As we are inching closer to the most anticipated software update in the Android world, consumers are getting more concerned about Google’s plans this time. The Android Q is expected to be the most advanced operating system in a smartphone and while sharing details about it, Google has officially confirmed that the next version of Android will provide users more control over location tracking and all the necessary privacy features.
In all the previous versions, Google was criticized for tracking user’s locations secretly. Even after turning off the location access, numerous investigations revealed that Google was still able to know where you were all the time. Calling it as a loophole in the system, they even gave the similar liberty to most of the android apps.
Of course, there is an option in settings that lets you decide about granting or denying the location access on an app-by-app basis but unfortunately, that never really helped. They were given the permission to track users even when the apps were closed on the smartphone.
This issue gathered so much hype, that companies like Facebook decided to add location-tracking control alone in its Android app. Besides that, there were also so many questions raised on data-gathering behavior within the digital ecosystem.
But now with recent changes, Android Q will enable users to give permission to apps for tracking their location and the given options will vary from never, only when the app is in use (running), to all the time (when in the background).
And that’s not all. Google aims to tighten the security with more features such as:
But that created more trouble again as advertisers started to focus more on tracking identifiers that couldn’t be changed such as Android device ID and IMEI number.
So in order to restrict them, Google will now limit the access to non-resettable device identifiers, including device IMEI, serial number, and similar identifiers. Apart from that, device’s hardware MAC address will also keep on changing by default when connected to different Wi-Fi networks.
Android Q Beta Version 1 will be available on Google Pixel phones this week for testing. If you are not a developer than it would be better for you to wait for the final versions.
Read Next: Here Is How To Stop iPhone From Storing Details About Your Locations
In all the previous versions, Google was criticized for tracking user’s locations secretly. Even after turning off the location access, numerous investigations revealed that Google was still able to know where you were all the time. Calling it as a loophole in the system, they even gave the similar liberty to most of the android apps.
Of course, there is an option in settings that lets you decide about granting or denying the location access on an app-by-app basis but unfortunately, that never really helped. They were given the permission to track users even when the apps were closed on the smartphone.
This issue gathered so much hype, that companies like Facebook decided to add location-tracking control alone in its Android app. Besides that, there were also so many questions raised on data-gathering behavior within the digital ecosystem.
But now with recent changes, Android Q will enable users to give permission to apps for tracking their location and the given options will vary from never, only when the app is in use (running), to all the time (when in the background).
And that’s not all. Google aims to tighten the security with more features such as:
1) Device Identifiers
Google launched Android’s Advertising ID (AAID) back in 2013, with a purpose to make advertisers track users. It also gave users the option to reset the ID, in case if they didn’t want someone to invade into their privacy.But that created more trouble again as advertisers started to focus more on tracking identifiers that couldn’t be changed such as Android device ID and IMEI number.
So in order to restrict them, Google will now limit the access to non-resettable device identifiers, including device IMEI, serial number, and similar identifiers. Apart from that, device’s hardware MAC address will also keep on changing by default when connected to different Wi-Fi networks.
2) App Scoped Storage
Every app has private files and to take care of them in the best possible way, Google will provide their own isolated sandboxed storage to apps when attached with external media such as SD cards. This will also ease up the process of granting permissions and saving files in external storage.3) TLS 1.3
Upgraded Transport Layer Security would mean better speed and more privacy when the protocol sets up HTTPS between a browser and websites.Android Q Beta Version 1 will be available on Google Pixel phones this week for testing. If you are not a developer than it would be better for you to wait for the final versions.
Read Next: Here Is How To Stop iPhone From Storing Details About Your Locations
