Google has been warning Android users that apps may spy on them. In this regard, it recently revealed a new feature that alerts users when the microphone or camera is activated.
Goofle added this feature to phones in the latest update to the “Android 12” system. So, if you don’t get this update, you won’t be able to see it. According to “The Sun” newspaper.
This feature is similar to the warning already found on Apple’s iPhones. The new feature appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, where you can see the camera or microphone icon when an app tries to access either of them, respectively.
The feature prevents apps from being surreptitiously listening, or even viewing through the camera.
You can also see a permanent history of which apps have access to your camera, microphone, or location, and when, as this information is available in the new privacy dashboard within Settings.
It is also now possible to completely deactivate the microphone and camera on the entire phone in the quick settings.
It is worth remembering that seeing these symbols does not mean that anything outrageous has happened. Sometimes an app really needs to use the camera, like Instagram.
But if you notice that your camera is being used by a strange app, it could mean that you are being spied on.
Internet experts have discovered countless apps that have inappropriately accessed the camera on Android phones.
So make sure that you are using “Android 12”, and that you remain wary of any malware.
And if you suspect something is wrong, you should check the permissions of the app in the settings.
You can deny certain apps access to your microphone or camera, for example. And if you are worried, you can delete the app completely.