How To: Everything You Need to Disable on Your Galaxy S10 for Privacy & Security
Whether we like it or not, our personal information and smartphones are tied together at the hip. The former needs the latter to deliver a personalized experience that matches our individual needs. This personal data, however, makes your phone a prime target for thieves of all sorts to turn your privacy into illicit profit.Threats can range from hackers that are out to steal your personal data to nosy individuals who want to dig up dirt that can be used against you. Law enforcement also can't be ignored, as they have the power to subpoena your device arbitrarily.Fortunately, your Galaxy S10 comes with options developed specifically with your security and privacy in mind. You probably have some of the more obvious security measures addressed already, but it's still a great idea to look over all the settings we've highlighted below just to be on the safe side.Jump to a section: Location | Alerts | App Access | Anti-Theft | Google
1. Location HistoryThe setup process on your S10 can be a little tedious, and if you rushed through it, you might've given your device permission to log your location history. As the name implies, this feature constantly monitors your movements, which you can then view anytime by accessing this this link and signing in using the Google account linked to your phone. Settings > Biometrics and security >
Location > Google Location History You can disable location history by accessing the menu above, then disabling the toggle in the center of the screen and tapping "Pause" on the confirmation prompt.
2. App NotificationsHaving important notifications like incoming messages, emails, and calendars in full view can have some serious repercussions is someone happens to come across them. If you want to keep this potential disaster from happening, you'll need to get into the "Notifications" menu within Settings and tap on the toggle next to each app you wish to keep private to disable alerts. Settings > Notifications Additionally, some apps give you the option to receive notifications silently for more private alerts. To access this, you'll need to get into the app's notification settings by tapping on its name. Once inside, hit specific alert elements for the app under the "Categories" section, then hit "Notification style" on the following page and select "Silent" or "Silent and minimized" from the drop-down menu.
3. Lock Screen NotificationsNotifications that appear on your S10's lock screen can also be problematic privacy-wise. Proceed to the below menu to access a vital setting, and from there, you'll be presented with several options to choose from depending on your privacy needs. Settings > Lock screen > Notifications From there, you have the ability to disable lock screen notifications altogether by tapping the toggle at the top of the screen to turn the feature off. If you still want to receive alerts, but in a more secure manner, you can either hide the content of the alert by enabling the "Hide content" toggle, or select "Icons only" from the "View styles" menu.
4. Notification AccessSome specialized apps need to access to your S10's notifications to function as they should. WhatsRemoved, for example, saves WhatsApp notifications as they arrive to give you the ability to view them in case the sender deletes them. Obviously, a majority of apps won't need this level of access to run normally. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
Special Access > Notification access Open the menu above to access this setting, and once inside, simply tap on the toggles to turn off the feature for any apps that don't need access to your phone's notifications.
5. Camera, Mic & LocationWhen you first open an app, you're often prompted to let it access important functions like your S10's microphones and cameras. If you breezed through the initial setup, there's a fair chance that you may have granted the app permission to access sensitive information it can otherwise do without. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
App permissions Fortunately, you can always revisit these settings using the menu above, and revoke any wayward permissions you may have granted an app. Inside "App permissions," you'll be able to view a list of all the data that third-party apps can access, with "Camera," "Location," and "Microphone" being the most important ones to keep track of.
6. Device AdministratorsA handful of third-party apps can be granted "Device administrator" privileges upon request to gain slightly elevated permissions that can be useful for apps like ad blockers, for example. Sketchy apps, on the other hand, can abuse this high level access to prevent you from uninstalling them. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
Special access > Device admin apps Granted, this permission needs to be explicitly granted for third-party apps, though it's often easy to overlook. Still, it's a good idea to periodically revisit these settings by opening the above menu and carefully sorting through the list within "Device admin apps."From there, tap on any suspect app that may have it enabled, and select "Deactivate" on the following page to revoke administrator privileges. Just be sure to leave "Find My Device" and "Google Pay" alone, as this permission is needed for them to properly run.
