Google was fast off the mark this month, issuing an urgent Android update on Dec. 1 with a warning that two vulnerabilities are under attack. While Samsung was just hours behind Google in confirming its own updates, the nature of Android means it will take weeks before all Galaxy phones are secure. In 2025, that’s not a good look.
It’s not just Samsung. All Android OEMs bar Google struggle to take stock Android updates and quickly integrate and release them. For feature updates that’s bad enough. For security updates — particularly critical ones as per this month — it’s even worse.
Pixel is showing no signs of slowing down. And Google’s confirmed change to Android, with more frequent releases, just makes the challenge harder for others. But there is a relatively well hidden setting on your phone that significantly reduces the risk in running a device that’s waiting weeks or more for critical fixes.
Google’s new Advanced Protection Mode is the pick of the security updates in Android 16. It enables a raft of security-focused settings that make your phone less open to attack. Restricted sideloading, safe browsing, disabled unsafe connections and plenty more malware, scam and phishing defenses.
Whisper it quietly, but it makes your Android more like an iPhone.
Apple offers its own similar security setting — Lockdown Mode. But the iPhone option changes the usability of the phone in a way that Android’s option does not. Your phone operates completely normally with Advanced Protection Mode on. It’s just safer.
You can find Advanced Proection in Settings > Security/Security & Privacy. It should be available as long as you’re running Android 16. It’s still bad news that non-Pixel Android users must wait for security fixes. But this makes it much less risky.
