With the release of Android 12, Google presents some fresh privacy options. A lot is changing under the hood, so we highlight the three most important changes that the company is making. Here’s what you want to know about the new privacy options.
One of the most important additions is the privacydashboard. In fact, this dashboard does little new: it is simply a place where all kinds of app settings related to privacy are made clear. This way you can see at a glance which apps use which permissions. And you are able to revert those permissions with the push of a button. In addition, a timeline is shown of apps that have consulted the various functions and when. By tapping on the app in question, you can revoke the permissions.
Indicators for access to sensors
This is probably one of the new features that you will encounter the most. android 12 can show in the status bar when an app uses a certain sensor, such as your camera or microphone. That happens when you actively use an app, but also when an app is running in the background. The icon of the function remains on the screen for a few seconds and is then exchanged for a green dot.
That dot indicates that a function is in use. If you want more information about that dot, simply swipe from top to bottom on the status bar. The dot then becomes a button that you can tap. When you do that, you can see which app has used which functions. And when you tap on the name of an app, you will be taken to the settings where you can withdraw the permission.
More buttons for sensors
Finally, we will discuss the different buttons for the various sensors on your device. When you press one of the buttons, you can immediately switch off a functionality, such as your camera, the microphone and the GPS connection. The buttons themselves are dependent (probably, this can differ per device) hidden, so you have to conjure them up. We explain exactly how you do this in the step-by-step plan below.
- Open Android 12 quick settings by pulling down the status bar
- Press the button to edit the options; this can be a pencil or an edit button (it might be hidden behind a menu of three dots)
- Scroll down the list of options until you find the buttons for the microphone, camera and GPS
- Press and hold a button for a moment, then drag it to the active part of that quick menu (the place where there are already some other buttons)
- After editing, tap the arrow in the top left corner
Once you’ve completed the steps above, the three options will now simply be in Android 12’s quick menu. With the push of a button, you can disable the functions, making sure no app has access to them.
.