Step-by-step Android safety and configuration guides.
Last verified: October 14, 2026 There is no universal deny list — the right answer always depends on what the app actually does. But most of the permissions below are dangerous enough, and rarely needed enough, that your default should be to deny them and only allow them if you understand exactly why the app…
Last verified: October 14, 2026 No single check can prove an APK is 100% safe. Safety comes from layering several quick checks before you tap Install. If you only do one thing, make it the first check on this list: where the file came from matters more than anything else. 1. Start with the source…
Respond safely to an unknown tracker alert on Android, identify the device and preserve useful evidence without taking avoidable risks.
Before factory-resetting Android, verify device backup, photos, files, app-specific data and account recovery instead of relying on one backup indicator.
Review an Android app’s requested permissions, decide whether each request matches its purpose, and avoid granting unnecessary access.
Check that Google Play Protect remains enabled so Android can scan apps, warn about harmful behavior, and improve app safety.
Confirm an Android app’s identity, developer, official distribution source, and Data safety information before installing it.