Google is planning to refine the Advanced Protection feature in Android 16. The company intends to move away from the current all-or-nothing approach, allowing users to manage specific security settings individually.
According to findings in Google Play Services version 26.36.30, a new 'Expert features' section will be added to the settings menu. This will enable users to toggle intrusion detection, USB protection, and unsecured Wi-Fi network restrictions independently.
The current implementation of Advanced Protection in Android 16 covers device-level security measures, including anti-theft, app restrictions, and web safety. While these features are designed to prevent data leaks, they currently lack granular control options for most settings.
Google notes that these expert-level configurations provide enhanced security but may introduce additional limitations for the user. For instance, enabling USB protection will require device unlocking before establishing a connection, and unsecured Wi-Fi networks will no longer connect automatically.