7. Apps That Can Appear on TopApps like screen recorders and battery indicators have a nifty overlay feature that applies controls such as record buttons and battery level rings on top of your S10's screen for added convenience. Unfortunately, malicious apps can also take advantage of this feature and employ sneaky means like drawing "Cancel" over the "Install" button on an Android system prompt to fool you into installing malware. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
Special access > Apps that can appear on top Find the menu above to access this setting, and keep a close eye out for third-party apps within "Apps that can appear on top." From there, simply hit the toggle next to any suspect app to disable the functionality for it.
8. Apps That Can Change System SettingsVoice assistant apps like Bixby are a great example of the ability of some apps to access and make changes to system settings, as they use enhanced permissions to enable or disable settings like GPS at your command. This level of access can have have serious consequences to your privacy and security if granted for a questionable app. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
Special access > Change system settings Open the above menu to access this setting, and once inside, examine the list of apps carefully. Look for any third-party app that you think shouldn't have this permission enabled, and tap on the toggle next to it to disable the feature.
9. Usage Data AccessProviding a personalized, streamlined experience is vital for any app to succeed, and because of this, many will ask for permission to monitor data related to your smartphone habits. This information gathering can vary from finding out your carrier, where you're located and the language you've set, to monitoring apps you use and how often you interact with them. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
Special access > Usage data access If you find this feature too invasive, head to the menu above. Once inside "Usage data access," sift through the list of apps and turn the feature off for any third-party app by selecting it and switching the toggle off on the following page. Just don't go overboard and disable it for native apps and services like Game Launcher, Samsung Pay, and Google Play Services — they need the feature to work properly.
10. Install Unknown AppsAs tempting as sideloading may be, installing apps from sites outside of Google Play or the Galaxy Store can leave your S10 vulnerable to Android malware. However, there's now a permission that has to be granted to an app before you can use it to download any other app.While it makes sense for internet browsing apps to have permission to install apps from unknown sources, the same can't be said for random apps that provide a different service like social media or gaming. As such, you should periodically check for which apps have this permission granted. Settings > Apps > Menu button >
Special access > Install unknown apps Open the above menu to access this setting, then go through the list to view which apps have this permission. Disable the toggle next to "Allow from this source" for any apps that don't need this functionality.
11. Fingerprint ScannerOne of the most touted features on the S10 and S10+ is the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor built into the display. Unfortunately, the feature has had a rocky start, with many users reporting issues centered around their phone's inability to reliably detect fingerprints. Settings > Biometrics and security >
Fingerprints > Fingerprint unlock While a recent software update seemed to have fixed the issue for some, the problem still persists for a many users. So if you're still having issues and security is a priority, don't use Face Recognition or Smart Lock as a workaround, as these are far less secure. You may even want to disable your S10's fingerprint sensor altogether by opening the above menu and changing to a PIN or password until a more stable and reliable fix rolls out.
12. Face RecognitionSamsung has done away with the Iris Scanner on the S10, though you can still set Face Recognition as an option alongside other security features like the fingerprint sensor. Unfortunately, the feature relies solely on the front camera and is less secure than other facial recognition systems like Apple's Face ID. This may make it easier to fool with photos of your face. Settings > Biometrics and security >
Face recognition > Face unlock Simply follow the menu above to disable the feature. If you want to keep using it, however, there are options within the "Face recognition" page that you can set to make it more secure. For instance, enabling "Stay on Lock screen" gives you an added layer of security by requiring you to swipe up to unlock your S10 after your face is recognized to keep unwanted access to a minimum.
13. Smart Lock"Smart Lock" is one popular feature that keeps your S10 unlocked for instant access whenever you're in a trusted location or using a specific paired device. Because this feature essentially keeps your phone in an unlocked state, however, just about anyone can access your device in these "trusted" environments and comb through your private information any time you leave it unattended. Settings > Lock Screen > Smart Lock As such, you may want to disable Smart Lock by visiting the above menu to maximize your privacy and security. Inside the "Smart Lock" page, turn off the setting for "Trusted devices" by deleting any devices shown. You should also consider disabling "On-body detection," "Trusted places," and "Voice Match" to keep your S10 as secure as possible.
