together to safeguard your data with enhanced security and privacy.
Developers can be notified when Advanced Protection is enabled so that they can auto-enable any features they have for this user population.
Try the New Features Today
We are committed to evolving Advanced Protection on Android to provide industry-leading protection against emerging and sophisticated threats.
If you already use Advanced Protection, you will see a notification once these new capabilities arrive on your device. To take advantage of the new forensic capabilities, navigate to your Advanced Protection settings page and manually enable Intrusion Logging.