14. Google Data CollectionAs a Google product at its heart, the Android-based One UI that's running on your S10 comes packed with Google apps and services like Google Assistant and Google Maps that take in data from your device to give you a personalized experience. If you'd rather not share your data with Google, you can easily disable this feature to curtail its data collection for account-based services. Settings > Google > Google Account >
Data & Personalization > Activity controls Within the "Activity controls" page in the menu above, there are various options you can tweak to minimize data collection."Web & App Activity" is the big one, as it can be disabled to prevent Google from collecting information about sites you visit using its search engine, along with apps you use on your S10. "Device information" lets Google save your calendar and contacts on its cloud-based servers.There's also "Voice & Audio Activity" which trains Google Assistant to recognize your speech habits that you can also turn off here. Beyond those, you can also opt to kill YouTube history and location history to remain as private as possible. Just bear in mind that Google apps that depend on these features (including any Google Home devices you may have) will lose functionality.
15. Ads PersonalizationAdvertisements account for a significant chunk of Google's total revenues, and the tech giant uses data sourced from your S10 to deliver targeted ads that cater specifically to you. While Google never shares your data with outside parties, "Ads Personalization" can be concerning, as it lets third-party apps access your advertising ID to create a profile centered on you. Settings > Google > Ads >
Opt out of Ads Personalization Sadly, there's no way to totally prevent Google from building a personalized ad profile based on your data short of short of installing a custom ROM, but opting out of Ads personalization by following the above menu will prevent external apps from tracking you to a certain degree. It's also a great idea to tap "Reset advertising ID" within this menu from time to time to erase your ad profile from Google's servers.
16. Connected AppsFor convenience, a lot of apps and services will require you to sign in using your Google login for verification or access to more content. While this can streamline your experience overall, it can come at the expense of your privacy, as the "Sign in with Google" option can permit third-party services to access personal data associated with your Google account. Settings > Google > Connected Apps Open the above menu, look through the list, and select all of the apps, services, and websites that you're not using one by one, then tap "Disconnect" on the following screen and confirm on the popup. It's also a good idea to repeat the process for any app or service that you're unsure about having access to your Google account, just to be on the safe side.
17. NearbyGoogle has developed the Nearby feature to let you instantly pair with smartwatches, earbuds, and other gadgets without messing around with your Bluetooth settings. Not only that, the feature also gives notable locations and services like retail stores and vending machines the ability to transmit relevant ads and discounts directly to your S10.Though the service is still far from mainstream, someday soon, getting hit with targeted ads for men's clothing and ramen noodles as you pass by stores while out for a walk may become an almost everyday occurrence. As such, you may want to access the menu blow to protect your S10 (and sanity) from this potential ad onslaught well in advance. Settings > Google > Nearby Inside the "Nearby" page, simply tap on the toggle along the top of the screen to disable the feature. Just note that in doing so, you'll also turn off the Fast Pair feature found on some Bluetooth headsets. If you want Fast Pair to keep working while preventing potential ad alerts from getting through, tap on the gear icon at the top of the menu, then turn off the "Show Notifications" toggle for both "Links and "Popular Links."
18. App Preview MessagesGoogle's App Preview Messages feature lets you receive alerts from apps you currently don't have installed, giving colleagues and loved ones the ability to reach you using alternative means. For example, Google Duo lets the person reach out to you either via text message or video call, which yields a message notification on your end inviting you to install and use the app. Settings > Google > App Preview Messages Obviously, the potential getting unwanted messages and unsolicited invitations to install apps is a privacy concern, so we recommend opening the above menu and disabling the toggle found within the "App preview messages" page, then tapping "OK" on the popup to disable the feature.Don't Miss: More Tips & Tricks for Your Galaxy S10Follow Gadget Hacks on Pinterest, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and Flipboard Sign up for Gadget Hacks' daily newsletter or weekly Android and iOS updates Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Flipboard
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